Historical Figures
People who shaped history.
29 profiles
Science
Srinivasa Ramanujan
Self-taught mathematician whose results still shape number theory
1887 – 1920
Literature
Sri Aurobindo
Philosopher, yogi, poet and early nationalist leader
1872 – 1950
Sports
Milkha Singh
Sprinter; India’s first Commonwealth Games gold medallist in athletics
1929 – 2021
Historical Figures
Guru Nanak
Founder of Sikhism and the first of the ten Sikh Gurus
1469 – 1539
Science
C. V. Raman
Physicist; Nobel laureate who discovered the Raman effect
1888 – 1970
Art & Design
Amrita Sher-Gil
Painter and a founding figure of modern Indian art
1913 – 1941
Politics & Leadership
Vallabhbhai Patel
First Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister of India
1875 – 1950
Politics & Leadership
Mahatma Gandhi
Leader of India’s independence movement and pioneer of non-violent resistance
1869 – 1948
Politics & Leadership
Indira Gandhi
Third Prime Minister of India and the only woman to hold the office
1917 – 1984
Science
Vikram Sarabhai
Physicist and father of India’s space programme
1919 – 1971
Historical Figures
Swami Vivekananda
Hindu monk and philosopher who introduced Vedanta and Yoga to the West
1863 – 1902
Science
Satyendra Nath Bose
Physicist after whom bosons are named
1894 – 1974
Historical Figures
Ramana Maharshi
Sage of Arunachala and teacher of self-enquiry
1879 – 1950
Art & Design
Raja Ravi Varma
Painter who brought Indian mythology to life in a realist style
1848 – 1906
Music
Rabindranath Tagore
Poet, writer and composer; first non-European Nobel laureate in Literature
1861 – 1941
Literature
Premchand
Hindi and Urdu novelist and short-story writer
1880 – 1936
Activism & Humanitarian
Mother Teresa
Founder of the Missionaries of Charity; Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Catholic saint
1910 – 1997
Science
Jagadish Chandra Bose
Physicist and plant biologist; pioneer of radio and microwave research
1858 – 1937
Science
Homi J. Bhabha
Nuclear physicist and father of India’s nuclear programme
1909 – 1966
Business
Dhirubhai Ambani
Founder of Reliance Industries
1932 – 2002
Politics & Leadership
Subhas Chandra Bose
Freedom fighter and leader of the Indian National Army
1897 – 1945
Politics & Leadership
Rajiv Gandhi
Sixth Prime Minister of India (1984–1989)
1944 – 1991
Politics & Leadership
Rajendra Prasad
First President of India (1950–1962)
1884 – 1963
Politics & Leadership
Morarji Desai
Fourth Prime Minister of India and the first from outside the Congress
1896 – 1995