India, a land steeped in history and diversity, has been home to some of the world’s most remarkable individuals. From ancient emperors and spiritual leaders to modern-day tech titans and sports icons, Indian personalities have left an indelible mark on the world stage. In this blog, we embark on a fascinating journey through time to explore the lives and legacies of notable and famous Indian personalities and figures who have shaped the course of history.
These Famous Indian Personalities hail from various walks of life, spanning centuries of innovation, artistry, and leadership. Among them, you will find the visionary Ashoka the Great, whose embrace of Buddhism transformed an empire, and Kalidasa, a poet whose verses continue to enchant readers today. Explore the lives of Mahatma Gandhi, whose principles of nonviolence sparked a revolution, and Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, a brilliant scientist and beloved President.
Venture into the world of entertainment with iconic actors like Amitabh Bachchan and Deepika Padukone, or witness the prowess of sports legends such as Sachin Tendulkar and PV Sindhu. Meet contemporary trailblazers like Sundar Pichai and Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, who are leading global enterprises and pushing boundaries in science and business.
As we celebrate these famous Indian personalities and remarkable individuals, we invite you to discover the rich tapestry of India’s history and its enduring impact on the world. Join us on this educational and inspiring journey through time, where you’ll encounter stories of courage, innovation, and resilience that resonate with students around the globe.
| Name | Date of Birth | Demise Date | Known For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chandragupta Maurya | 340BC | 298BC | Founder of the Mauryan Empire |
| Ashoka the Great | 304 BCE | 232 BCE | Mauryan Emperor and promoter of Buddhism |
| Chanakya | 371 BCE | 283 BCE | Philosopher, economist, and royal advisor |
| Kalidasa | 4th-5th Century | N/A | Classical Sanskrit poet and playwright |
| Akbar the Great | 1542 | 1605 | Mughal Emperor and patron of the arts |
| Rani Padmini | 13th Century | N/A | Legendary queen of Mewar |
| Mirabai | 1498 | 1547 | Saint, poetess, and devotee of Krishna |
| Mahatma Gandhi (Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi) | 2-Oct-1869 | 30-Jan-1948 | Leader of Indian independence movement |
| Jawaharlal Nehru | 14-Nov-1889 | 27-May-1964 | India’s first Prime Minister |
| Indira Gandhi | 19-Nov-1917 | 31-Oct-1984 | First female Prime Minister of India |
| Rabindranath Tagore | 7-May-1861 | 7-Aug-1941 | Poet, writer, and composer of “Jana Gana Mana” |
| R. K. Narayan | 10-Oct-1906 | 13-May-2001 | Renowned novelist and short story writer |
| Satyajit Ray | 2-May-1921 | 23-Apr-1992 | Film director, known for “Apu Trilogy” |
| C. V. Raman | 7-Nov-1888 | 21-Nov-1970 | Nobel laureate in Physics |
| A. P. J. Abdul Kalam | 15-Oct-1931 | 27-Jul-2015 | Former President and missile scientist |
| Sundar Pichai | 12-Jul-1972 | Alive | CEO of Google |
| Ratan Tata | 28-Dec-1937 | Alive | Former chairman of Tata Group |
| Mukesh Ambani | 19-Apr-1957 | Alive | Chairman of Reliance Industries |
| Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw | 23-Mar-1953 | Alive | Biocon founder and biotech pioneer |
| Amitabh Bachchan | 11-Oct-1942 | Alive | Legendary actor |
| Shah Rukh Khan | 2-Nov-1965 | Alive | Iconic Bollywood actor |
| Deepika Padukone | 5-Jan-1986 | Alive | Leading Bollywood actress |
| Sachin Tendulkar | 24-Apr-1973 | Alive | Cricket legend |
| Mary Kom | 24-Nov-1982 | Alive | Boxing champion |
| P.V. Sindhu | 5-Jul-1995 | Alive | Badminton Olympian |
| Narendra Modi | 17-Sep-1950 | Alive | Current Prime Minister of India |
| Sushma Swaraj | 14-Feb-1952 | 6-Aug-2019 | Former External Affairs Minister of India |
| Raja Ram Mohan Roy | 22-May-1772 | 27-Sep-1833 | Pioneer of Indian Renaissance and social reformer |
| Swami Vivekananda | 12-Jan-1863 | 4-Jul-1902 | Philosopher and spiritual leader |
| Medha Patkar | 1-Dec-1954 | Alive | Social activist and leader of Narmada Bachao Andolan |
| Lata Mangeshkar | 28-Sep-1929 | 6-Feb-2022 | Legendary playback singer |
| Raj Kapoor | 14-Dec-1924 | 2-Jun-1988 | Iconic actor, director, and film producer |
| Rajinikanth | 12-Dec-1950 | Alive | Superstar of South Indian cinema |
| Bhagat Singh | 28-Sep-1907 | 23-Mar-1931 | Freedom fighter and martyr |
| Subhas Chandra Bose | 23-Jan-1897 | N/A | Freedom fighter and leader of INA |
| Chandra Shekhar Azad | 23-Jul-1906 | 27-Feb-1931 | Revolutionary who fought against British rule |
| Amrita Pritam | 31-Aug-1919 | 31-Oct-2005 | Renowned Punjabi writer and poet |
| M. F. Husain | 17-Sep-1915 | 9-Jun-2011 | Celebrated Indian painter |
| Srinivasa Ramanujan | 22-Dec-1887 | 26-Apr-1920 | Mathematician known for significant contributions to number theory |
| Vikram Sarabhai | 12-Aug-1919 | 30-Dec-1971 | Father of the Indian space program |
| Venkatraman Ramakrishnan | 10-Jan-1952 | Alive | Nobel laureate in Chemistry |
| Azim Premji | 24-Jul-1945 | Alive | Chairman of Wipro |
| N. R. Narayana Murthy | 20-Aug-1946 | Alive | Co-founder of Infosys |
| Adi Godrej | 3-Apr-1942 | Alive | Chairman of the Godrej Group |
| Aamir Khan | 14-Mar-1965 | Alive | Acclaimed actor and film producer |
| Priyanka Chopra | 18-Jul-1982 | Alive | Actress, singer, and former Miss World |
| Hrithik Roshan | 10-Jan-1974 | Alive | Bollywood actor and dancer |
| Leander Paes | 17-Jun-1973 | Alive | Tennis legend and multiple Grand Slam winner |
| Milkha Singh | 20-Nov-1929 | 18-Jun-2021 | Legendary Indian sprinter |
| Kamala Harris | 20-Oct-1964 | Alive | Vice President of the United States (2021- ) |
| Saina Nehwal | 17-Mar-1990 | Alive | Badminton star and Olympic medalist |
| Atal Bihari Vajpayee | 25-Dec-1924 | 16-Aug-2018 | Former Prime Minister of India |
| Sardar Patel | 31-Oct-1875 | 15-Dec-1950 | A key figure in the Indian Independence movement |
| Mamata Banerjee | 5-Jan-1955 | Alive | Current Chief Minister of West Bengal |
| Raja Ram Mohan Roy | 22-May-1772 | 27-Sep-1833 | Pioneer of Indian Renaissance and social reformer |
| Swami Vivekananda | 12-Jan-1863 | 4-Jul-1902 | Philosopher and spiritual leader |
| Medha Patkar | 1-Dec-1954 | Alive | Social activist and leader of Narmada Bachao Andolan |
| Lata Mangeshkar | 28-Sep-1929 | 6-Feb-2022 | Legendary playback singer |
| Raj Kapoor | 14-Dec-1924 | 2-Jun-1988 | Iconic actor, director, and film producer |
| Rajinikanth | 12-Dec-1950 | Alive | Superstar of South Indian cinema |
| Bhagat Singh | 28-Sep-1907 | 23-Mar-1931 | Freedom fighter and martyr |
| Subhas Chandra Bose | 23-Jan-1897 | N/A | Freedom fighter and leader of INA |
| Chandra Shekhar Azad | 23-Jul-1906 | 27-Feb-1931 | Revolutionary who fought against British rule |
| Amrita Pritam | 31-Aug-1919 | 31-Oct-2005 | Renowned Punjabi writer and poet |
| M. F. Husain | 17-Sep-1915 | 9-Jun-2011 | Celebrated Indian painter |
| Srinivasa Ramanujan | 22-Dec-1887 | 26-Apr-1920 | Mathematician known for significant contributions to number theory |
| Vikram Sarabhai | 12-Aug-1919 | 30-Dec-1971 | Father of the Indian space program |
| Venkatraman Ramakrishnan | 10-Jan-1952 | Alive | Nobel laureate in Chemistry |
| Azim Premji | 24-Jul-1945 | Alive | Chairman of Wipro |
| N. R. Narayana Murthy | 20-Aug-1946 | Alive | Co-founder of Infosys |
| Adi Godrej | 3-Apr-1942 | Alive | Chairman of the Godrej Group |
| Aamir Khan | 14-Mar-1965 | Alive | Acclaimed actor and film producer |
| Priyanka Chopra | 18-Jul-1982 | Alive | Actress, singer, and former Miss World |
| Hrithik Roshan | 10-Jan-1974 | Alive | Bollywood actor and dancer |
| Leander Paes | 17-Jun-1973 | Alive | Tennis legend and multiple Grand Slam winner |
| Milkha Singh | 20-Nov-1929 | 18-Jun-2021 | Legendary Indian sprinter |
| Mother Teresa | 26-Aug-1910 | 5-Sep-1997 | Humanitarian and Nobel Peace Prize laureate |
| Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam | 15-Oct-1931 | 27-Jul-2015 | Former President and missile scientist |
| Dr. B. R. Ambedkar | 14-Apr-1891 | 6-Dec-1956 | Architect of the Indian Constitution |
| Sushmita Sen | 19-Nov-1975 | Alive | Miss Universe 1994 and actress |
| Rani Lakshmibai | 19-Nov-1828 | 18-Jun-1858 | Queen of the Maratha-ruled state of Jhansi |
| APJ Abdul Kalam | 15-Oct-1931 | 27-Jul-2015 | Missile scientist and former President |
| Kishore Kumar | 4-Aug-1929 | 13-Oct-1987 | Legendary playback singer and actor |
| Kapil Dev | 6-Jan-1959 | Alive | Cricket legend and World Cup-winning captain |
| Lata Mangeshkar | 28-Sep-1929 | 6-Feb-2022 | Legendary playback singer |
| Naseeruddin Shah | 20-Jul-1950 | Alive | Renowned actor and film director |
| Amitav Ghosh | 11-Jul-1956 | Alive | Celebrated author and novelist |
| Chetan Bhagat | 22-Apr-1974 | Alive | Bestselling author and columnist |
| Sunita Williams | 19-Sep-1965 | Alive | NASA astronaut |
| Rajat Sharma | 18-Feb-1957 | Alive | Journalist and television anchor |
| Barkha Dutt | 18-Dec-1971 | Alive | Renowned journalist and television personality |
| Rajesh Khanna | 29-Dec-1942 | 18-Jul-2012 | Bollywood’s first superstar |
| Madhuri Dixit | 15-May-1967 | Alive | Iconic Bollywood actress |
| Saina Nehwal | 17-Mar-1990 | Alive | Badminton star and Olympic medalist |
| Javed Akhtar | 17-Jan-1945 | Alive | Poet, lyricist, and scriptwriter |
| Gopinath Munde | 12-Dec-1949 | 3-Jun-2014 | Indian politician and social worker |
| Sudha Murthy | 19-Aug-1950 | Alive | Author, philanthropist, and Infosys Foundation chairperson |
| Shreya Ghoshal | 12-Mar-1984 | Alive | Playback singer with numerous awards |
| Geeta Phogat | 15-Dec-1988 | Alive | Wrestler, Commonwealth Games gold medalist |
| Dr. Manohar Parrikar | 13-Dec-1955 | 17-Mar-2019 | Former Chief Minister of Goa |
| Barkha Singh | 25-Aug-1954 | Alive | Former Chairperson of NCW |
| Hima Das | 9-Jan-2000 | Alive | Sprinter, known as the “Dhing Express” |
| Jasprit Bumrah | 6-Dec-1993 | Alive | Cricketer, known for his deadly yorkers |
| PV Sindhu | 5-Jul-1995 | Alive | Badminton Olympian |
| N. R. Narayana Murthy | 20-Aug-1946 | Alive | Co-founder of Infosys |
| Aamir Khan | 14-Mar-1965 | Alive | Acclaimed actor and film producer |
| P. Chidambaram | 16-Sep-1945 | Alive | Former Finance Minister of India |
| V. K. Krishna Menon | 3-May-1896 | 6-Oct-1974 | Diplomat and India’s first ambassador to the United Nations |
| P. V. Narasimha Rao | 28-Jun-1921 | 23-Dec-2004 | Former Prime Minister of India |
| Naveen Patnaik | 16-Oct-1946 | Alive | Chief Minister of Odisha |
| Shahid Kapoor | 25-Feb-1981 | Alive | Bollywood actor |
| Sachin Pilot | 7-Sep-1977 | Alive | Indian politician and Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan |
| Anurag Kashyap | 10-Sep-1972 | Alive | Filmmaker and screenwriter |
| Sakshi Malik | 3-Sep-1992 | Alive | Olympic bronze medalist in wrestling |
| Kajol | 5-Aug-1974 | Alive | Award-winning Bollywood actress |
| Kiran Bedi | 9-Jun-1949 | Alive | Former IPS officer and social activist |
| Narayan Murthy | 20-Aug-1946 | Alive | Co-founder of Infosys |
| Barkha Dutt | 18-Dec-1971 | Alive | Renowned journalist and television personality |
| Ruskin Bond | 19-May-1934 | Alive | Renowned author of books for children and adults |
| Virat Kohli | 5-Nov-1988 | Alive | Captain of the Indian cricket team |
| Gauri Khan | 8-Oct-1970 | Alive | Interior designer and film producer |
| Nana Patekar | 1-Jan-1951 | Alive | Versatile actor and filmmaker |
| Shashi Tharoor | 9-Mar-1956 | Alive | Politician, author, and former diplomat |
| Jhumpa Lahiri | 11-Jul-1967 | Alive | Pulitzer Prize-winning author |
| Bhagat Singh | 28-Sep-1907 | 23-Mar-1931 | Freedom fighter and martyr |
| Sunita Williams | 19-Sep-1965 | Alive | NASA astronaut |
| Rajat Sharma | 18-Feb-1957 | Alive | Journalist and television anchor |
| Rani Lakshmibai | 19-Nov-1828 | 18-Jun-1858 | Queen of the Maratha-ruled state of Jhansi |
In the tapestry of human history, India’s contributions have woven threads of knowledge, culture, and progress. The individuals we have explored here represent just a fraction of the remarkable famous Indian personalities that have emerged from this ancient land. Their stories inspire us to dream, learn, and strive for greatness. As we conclude this journey, may their legacies continue to ignite curiosity and inspire future generations to make their mark on the world.
