Famous Personalities
Famous Personalities
Master information about famous personalities for RRB exam preparation with comprehensive coverage of important figures.
National Leaders and Freedom Fighters
Prime Ministers of India
Jawaharlal Nehru (1947-1964)
- First Prime Minister of Independent India
- Architect of modern India
- Key Policies: Non-alignment, industrialization, scientific development
- Books: “Discovery of India”, “Letters from a Father to His Daughter”
- Nickname: “Chacha Nehru”, Children’s Day celebrated on his birthday
Indira Gandhi (1966-1977, 1980-1984)
- First Female Prime Minister of India
- Key Events: 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, Green Revolution
- Bank Nationalization: 14 major banks nationalized
- Operation Blue Star: Golden Temple operation
- Assassinated: 1984 by bodyguards
Rajiv Gandhi (1984-1989)
- Youngest Prime Minister at age 40
- Technology Focus: Computerization, telecommunications
- Peace Accords: Assam Accord, Punjab Accord
- Assassinated: 1991 during election campaign
Freedom Fighters
Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948)
- Father of the Nation
- Movement Leader: Non-cooperation, Civil Disobedience, Quit India
- Philosophy: Ahimsa (non-violence), Satyagraha (truth force)
- Key Events: Dandi March, Kheda Movement
- Assassinated: January 30, 1948, by Nathuram Godse
Subhas Chandra Bose (1897-1945)
- Netaji (Respected Leader)
- Indian National Army (INA): Led armed struggle against British
- Motto: “Give me blood, and I shall give you freedom!”
- Disappearance: Died in mysterious plane crash in 1945
- Slogan: “Jai Hind”
Bhagat Singh (1907-1931)
- Revolutionary Freedom Fighter
- Key Acts: Assembly bombing, Saunders assassination
- Motto: “Inquilab Zindabad” (Long Live Revolution)
- Executed: March 23, 1931, along with Rajguru and Sukhdev
Scientists and Innovators
Indian Scientists
Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam (1931-2015)
- Missile Man of India
- Projects: AGNI, PRITHVI missiles
- President: 11th President of India (2002-2007)
- Awards: Bharat Ratna, Padma Vibhushan
- Vision: Developed India 2020 vision document
Homi J. Bhabha (1909-1966)
- Father of Indian Nuclear Program
- Institutions: BARC, TIFR
- Atomic Energy Commission: First Chairman
- Vision: Nuclear energy for peaceful purposes
- Death: Died in Air India Flight 101 crash
Dr. Vikram Sarabhai (1919-1971)
- Father of Indian Space Program
- ISRO Founder: Established in 1969
- Institutions: PRL, IIM Ahmedabad
- Vision: Space technology for national development
- Awards: Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan
Global Scientists
Albert Einstein (1879-1955)
- Theory of Relativity: E=mc²
- Nobel Prize: 1921 for Photoelectric Effect
- Influence: Revolutionized modern physics
- Immigration: Moved to US to escape Nazi Germany
- Institute: Princeton Institute for Advanced Study
Marie Curie (1867-1934)
- First Woman Nobel Laureate
- Discoveries: Polonium, Radium
- Nobel Prizes: Physics (1903), Chemistry (1911)
- Research: Radioactivity, X-ray technology
- Institutes: Curie Institute in Paris and Warsaw
Literary Figures
Indian Writers
Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941)
- Gurudev (Great Teacher)
- First Non-European Nobel Prize: Literature (1913)
- Works: “Gitanjali”, “National Anthem”
- Philosophy: Universalism, internationalism
- Institution: Founded Visva-Bharati University
Mahadevi Varma (1907-1987)
- Modern Meera (poet)
- Literature: Hindi poetry, prose
- Awards: Padma Vibhushan, Jnanpith Award
- Social Work: Women’s education, empowerment
- Magazine: Edited “Chand” magazine
Premchand (1880-1936)
- Upanyas Samrat (Emperor of Novels)
- Language: Hindi and Urdu literature
- Works: “Godan”, “Nirmala”, “Gaban”
- Social Issues: Rural life, poverty, women’s rights
- Realism: Focused on social realism
International Authors
William Shakespeare (1564-1616)
- Bard of Avon
- Works: 37 plays, 154 sonnets
- Famous Plays: “Hamlet”, “Romeo and Juliet”, “Macbeth”
- Theatre: Globe Theatre in London
- Influence: English literature and language
Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910)
- Russian Writer
- Works: “War and Peace”, “Anna Karenina”
- Philosophy: Christian anarchism, non-violence
- Influence: Inspired Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr.
- Nominations: Multiple Nobel Peace Prize nominations
Sports Personalities
Indian Athletes
Sachin Tendulkar (1973-present)
- Master Blaster, “Little Master”
- Cricket: 100 international centuries
- Debut: Age 16, played for 24 years
- Awards: Bharat Ratna, Arjuna Award
- Records: Most runs in ODIs and Tests
Milkha Singh (1929-2021)
- Flying Sikh
- Athletics: 200m, 400m sprinter
- Olympics: Fourth place in 1960 Rome Olympics
- Commonwealth Games: Gold medal in 1958
- Biography: “Bhaag Milkha Bhaag” film based on his life
P.V. Sindhu (1995-present)
- Badminton Champion
- Olympics: Silver medal (2016), Bronze medal (2020)
- World Championships: Gold medal (2019)
- Awards: Padma Bhushan, Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna
- First Indian: Badminton world champion
International Sports Icons
Usain Bolt (1986-present)
- Fastest Man Alive
- Sprinting: 100m, 200m world records
- Olympics: 8 gold medals across 3 Olympics
- Records: 9.58 seconds (100m), 19.19 seconds (200m)
- Nickname: “Lightning Bolt”
Michael Phelps (1985-present)
- Flying Fish
- Swimming: Most decorated Olympian
- Olympics: 28 medals (23 gold, 3 silver, 2 bronze)
- Records: Multiple world records in swimming
- Career: Competed in 4 Olympic Games
Art and Culture Icons
Indian Artists
M.F. Husain (1915-2011)
- Picasso of India
- Style: Modern Indian painting
- Themes: Indian mythology, contemporary life
- Recognition: Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan
- Controversy: Some works faced religious objections
Raja Ravi Varma (1848-1906)
- Father of Modern Indian Art
- Style: Combination of Indian and Western techniques
- Themes: Hindu mythology, Indian life
- Lithography: Made art accessible to masses
- Influence: Shaped Indian visual culture
International Artists
Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
- Renaissance Man
- Works: “Mona Lisa”, “The Last Supper”
- Skills: Painting, sculpture, architecture, science
- Inventions: Flying machines, anatomical studies
- Genius: Universal genius of Renaissance
Pablo Picasso (1881-1973)
- Cubism Pioneer
- Periods: Blue Period, Rose Period, Cubism
- Famous Works: “Guernica”, “Les Demoiselles d’Avignon”
- Influence: Revolutionized modern art
- Legacy: Most influential artist of 20th century
Social Reformers
Indian Reformers
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar (1891-1956)
- Father of Indian Constitution
- Social Justice: Fought against caste discrimination
- Positions: First Law Minister of India
- Education: Columbia University, London School of Economics
- Conversion: Converted to Buddhism with followers
Mother Teresa (1910-1997)
- Saint of the Gutters
- Missionary: Worked with poor in Kolkata
- Nobel Peace Prize: 1979
- Organization: Missionaries of Charity
- Canonization: Declared saint in 2016
Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902)
- Spiritual Leader
- Chicago Speech: 1893 Parliament of World Religions
- Philosophy: Vedanta, Yoga
- Organization: Ramakrishna Mission
- Influence: Introduced Indian spirituality to West
Practice Questions
Question 1
Who is known as the “Missile Man of India”?
Question 2
Who was the first woman Prime Minister of India?
Question 3
Who wrote “Discovery of India”?
Question 4
Who is called the “Flying Sikh” in Indian athletics?
Question 5
Who founded the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO)?
Question 6
Who is known as the “Father of Indian Constitution”?
Question 7
Who was the first Indian to win the Nobel Prize in Literature?
Question 8
Who is called the “Master Blaster” in Indian cricket?
Question 9
Who established the Ramakrishna Mission?
Question 10
Who is known as the “Picasso of India”?
Important Dates and Events
Birth and Death Anniversaries
- October 2: Gandhi Jayanti (Mahatma Gandhi)
- November 14: Children’s Day (Jawaharlal Nehru)
- May 11: National Technology Day (Pokhran tests)
- August 15: Independence Day
- January 26: Republic Day
Awards and Recognition
- Bharat Ratna: India’s highest civilian award
- Padma Awards: Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri
- Nobel Prizes: Indian winners in various fields
- Olympic Medals: Indian Olympic achievements
BETA
