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
