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born: October 2, 1904

Died: January 10, 1966


Achievements: Played a leading role in Indian freedom struggle; became Parliamentary Secretary of Pandit Govind Vallabh Pant, the
then chief minister of Uttar Pradesh; became the Minister of Police and Transport in Pant's Cabinet; appointed as the Railways and
Transport Minister in the Central Cabinet; also held the portfolios of Transport & Communications, Commerce and Industry, and
Home Ministry in the Central cabinet; became Prime Minister of India in 1964; led India to victory over Pakistan in 1965 war.

Lal Bahadur Shastri was the second Prime Minister of independent India. Though diminutive in physical stature he was a man of great
courage and will. He successfully led country during the 1965 war with Pakistan. To mobilize the support of country during the war he
coined the slogan of "Jai Jawan Jai Kisan". Lal Bahadur Sastri also played a key role in India's freedom struggle. He led his life with
great simplicity and honesty and was a great source of inspiration for all the countrymen.

Lal Bahadur Shastri was born on October 2, 1904 at Mughalsarai, Uttar Pradesh. His parents were Sharada Prasad and Ramdulari
Devi. Lal Bahadur's surname was Srivastava but he dropped it as he did not want to indicate his caste. Lal Bahadur's father was a
school teacher and later on he became a clerk in the Revenue Office at Allahabad. Though Sharada Prasad was poor, he lived a life of
honesty and integrity. Lal Bahadur lost his father when he was only one. Ramdulari Devi raised Lal Bahadur and her two daughters at
her father's house.

There is a very famous incident regarding Lal Bahadur Shastri's childhood which took place when he was six years old. One day,
while returning from school, Lal Bahadur and his friends went to an orchard that was on the way to home. Lal Bahadur Shastri was
standing below while his friends climbed the trees to pluck mangoes. Meanwhile, the gardener came and caught hold of Lalbahadur
Shastri. He scolded Lal Bahadur Shastri and started beating him. Lal Bahadur Shastri pleaded to gardener to leave him as he was
orphan. Taking pity on Lal Bahadur, the gardener said, "Because you are an orphan, it is all the more important that you must learn
better behavior." These words left a deep imprint on Lal Bahadur Shastri and he swore to behave better in the future.

Lal Bahadur stayed at his grandfather's house till he was ten. By that time he had passed the sixth standard examination. He went to
Varanasi for higher education. In 1921 when Mahatma Gandhi launched the non-cooperation movement against British Government,
Lal Bahadur Shastri, was only seventeen years old. When Mahatma Gandhi gave a call to the youth to come out of Government
schools and colleges, offices and courts and to sacrifice everything for the sake of freedom, Lal Bahadur came out of his school.
Though his mother and relatives advised him not to do so, he was firm in his decision. Lal Bahadur was arrested during the Non-
cooperation movement but as he was too young he was let off.

After his release Lal Bahadur joined Kashi Vidya Peeth and for four years he studied philosophy. In 1926, Lal Bahadur earned the
degree of "Shastri" After leaving Kashi Vidya Peeth, Lal Bahadur Shastri joined "The Servants of the People Society", which Lala
Lajpat Rai had started in 1921. The aim of the Society was to train youths that were prepared to dedicate their lives in the service of
the country. In 1927, Lal Bahadur Shastri married Lalitha Devi. The marriage ceremony was very simple and Shastriji took only a
charkha (spinning wheel) and few yards of Khadi in dowry.

In 1930, Gandhiji gave the call for Civil Disobedience Movement. Lal Bahadur Shastri joined the movement and encouraged people
not to pay land revenue and taxes to the government. He was arrested and put in jail for two and a half years. In jail Shastriji became
familiar with the works of western philosophers, revolutionaries and social reformers. Lal Bahadur Shastri had great self respect. Once
when he was in prison, one of his daughters fell seriously ill. The officers agreed to release him out for a short time but on condition
that he should agree in writing not to take part in the freedom 'movement during this period. Lal Bahadur did not wish to participate in
the freedom movement during his temporary release from prison; but he said that he would not give it in writing. He thought that it
was against his self-respect to give it in writing.

After Second World War started in 1939, Congress launched "Individual Satyagraha" in 1940 to demand freedom. Lal Bahadur
Shastri was arrested during Individual Satyagraha and released after one year. On August 8, 1942, Gandhiji gave the call for Quit
India Movement. Lal Bahadur actively participated in the movement. He went underground but was later arrested. Lal Bahadur Shastri
was released in 1945 along with other major leaders. He earned the praise of Pandit Govind Vallabh Pant by his hard work during the
1946 provincial elections. Lal Bahadur's administrative ability and organization skills came to the fore during this time. When Govind
Vallabh Pant became the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, he appointed Lal Bahadur Shastri as his Parliamentary Secretary. In 1947,
Lal Bahadur Shastri became the Minister of Police and Transport in Pant's Cabinet.

Lal Bahadur Sastri was the General Secretary of the Congress Party when the first general elections were held after India became
Republic. Congress Party returned to power with a huge majority. In 1952, Jawahar Lal Nehru appointed Lal Bahadur Shastri as the
Railways and Transport Minister in the Central Cabinet. Lal Bahadur Shastri's contribution in providing more facilities to travelers in
third class compartments cannot be forgotten. He reduced the vast disparity between the first class and third class in the Railways. Lal
Bahadur Shastri resigned from Railways in 1956, owning moral responsibility for a railway accident. Jawaharlal Nehru tried to
persuade Shastriji but Lal Bahadur Shastri refused to budge from his stand. By his action Lal Bahadur Shastri set new standards of
morality in public life.

In the next general elections when Congress returned to power, Lal Bahadur Shastri became the Minister for Transport and
Communications and later the Minister for Commerce and Industry. He became the Home Minister in 1961, after the death of Govind
Vallabh Pant. In the 1962 India-China war Shastriji played a key role in maintaining internal security of the country.

After the death of Jawaharlal Nehru in 1964, Lal Bahadur Shastri was unanimously elected as the Prime Minister of India. It was a
difficult time and the country was facing huge challenges. There was food shortage in the country and on the security front Pakistan
was creating problems. In 1965, Pakistan tried to take advantage of India's vulnerability and attacked India. Mild-mannered Lal
Bahadur Shastri rose to the occasion and led the country ably. To enthuse soldiers and farmers he coined the slogan of "Jai Jawan, Jai
Kisan". Pakistan lost the war and Shastriji's leadership was praised all over the world.

In January 1966, to broker peace between India and Pakistan, Russia mediated a meeting between Lal Bahadur Shastri and Ayub Khan
in Tashkent, Russia. India and Pakistan signed the joint declaration under Russian mediation. Under the treaty India agreed to return to
Pakistan all the territories occupied by it during the war. The joint declaration was signed on January 10, 1966 and Lal Bahadur
Shastri died of heart attack on the same night.

Rajiv Gandhi Biography

Born: August 20, 1944


Martyrdom: May 21, 1991
Achievements: Became Prime Minister of India at the age of 40. Led Congress to its greatest victory in the Lok Sabha elections,
winning about 80 per cent of seats. Played a key role in the introduction of computers in India.

Rajiv Gandhi was the youngest Prime Minister of India. He became Prime Minister at the age of 40. Rajiv Gandhi came from a family
that had great political lineage. He was the eldest son of Indira and Feroze Gandhi. Her mother Indira Gandhi and grandfather
Jawaharlal Nehru were Prime Ministers of India. As a Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi made a valuable contribution in modernizing
Indian administration. He had the vision and foresight to see that information technology will play a key role in the 21 century and
worked actively to develop India's capacity in this realm.

Rajiv Gandhi was born on August 20, 1944 in Bombay (Mumbai) in India's most famous political family. His grandfather Jawaharlal
Nehru played a stellar role in India's freedom struggle and became independent India's first Prime Minister. His parents lived
separately and Rajiv Gandhi was raised at his grandfather's home where her mother lived. Rajeev Gandhi did his schooling from the
elite Doon school and then studied at the University of London and at Trinity College, Cambridge in Britain. At Cambridge, Rajiv
Ghandi met and fell in love with an Italian student Sonia Maino and they got married in 1969.

Returning to India, Rajeev Ghandi became a commercial airline pilot. His younger brother Sanjay Gandhi entered politics and became
a trusted lieutenant of her mother Indira Gandhi. After Sanjay's death in a plane crash in 1980, Rajiv reluctantly entered politics at the
instance of his mother. He won his first Lok Sabha election in 1981 from Amethi-the erstwhile constituency of his brother. Soon he
became the General Secretary of the Congress Party. After
the assassination of Indira Gandhi in October 1984 he
became the Prime Minister of India at the age of 40. He
called for general elections in 1984 and riding on a massive
sympathy wave led Congress to a thumping victory. Congress garnered 80 percent of the seats in the lower house and achieved its
greatest victory since independence.

In his initial days as Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi was immensely popular. During his tenure as Prime Minister of India, he brought a
certain dynamism to the premiership, which had always been occupied by older people. He is credited with promoting the introduction
of computers in India. Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi began leading in a direction significantly different from Indira Gandhi's socialism.
He improved bilateral relations with the United States and expanded economic and scientific cooperation. He increased government
support for science and technology and associated industries, and reduced import quotas, taxes and tariffs on technology-based
industries, especially computers, airlines, defence and telecommunications. He worked towards reducing the red tape in the
governance and freeing administration from bureaucratic tangles. In 1986, Rajiv Gandhi announced a national education policy to
modernize and expand higher education programs across India.

Rajiv Gandhi authorised an extensive police and army campaign against the militants in Punjab. Rajiv's government suffered a major
setback when its efforts to broker peace between the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE rebels backfired. As per the peace
accords signed in 1987, the LTTE would disarm to the Indian Peace Keeping Force which was sent to Sri Lanka. But distrust and a
few incidents of conflict broke out into open fighting between the LTTE militants and Indian soldiers. Over a thousand Indian soldiers
were killed, and at last Rajiv Gandhi had to pull out Indian forces from Sri Lanka. It was a failure of Rajiv's diplomacy.

Although Rajeev Gandhi promised to end corruption, he and his party were themselves implicated in corruption scandals. The major
scandal being Bofors Gun scandal involving alleged payoffs by the Swedish Bofors arms company. The scandal rapidly eroded his
popularity and he lost the next general elections held in 1989. A coalition comprising government came to the power but it could not
last its full term and general elections were called in 1991. While campaigning for elections in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu, Rajiv
Gandhi was assassinated on May 21, 1991 by a suicide bomber belonging to LTTE.

Indira Gandhi Biography

Born: November 19, 1917


Martyrdom: October 31, 1984
Achievements: Became President of Indian
National Congress in 1959; was Minister of
Information and Broadcasting in Lal Bahadur
Shastri's government; became Prime Minister in
1966; nationalized major banks in 1969; gave the
slogan of Garibi Hatao during 1971 general
elections; led India to a decisive war against Pakistan in 1971.

Indira Gandhi, one of the best-known women of the 20th century, was Prime Minister of India, and daughter of former Prime Minister
Jawaharlal Nehru. Also known as Indira Nehru Gandhi, she was born on November 19, 1917 in Allahabad. She was born in a family
that was at the centre of Indian freedom movement. Her father Jawaharlal Nehru and grandfather Motilal Nehru were at the forefront
of Indian freedom struggle. Her mother Kamla Nehru, although less involved politically, was subject to political arrest by the British.
Indira Gandhi had a lonely childhood, with some of her most vivid remembrances being the entry into her home of British policemen.
As her parents did not want to send her to any of the British schools in India, Indira Gandhi's education took place at a series of Indian
schools and at non-British schools in Europe, with a number of private tutorials interspersed between periods at school.

Indira Gandhi married a Parsi named Feroze Gandhi in 1942. The marriage was opposed by orthodox Hindus because it was an
intercommunal love marriage not arranged by her parents. Jawaharlal Nehru too opposed the marriage on grounds that the couple were
somewhat incompatible because both possessed fiery tempers. Publicly, however, both Jawaharlal Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi
strenuously defended the marriage. Shortly after their marriage both Indira Gandhi and Feroze Gandhi were arrested and jailed for
nationalist activities. Indira Gandhi was released after eight months and Feroze Gandhi after an year. After the release Feroze Gandhi
became editor of The National Herald, a newspaper founded by Jawaharlal Nehru, and Mrs. Indira Gandhi became the principal
confidant and assistant of her father during the period of Nehru's prime ministership (1947-1965). The couple separated for a number
of years during the 1950s as Feroze Gandhi launched his own political career in Parliament and was often at odds with Jawaharlal
Nehru's policies and style. In 1959 Indira Gandhi became President of the Indian National Congress and in 1964 she was elected to the
parliament. Meanwhile, the death of Feroze Gandhi (from a heart attack) in 1960, and the subsequent death of her father in 1964,
caused Indira Gandhi to withdraw into a shell and limit herself to her immediate family.

After the death of Jawaharlal Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri became Prime Minister and Indira Gandhi was the minister of Information
and Broadcasting in his government. After Lal Bahadur Shastri's untimely death in 1966, she was selected as prime minister by party
bosses within the Congress Party as a compromise candidate. Her candidature was opposed by Morarji Desai, a veteran nationalist and
prime ministerial aspirant himself. The Congress bosses were apparently looking for a leading figure acceptable to the masses, who
could not only command general support during the next general election but who would also acquiesce to their guidance. In her initial
days as Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi encountered numerous problems such as Mizo tribal uprisings in the northeast; famine, labour
unrest,and misery among the poor in the wake of rupee devaluation; and agitation in Punjab for linguistic and religious separatism.

In the fourth general elections held in 1967, Congress suffered a major setback. Congress majority was greatly reduced in parliament
and non-Congress ministries were established in Bihar, Kerala, Orissa, Madras, Punjab, and West Bengal. This forced Mrs. Indira
Gandhi to become assertive and opt for a series of choices that pitted her directly against the Congress Party high command, which
had previously been built up by her father. Seeking to eradicate poverty, Mrs. Gandhi pursued a vigorous policy in 1969 of land
reform and placed a ceiling on personal income, private property, and corporate profits. She also nationalized the major banks, a bold
step amidst a growing rift between herself and the party elders. The Congress expelled her for "indiscipline" on November 12, 1969,
an action that split the party into two factions: the Congress (O)-for Organisation-led by Morarji Desai, and the Congress (I)--for
Indira-led by Indira Gandhi.

Indira Gandhi campaigned fiercely on the slogan of "Garibi Hatao" (eliminate poverty) during the fifth general elections in March
1971 and won an unprecedented two-third majority. Her leadership qualities came to the fore during India-Pakistan war in 1971 that
resulted in liberation of Bangladesh. India achieved decisive victory over Pakistan in the face of diplomatic opposition from both
China and the United States and a lack of international support from almost every other nation except the Soviet Union and the
Eastern Bloc countries. Indian victory over Pakistan led to a great surge in Indira Gandhi's popularity and she was compared to
Goddess Durga by ordinary Indians.

Expectations raised by the garibi hatao campaign and India's victory over Pakistan in 1971 led to great disappointment and political
difficulties in the mid-1970s. Enormous economic cost of 1971 war, increase in world oil prices and, drop in industrial output added to
the economic hardships. During this time J.P.Narayan initiated a civil disobedience movement against Indira Gandhi. In June 1975,
amidst all this crises Allahabad High Court invalidated her 1971 election on the grounds of electoral malpractices. Instead of
resigning, Indira Gandhi declared an Emergency in the country and jailed al her political opponents. The Emergency lasted till March
1977 and in the general election held afterwards she was defeated by a coalition of parties called Janta Morcha.

Factionalism among coalition partners led to the collapse of Janta government and Indira Gandhi came back to the power once again
in 1980. But her second innings was beset with difficulties and personal tragedies. Her younger son Sanjay Gandhi died in an air
crash. Her government was confronted with serious challenges to its ability to maintain law and order as conflicts between religious
and ethnic groups broke out in different parts of the country. After the army had invaded the Golden Temple in Amritsar, the chief
shrine of the Sikhs, which had been held as an armed camp by a group of militant Sikhs, she became the target for Sikh anger and on
31 October 1984 she was assassinated by her own Sikh bodyguard.

Indira Gandhi Pictures


Here is a collection of Indira Gandhi's pictures. These photos reveal different phases and facets of her life. These images encompass
his whole life journey from childhood to her martyrdom.

Indira Gandhi Quotes


Here are some famous quotes by Indira Gandhi. These quotes reveal Indra Gandhi's thinking and are a guiding light and source of
inspiration to others.

Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan Biography


Born: September 5, 1888
Died: April 17, 1975
Achievements: First Vice President and second President of India. Placed Indian philosophy on world map.

Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was first Vice President of India and second President of India. He was also a philosopher and introduced
the thinking of western idealist philosophers into Indian thought. He was a famous teacher and his birthday is celebrated as Teacher's
Day in India.

Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was born on September 5, 1888 at Tirutani, Madras in a poor Brahmin family. As his father was poor
Radhakrishnan supported most of his education through scholarships. Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan had his early education at Gowdie
School, Tiruvallur and then went to the Lutheran Mission School in Tirupati for his high school. He joined the Voorhee's College in
Vellore and later switched to the Madras Christian College. He chose Philosophy as his major subject and did his B.A. and M.A. in it.

After completing his M.A., Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, accepted an Assistant Lectureship at the Madras Presidency College in 1909. In
college, he mastered the classics of Hindu philosophy, namely the Upanishads, Bhagvad Gita, Brahmasutra, and commentaries of
Sankara, Ramunuja and Madhava. He also acquainted himself with Buddhist and Jain philosophy and philosophies of Western
thinkers such as Plato, Plotinus, Kant, Bradley, and Bergson.

In 1918, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was selected as


Professor of Philosophy by the University of
Mysore. In 1921, Radhakrishnan was nominated as
Professor of Philosophy at the Calcutta University,
1921. In 1923, Dr. Radhakrishnan's book "Indian Philosophy" was published. The book was hailed as a "philosophical classic and a
literary masterpiece."

Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was called to Oxford University, to deliver lectures on Hindu philosophy. He used his lectures as a platform
to further India's cause for freedom. He also argued that Western philosophers, despite all claims to objectivity, were biased by
theological influences from their wider culture. He showed that Indian philosophy, once translated into standard academic jargon, is
worthy of being called philosophy by Western standards. He thus placed Indian Philosophy on world map.

In 1931, Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was elected Vice Chancellor of the Andhra University. In 1939, Radhakrishnan became the
Vice Chancellor of the Benaras Hindu University. In 1946, he was appointed as Ambassador to UNESCO. After Independence Dr.
Radhakrishnan was requested to Chair the University Education Commission in 1948. The Radhakrishnan Committee's suggestions
helped mould the education system for India's needs.

In 1949, Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was appointed ambassador to the Soviet Union. He helped laid the foundation for a strong
relationship with Soviet Union. Radhakrishnan was elected first Vice-President of India in 1952. He was honored with the Bharat
Ratna in 1954. After serving two terms as Vice-President, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was elected President of India in 1962. During his
tenure as President India fought wars with China and Pakistan. As President he helped see India through those trying years safely. He
retired as President in 1967 and settled in Madras.

Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan died on April 17, 1975.

Sardar Patel Biography


Born: October 31, 1875
Died: December 15, 1950
Achievements: Successfully led Kheda Satyagraha and Bardoli revolt against British government; elected Ahmedabad's municipal
president in 1922, 1924 and 1927; elected Congress President in 1931; was independent India's first Deputy Prime Minister and Home
Minister; played a key role in political integration of India; conferred Bharat Ratna in 1991.

Sardar Patel was popularly known as Iron Man of India. His full name was Vallabhbhai Patel. He played a leading role in the Indian
freedom struggle and became the first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister of India. He is credited with achieving political
integration of India.

Vallabhbhai Patel was born on October 31, 1875 in Nadiad, a small village in Gujarat. His father Jhaverbhai was a farmer and mother
Laad Bai was a simple lady. Sardar Vallabhai's early
education took place in Karamsad. Then he joined a school
in Petlad. After two years he joined a high school in a town
called Nadiad. He passed his high school examination in
1896. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was a brilliant student throughout his schooling.

Vallabhbhai wanted to become a barrister. To realize this ambition he had to go to England. But he did not have the financial means to
even join a college India. In those days a candidate could study in private and sit for an examination in Law. Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel
borrowed books from a lawyer of his acquaintance and studied at home. Occasionally he attended courts of law and listened
attentively to the arguments of lawyer. Vallabhbhai passed the Law examination with flying colours.

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel started his Law practice in Godhra. Soon his practice flourished. He got married to Jhaberaba. In 1904, he
got a baby daughter Maniben, and in 1905 his son Dahyabhai was born. Vallabhbhai sent his elder brother Vitthalbhai, who himself
was a lawyer, to England for higher studies in Law. Patel was only thirty-three years old when his wife died. He did not wish to marry
again. After his brother's return, Vallabhbhai went to England. He studied with single-minded devotion and stood first in the Barrister-
at-Law Examination.

Sardar Patel returned to India in 1913 and started his practice in Ahmedabad. Soon he became popular. At the urging of his friends,
Patel contested and won elections to become the sanitation commissioner of Ahmedabad in 1917. Sardar Patel was deeply impressed
by Gandhiji's success in Champaran Satyagraha. In 1918, there was a drought in the Kheda division of Gujarat. Peasants asked for
relief from the high rate of taxes but the British government refused. Gandhiji took up peasants cause but could not devote his full
time in Kheda. He was looking for someone who could lead the struggle in his absence. At this point Sardar Patel volunteered to come
forward and lead the struggle. He gave up his lucrative legal practice and entered public life.

Vallabhbhai successfully led peasants revolt in Kheda and the revolt ended in 1919 when the British government agreed to suspend
collection of revenue and roll back the rates. Kheda Satyagraha turned Vallabhbhai Patel into a national hero. Vallabhbhai supported
Gandhi's Non-Cooperation Movement, and as president of the Gujarat Congress, helped in organizing bonfires of British goods in
Ahmedabad. He gave up his English clothes and started wearing Khadi. Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel was elected Ahmedabad's
municipal president in 1922, 1924 and 1927. During his terms, Ahmedabad was extended a major supply of electricity and underwent
major education reforms. Drainage and sanitation systems were extended over all the city.

In 1928, Bardoli Taluka in Gujarat suffered from floods and famine. In this hour of distress the British government raised the revenue
taxes by thirty percent. Sardar Patel took up cudgels on behalf of the farmers and appealed to the Governor to reduce the taxes. The
Governor refused and the government even announced the date of the collection of the taxes. Sardar Patel organized the farmers and
told them not to pay even a single pie of tax. The government tried to repress the revolt but ultimately bowed before Vallabhbhai
Patel. It was during the struggle and after the victory in Bardoli that caused intense excitement across India, that Patel was
increasingly addressed by his colleagues and followers as Sardar.

Disobedience Movement in 1930. After the signing of Gandhi-Irwin pact in 1931, Sardar Patel was released and he was elected
Congress president for its 1931 session in Karachi. Upon the failure of the Round Table Conference in London, Gandhiji and Sardar
Patel were arrested in January 1932 and imprisoned in the Yeravada Central Jail. During this term of imprisonment, Sardar Patel and
Mahatma Gandhi grew close to one another, and the two developed a close bond of affection, trust, and frankness without reserve.
Sardar Patel was finally released in July 1934.

In August 1942, the Congress launched the Quit India Movement. The government jailed all the important leaders of the Congress,
including Vallabhai Patel. All the leaders were released after three years. After achieving independence on 15th of August 1947,
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru became the first Prime Minister of independent India and Sardar Patel became the Deputy Prime Minister. He
was in charge of Home Affairs, Information and Broadcasting and the Ministry of States.

There were 565 princely states in India at that time. Some of the Maharajas and Nawabs who ruled over these were sensible and
patriotic. But most of them were drunk with wealth and power. They were dreaming of becoming independent rulers once the British
quit India. They argued that the government of free India should treat them as equals. Some of them went to the extent of planning to
send their representatives to the United Nations Organization. Patel invoked the patriotism of India's monarchs, asking them to join in
the freedom of their nation and act as responsible rulers who cared about the future of their people. He persuaded the princes of 565
states of the impossibility of independence from the Indian republic, especially in the presence of growing opposition from their
subjects. With great wisdom and political foresight, he consolidated the small kingdoms. The public was with him. He tackled the
Nizam of Hyderabad and the Nawab of Junagarh who initially did not want to join India. Sardar Patel's untiring efforts towards the
unity of the country brought success. He united a scattered nation without much bloodshed. Due to the achievement of this massive
task, Sardar Patel got the title of 'Iron Man'. Sardar Patel died of cardiac arrest on December 15, 1950. For his services to the nation
Sardar Patel was conferred with Bharat Ratna in 1991.

Dr. Rajendra Prasad Biography

Born: December 3, 1884


Died: February 28, 1963
Achievements: First President of independent India; President of the Constituent Assembly; President of Congress in 1943 and 1939.

Dr. Rajendra Prasad was the first President of independent India. He was the President of the Constituent Assembly that drafted the
Constitution. He had also served as a Cabinet Minister briefly in the first Government of independent India. Dr. Rajendra Prasad was
one of the foremost disciples of Gandhiji and he played a crucial role in Indian freedom struggle.

Dr. Rajendra Prasad was born on December 3, 1884 in


Ziradei village in Siwan district of Bihar. His father's name
was Mahadev Sahay and his mother's name was
Kamleshwari Devi. Rajendra Prasad was youngest among his
siblings. Mahadev Sahay was a Persian and Sanskrit language scholar. Dr. Rajendra Prasad was greatly attached to his mother and
elder brother Mahendra.

At the age of five Rajendra Prasad was, according to the practice in the community to which he belonged, put under a Maulavi who
taught him Persian. Later, he was taught Hindi and arithmetic. At the age of 12, Rajendra Prasad was married to Rajvanshi Devi.

Dr. Rajendra Prasad was a brilliant student. He stood first in the entrance examination to the University of Calcutta, and was awarded
a monthly scholarship of Rs.30. He joined the famous Calcutta Presidency College in 1902. Here his teachers included the great
scientist Jagdish Chandra Bose and the highly respected Prafulla Chandra Roy. Later on he switched from Science to Arts and
completed his M.A. and Masters in Law. Meanwhile, in 1905, Doctor, Rajendra Prasad was initiated into the Swadeshi Movement by
his elder brother Mahendra. He also joined the Dawn Society run by Satish Chandra Mukherjee, and Sister Nivedita.

The arrival of Mahatma Gandhi on the Indian national scene greatly influenced Dr. Rajendra Prasad. While Gandhiji was on a fact-
finding mission in Champaran district of Bihar, he called on Rajendra Prasad to come to Champaran with volunteers. Dr. Rajendra
Prasad was greatly impressed by the dedication, conviction and courage that Gandhiji displayed. Gandhiji's influence greatly altered
Dr. Rajendra Prasad's outlook. He sought ways to simplify his life and reduced the number of servants he had to one. He started doing
his daily chores such as sweeping the floor, washing the utensils-the tasks he had all along assumed others would do for him.

After coming into contact with Gandhiji, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, immersed himself fully into the freedom struggle. He played a active
role during Non-Cooperation Movement. Dr. Rajendra Prasad was arrested in 1930 while participating in Salt Satyagraha. He was in
jail when on 15 January 1934 a devastating earthquake struck Bihar. Rajendra Prasad was released from the jail two days later and he
immediately set himself for the task of raising funds and organizing relief. The Viceroy also raised a fund for the purpose. However,
while Rajendra Prasad's fund collected over Rs.3.8million, the Viceroy could only manage one-third of that amount. The way the
relief was organized, it amply demonstrated the administrative acumen of Dr. Rajendra Prasad. Soon after this Dr Rajendra Prasad was
elected as the President of the Bombay session of the Indian National Congress. He was elected as Congress President again in 1939
in the following the resignation of Netaji Subash Chandra Bose.

In July 1946, when the Constituent Assembly was established to frame the Constitution of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad was elected its
President. Two and a half years after independence, on January 26, 1950, the Constitution of independent India was ratified and Dr.
Rajendra Prasad was elected as India's first President. As a President, he used his moderating influence silently and unobtrusively and
set a healthy precedent for others to follow. During his tenure as President he visited many countries on missions of goodwill and
sought to establish and nourish new relationships.

In 1962, after 12 years as President, Dr. Rajendra Prasad retired, and was subsequently awarded the Bharat Ratna, the nation's highest
civilian award. He spent the last few months of his life in retirement at the Sadaqat Ashram in Patna. Dr. Rajendra Prasad died on
February 28, 1963.

APJ Abdul Kalam

Born - 15 October 1931


Achievements - This eminent scientist and engineer has also served as the 11th President of India from the period 2002 to 2007. APJ
Abdul Kalam is a man of vision, who is always full of ideas aimed at the development of the country. He firmly believes that India
needs to play a more assertive role in international relations.

Apart from being a notable scientist and engineer, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam served as the 11th President of India from the period 2002 to
2007. He is a man of vision, who is always full of ideas aimed at the development of the country and is also often also referred to as
the Missile Man of India. People loved and
respected Dr APJ Abdul Kalam so much during his
tenure as President that was popularly called the
People's President. Read more about the biography
of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam here.

APJ Abdul Kalam was born on 15 October 1931 at


the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu and received
honorary doctorates from about 30 universities
globally. In the year 1981, the Government of India
presented him the nation's highest civilian honor,
the Padma Bhushan and then again, the Padma Vibhushan in 1990 and the Bharat Ratna in 1997. Before Kalam, there have been only
two presidents - Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan and Zakir Hussain - to have received the Bharat Ratna before bring appointed to the highest
office in India.

Read on about the life history of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, who's also the first scientist and bachelor to occupy the seat of the Rashtrapati
Bhavan. His perspectives on important topics have been enunciated by him in the book 'India 2020'. It highlights the action plans that
will help develop the country into a knowledge superpower by the time 2020. One thing for which he received ample kudos is his
unambiguous statement that India needs to play a more assertive role in international relations.

And Dr APJ Abdul Kalam regards his work on India's nuclear weapons program as a way to assert India's place as a future
superpower. Even during his tenure as President, APJ Kalam took avid interest in the spheres of India's science and technology. He
has even put forward a project plan for establishing bio-implants. He is also an ardent advocate of open source software over
proprietary solutions to churn out more profits in the field of information technology in India.

Sunita Williams (born September 19, 1965 in Euclid, Ohio) is a United States Naval officer and a NASA astronaut. She was assigned
to the International Space Station as a member of Expedition 14 and then joined Expedition 15. Williams is the second woman of
Indian heritage to have been selected by NASA for a space mission after Kalpana Chawla and the second astronaut of Slovenian
heritage after Ronald M. Sega. She holds three records for female space travelers: longest spaceflight (195 days), number of space
walks (four), and total time spent on spacewalks (29 hours and 17 minutes).
She is married to Michael J. Williams, she is Indian-Slovenian American and has a pet Jack Russell Terrier named Gorby. Her
recreational interests include running, swimming, biking, triathlons, windsurfing, snowboarding and bow hunting. She is an avid
Boston Red Sox fan. Her parents are Deepak Pandya and Bonnie Pandya, who reside in Falmouth, Massachusetts. Dr. Deepak Pandya
is a famous neuroanatomist. Williams' roots on her father's side go back to Gujarat in India and she has been to India to visit her
father's family. She is of Slovenian descent from her mother's side.

Among the personal items Williams took with her to the International Space Station (ISS) are a copy of the Bhagavad Gita, a small
figurine of Ganesha and some samosas.

After launching aboard Discovery, Williams arranged to donate her pony tail to Locks of Love. The haircut by fellow astronaut Joan
Higginbotham occurred aboard the International Space Station and the ponytail was brought back to earth with the STS-116 crew.

In early March 2007 she received a tube of wasabi in a Progress spacecraft resupply mission in response to her request for more spicy
food. Opening the tube, which was packaged at one atmospheric pressure, the gel-like paste was forced out in the lower-pressure of
the ISS. In the free-fall environment, the spicy geyser was difficult to contain.

On April 16, 2007, she ran the first marathon by an astronaut in orbit. Williams finished the Boston Marathon in four hours and 24
minutes . The other crew members reportedly cheered her on and gave her oranges during the race. Williams' sister, Dina Pandya, and
fellow astronaut Karen L. Nyberg ran the marathon on Earth, and Williams received updates on their progress from Mission Control.

Like many of the other astronauts and cosmonauts she is a licensed amateur radio operator having passed the technician class license
exam in 2001 and was issued the call sign KD5PLB by the Fede

Mahatma Gandhi Biography

Born: October 2, 1869


Martyrdom: January 30, 1948.
Achievements: Known as Father of Nation; played a key role in winning freedom for India; introduced the concept of Ahimsa and
Satyagraha.

Mahatma Gandhi popularly known as Father of Nation played a stellar role in India's freedom struggle. Born in a Bania family in
Kathiawar, Gujarat, his real name was Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (M.K. Gandhi). The title Mahatma came to be associated with
his name much later. Before Gandhiji's arrival on the Indian political scene, freedom struggle was limited only to the intelligentsia.
Mahatma Gandhi's main contribution lay in the fact that he bridged the gulf between the intelligentsia and the masses and widened the
concept of Swaraj to include almost every aspect of social and moral regeneration. Paying tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on his death,
famous scientist Albert Einstein said, "Generations to come will scarce believe that such a man as this walked the earth in flesh and
blood".

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born on October 2, 1869, at Porbandar, a small town on the western coast of India, which was
then one of the many tiny states in Kathiawar. Gandhiji was born in middle class family of Vaishya caste. His father, Karamchand
Gandhi, was a Dewan or Prime Minister of Porbandar. His mother, Putlibai, was a very religious lady and left a deep impression on
Gandhiji's mind. Gandhiji was a mediocre student and was excessively shy and timid.

Gandhiji was truthful in his conduct right from the


childhood. There is a very famous incident in this regard. A
British school inspector once came to Gandhiji's school and
set a spelling test. Gandhiji spelled all the words correctly
except kettle. The class teacher noticed the mistake and
gestured Gandhiji to copy the correct spelling from the boy sitting next to him. Gandhiji refused to take the hint and was later scolded
for his "stupidity".

Gandhiji was married at the age of thirteen to Kasturbai. He was in high school at that time. Later on in his life, Gandhiji denounced
the custom of child marriage and termed it as cruel. After matriculating from the high school, Gandhiji joined the Samaldas College in
Bhavnagar. After the death of Gandhiji's father in 1885, a family suggested that if Gandhiji hoped to take his father's place in the state
service he had better become a barrister which he could do in England in three years. Gandhi welcomed the idea but his mother was
objected to the idea of going abroad. To win his mother's approval Gandhiji took a solemn vow not to touch wine, women and meat
and remained true to it throughout his stay in England.

Gandhiji sailed for England on September 4, 1888. Initially he had difficulty in adjusting to English customs and weather but soon he
overcame it. Gandhiji completed his Law degree in 1891 and returned to India. He decided to set up legal practice in Bombay but
couldn't establish himself. Gandhiji returned to Rajkot but here also he could not make much headway. At this time Gandhiji received
an offer from Dada Abdulla & Co. to proceed to South Africa on their behalf to instruct their counsel in a lawsuit. Gandhiji jumped at
the idea and sailed for South Africa in April 1893.

It was in South Africa that Gandhiji's transformation from Mohandas to Mahatma took place. Gandhiji landed at Durban and soon he
realized the oppressive atmosphere of racial snobbishness against Indians who were settled in South Africa in large numbers. After
about a week's stay in Durban Gandhiji left for Pretoria, the capital of the Transvaal, in connection with a lawsuit. When the train
reached Pietermaritzburg, the capital of Natal, at about 9 p.m. a white passenger who boarded the train objected to the presence of a
"coloured" man in the compartment and Gandhji was ordered by a railway official to shift to a third class. When he refused to do so, a
constable pushed him out and his luggage was taken away by the railway authorities. It was winter and bitterly cold. This incident
changed Gandhiji's life forever. He decided to fight for the rights of Indians. Gandhiji organised the Indian community in South Africa
and asked them to forget all distinctions of religion and caste. He suggested the formation of an association to look after the Indian
settlers and offered his free time and services.

During his stay in South Africa, Gandhiji's life underwent a change and he developed most of his political ideas. Gandhiji decided to
dedicate himself completely to the service of humanity. He realized that absolute continence or brahmacharya was indispensable for
the purpose as one could not live both after the flesh and the spirit. In 1906, Gandhiji took a vow of absolute continence. In the course
of his struggle in South Africa, Gandhiji, developed the concepts of Ahimsa (non-violence) and Satyagraha (holding fast to truth or
firmness in a righteous cause). Gandhiji's struggle bore fruit and in 1914 in an agreement between Gandhiji and South African
Government, the main Indian demands were conceded.

Gandhiji returned to India in 1915 and on the advice of his political guru Gopal Krishna Gokhale, spent the first year touring
throughout the country to know the real India. After an year of wandering, Gandhiji settled down on the bank of the river Sabarmati,
on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, where he founded an ashram called Satyagraha Ashram. Gandhiji's first satyagraha in India was in
Champaran, in Bihar, where he went in 1917 at the request of a poor peasants to inquire into the grievances of the much exploited
peasants of that district, who were compelled by British indigo planters to grow indigo on 15 percent of their land and part with the
whole crop for rent. Gandhiji's Satyagraha forced British government to set up a inquiry into the condition of tenant farmers. The
report of the committee of which Gandhi was a member went in favour of the tenant farmers. The success of his first experiment in
satyagraha in India greatly enhanced Gandhiji's reputation in the country.

In 1921, Gandhji gave the call for Non-cooperation movement against the ills of British rule. Gandhiji's call roused the sleeping
nation. Many Indians renounced their titles and honours, lawyers gave up their practice, and students left colleges and schools. Non-
cooperation movement also brought women into the domain of freedom struggle for the first time. Non-cooperation movement
severely jolted the British government. But the movement ended in an anti-climax in February 1922. An outbreak of mob violence in
Chauri Chaura so shocked and pained Gandhi that he refused to continue the campaign and undertook a fast for five days to atone for
a crime committed by others in a state of mob hysteria.

Gandhiji was sentenced to six years imprisonment but was released in 1924 on medical grounds. For the next five years Gandhi
seemingly retired from active agitational politics and devoted himself to the propagation of what he regarded as the basic national
needs, namely, Hindu-Muslim unity, removal of untouchability, equality of women, popularization of hand-spinning and the
reconstruction of village economy.

On March 12, 1930 Gandhiji started the historic Dandi March to break the law which had deprived the poor man of his right to make
his own salt. On April 6, 1930 Gandhiji broke the Salt law at the sea beach at Dandi. This simple act was immediately followed by a
nation-wide defiance of the law. This movement galvanized the whole nation and came to be known as "Civil Disobedience
Movement". Within a few weeks about a hundred thousand men and women were in jail, throwing mighty machinery of the British
Government out of gear. This forced the then Viceroy Lord Irwin to call Gandhiji for talks. On March 5, 1931 Gandhi Irwin Pact was
signed. Soon after signing the pact Gandhiji went to England to attend the First Round Table Conference. Soon after his return from
England Gandhiji was arrested without trial.

Jawaharlal Nehru Biography

Born: November 14, 1889


Died: May 27, 1964
Achievements: Took active part in Non-Cooperation Movement; elected President of the Allahabad Municipal Corporation in 1924,
and served for two years as the city's chief executive; Presided over Congress' annual session in Lahore in 1929 and passed a
resolution demanding India's independence; elected as Congress President in 1936, 1937, and 1946; became first Prime Minister of
independent India; was one of the main architects of Non Aligned Movement.

Jawaharlal Nehru, also known as Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, was one of the foremost leaders of Indian freedom struggle. He was the
favourite disciple of Mahatma Gandhi and later on went on
to become the first Prime Minister of India. Jawahar Lal
Nehru is widely regarded as the architect of modern India.
He was very fond of children and children used to
affectionately call him Chacha Nehru.

Jawahar Lal Nehru was born on November 14, 1889. His father Motilal Nehru was a famous Allahabad based barrister. Jawaharlal
Nehru's mother's name was Swaroop Rani. Jawaharlal Nehru was the only son of Motilal Nehru. Motilal Nehru has three daughters
apart from Jawaharlal Nehru. Nehrus were Saraswat Brahmin of Kashmiri lineage.

Jawaharlal Nehru received education in some of the finest schools and universities of the world. He did his schooling from Harrow
and completed his Law degree from Trinity College, Cambridge. The seven years he spent in England widened his horizons and he
acquired a rational and skeptical outlook and sampled Fabian socialism and Irish nationalism, which added to his own patriotic
dedication.

Jawaharlal Nehru returned to India in 1912 and started legal practice. He married Kamala Nehru in 1916. Jawahar Lal Nehru joined
Home Rule League in 1917. His real initiation into politics came two years later when he came in contact with Mahatma Gandhi in
1919. At that time Mahatma Gandhi had launched a campaign against Rowlatt Act. Nehru was instantly attracted to Gandhi's
commitment for active but peaceful, civil disobedience. Gandhi himself saw promise and India's future in the young Jawaharlal Nehru.

Nehru family changed its family according to Mahatma Gandhi's teachings. Jawaharlal and Motilal Nehru abandoned western clothes
and tastes for expensive possessions and pastimes. They now wore a Khadi Kurta and Gandhi cap. Jawaharlal Nehru took active part
in the Non- Cooperation Movement 1920-1922) and was arrested for the first time during the movement. He was released after few
months.

Jawaharlal Nehru was elected President of the Allahabad Municipal Corporation in 1924, and served for two years as the city's chief
executive. This proved to be a valuable administrative experience for stood him in good stead later on when he became the prime
minister of the country. He used his tenure to expand public education, health care and sanitation. He resigned in 1926 citing lack of
cooperation from civil servants and obstruction from British authorities.

From 1926 to 1928, Jawaharlal served as the General Secretary of the All India Congress Committee. In 1928-29, the Congress's
annual session under President Motilal Nehru was held. During that session Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhas Chandra Bose backed a call
for full political independence, while Motilal Nehru and others wanted dominion status within the British Empire. To resolve the
point, Gandhi said that the British would be given two years to grant India dominion status. If they did not, the Congress would launch
a national struggle for full, political independence. Nehru and Bose reduced the time of opportunity to one year. The British did not
respond.

In December 1929, Congress's annual session was held in Lahore and Jawaharlal Nehru was elected as the President of the Congress
Party. During that sessions a resolution demanding India's independence was passed and on January 26, 1930 in Lahore, Jawaharlal
Nehru unfurled free India's flag. Gandhiji gave a call for Civil Disobedience Movement in 1930. The movement was a great success
and forced British Government to acknowledge the need for major political reforms.

When the British promulgated the Government of India Act 1935, the Congress Party decided to contest elections. Nehru stayed out of
the elections, but campaigned vigorously nationwide for the party. The Congress formed governments in almost every province, and
won the largest number of seats in the Central Assembly. Nehru was elected to the Congress presidency in 1936, 1937, and 1946, and
came to occupy a position in the nationalist movement second only to that of Gandhi. Jawaharlal Nehru was arrested in 1942 during
Quit India Movement. Released in 1945, he took a leading part in the negotiations that culminated in the emergence of the dominions
of India and Pakistan in August 1947.

In 1947, he becamethe first Prime Minister of independent India. He effectively coped with the formidable challenges of those times:
the disorders and mass exodus of minorities across the new border with Pakistan, the integration of 500-odd princely states into the
Indian Union, the framing of a new constitution, and the establishment of the political and administrative infrastructure for a
parliamentary democracy.

Jawaharlal Nehru played a key role in building modern India. He set up a Planning Commission, encouraged development of science
and technology, and launched three successive five-year plans. His policies led to a sizable growth in agricultural and industrial
production. Nehru also played a major role in developing independent India's foreign policy. He called for liquidation of colonialism
in Asia and Africa and along with Tito and Nasser, was one of the chief architects of the nonaligned movement. He played a
constructive, mediatory role in bringing the Korean War to an end and in resolving other international crises, such as those over the
Suez Canal and the Congo, offering India's services for conciliation and international policing. He contributed behind the scenes
toward the solution of several other explosive issues, such as those of West Berlin, Austria, and Laos.

But Jawahar Lal Nehru couldn't improve India's relations with Pakistan and China. The Kashmir issue proved a stumbling block in
reaching an accord with Pakistan, and the border dispute prevented a resolution with China. The Chinese invasion in 1962, which
Nehru failed to anticipate, came as a great blow to him and probably hastened his death. Jawaharlal Nehru died of a heart attack on
May 27, 1964.

Bal Gangadhar Tilak Biography

Born: July 23, 1856


Died: August 1, 1920
Achievements: Considered as Father of Indian National Movement; Founded “Deccan Education Society” to impart quality education
to India's youth; was a member of the Municipal Council of Pune, Bombay Legislature, and an elected 'Fellow' of the Bombay
University; formed Home Rule League in 1916 to attain the
goal of Swaraj.

Bal Gangadhar Tilak is considered as Father of Indian


National Movement. Bal Gangadhar Tilak was a multifaceted personality. He was a social reformer, freedom fighter, national leader,
and a scholar of Indian history, sanskrit, hinduism, mathematics and astronomy. Bal Gangadhar Tilak was popularly called as
Lokmanya (Beloved of the people). During freedom struggle, his slogan “Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it” inspired millions
of Indians.
Bal Gangadhar Tilak was born on July 23, 1856 in Ratnagiri, Maharashtra. He was a Chitpavan Brahmin by caste. His father
Gangadhar Ramachandra Tilak was a Sanskrit scholar and a famous teacher. Tilak was a brilliant student and he was very good in
mathematics. Since childhood Tilak had an intolerant attitude towards injustice and he was truthful and straightforward in nature. He
was among India's first generation of youth to receive a modern, college education.

When Tilak was ten his father was transferred to Pune from Ratnagiri. This brought sea change in Tilak’s life. He joined the Anglo-
Vernacular School in Pune and got education from some of the well known teachers. Soon after coming to Pune Tilak lost his mother
and by the time he was sixteen he lost his father too. While Tilak was studying in Matriculation he was married to a 10-year-old girl
called Satyabhama. After passing the Matriculation Examination Tilak joined the Deccan College. In 1877, Bal Gangadhar Tilak got
his B.A. degree with a first class in mathematics. He continued his studies and got the LL.B. degree too.

After graduation, Tilak began teaching mathematics in a private school in Pune and later became a journalist. He became a strong
critic of the Western education system, feeling it demeaning to Indian students and disrespectful to India's heritage. He came to the
conclusion that good citizens can be moulded only through good education. He believed that every Indian had to be taught about
Indian culture and national ideals. Along with his classmate Agarkar and great social reformer Vishnushastry Chiplunkar, Bal
Gangadhar Tilak founded “Deccan Education Society” to impart quality education to India's youth.

The very next year after the Deccan Education Society was founded, Tilak started two weeklies, 'Kesari' and 'Mahratta'. 'Kesari' was
Marathi weekly while 'Mahratta' was English weekly. Soon both the newspapers became very popular. In his newspapers, Tilak
highlighted the plight of Indians. He gave a vivid picture of the people's sufferings and of actual happenings. Tilak called upon every
Indian to fight for his right. Bal Gangadhar Tilak used fiery language to arouse the sleeping Indians.

Bal Gangadhar Tilak joined the Indian National Congress in 1890. He was a member of the Municipal Council of Pune, Bombay
Legislature, and an elected 'Fellow' of the Bombay University. Tilak was a great social reformer. He issued a call for the banning of
child marriage and welcomed widow remarriage. Through the celebrations of Ganapati Festival and the birthday of the Shivaji he
organized people.

In 1897, Bal Gangadhar Tilak was charged with writing articles instigating people to rise against the government and to break the laws
and disturb the peace. He was sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for one and a half year. Tilak was released in 1898. After his
release, Tilak launched Swadeshi Movement. Through newspapers and lectures, Tilak spread the message to each and every village in
Maharashtra. A big 'Swadeshi Market' was opened in front of Tilak's house. Meanwhile, Congress was split into two camps-
Moderates and Extremists. Extremists led by Bal Gangadhar Tilak opposed the moderate faction led by Gopal Krishna. Extremists
were in the favour of self rule while the moderates thought that time is not yet ripe for such an eventuality. This rift finally led to a
split in the Congress.

Tilak was arrested on the charges of sedition in 1906. After the trial, Tilak was sentenced to six years of imprisonment in Mandalay
(Burma). Tilak spent his time in prison by reading and writing. He wrote the book 'Gita-Rahasya' while he was in prison. Tilak was
released on June 8, 1914. After his release, Bal Gangadhar Tilak tried to bring the two factions of Congress together. But his efforts
did not bear much fruit. In 1916, Tilak decided to build a separate organization called the 'Home Rule League'. Its goal was swaraj.
Tilak went from village to village, and explained the aim of his league to the farmers and won their hearts. He traveled constantly in
order to organize the people. While fighting for people’s cause Bal Gangadhar Tilak died on August 1, 1920.

Subhas Chandra Bose Biography

Born: January 23, 1897


Died: August 18, 1945
Achievements: Passed Indian Civil Services Exam; elected Congress President in 1938 and 1939; formed a new party All India
Forward block; organized Azad Hind Fauj to overthrow British Empire from India.

Subhas Chandra Bose, affectionately called as Netaji, was one of the most prominent leaders of Indian freedom struggle. Though
Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru have garnered much of the credit for successful culmination of Indian freedom struggle, the
contribution of Subash Chandra Bose is no less. He has been denied his rightful place in the annals of Indian history. He founded
Indian National Army (Azad Hind Fauj) to overthrow British Empire from India and came to acquire legendary status among Indian
masses.

Subhas Chandra Bose was born on January 23, 1897 in


Cuttack, Orissa. His father Janaki Nath Bose was a famous
lawyer and his mother Prabhavati Devi was a pious and
religious lady. Subhas Chandra Bose was the ninth child among fourteen siblings. Subhas Chandra Bose was a brilliant student right
from the childhood. He topped the matriculation examination of Calcutta province and graduated with a First Class in Philosophy
from the Scottish Churches College in Calcutta. He was strongly influenced by Swami Vivekananda's teachings and was known for
his patriotic zeal as a student. To fulfill his parents wishes he went to England in 1919 to compete for Indian Civil Services. In
England he appeared for the Indian Civil Service competitive examination in 1920, and came out fourth in order of merit. However,
Subhas Chandra Bose was deeply disturbed by the Jallianwalla Bagh massacre, and left his Civil Services apprenticeship midway to
return to India in 1921

After returning to India Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose came under the influence of Mahatma Gandhi and joined the Indian National
Congress. On Gandhiji's instructions, he started working under Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das, whom he later acknowledged his
political guru. Soon he showed his leadership mettle and gained his way up in the Congress' hierarchy. In 1928 the Motilal Nehru
Committee appointed by the Congress declared in favour of Domination Status, but Subhas Chandra Bose along with Jawaharlal
Nehru opposed it, and both asserted that they would be satisfied with nothing short of complete independence for India. Subhas also
announced the formation of the Independence League. Subhas Chandra Bose was jailed during Civil Disobedience movement in 1930.
He was released in 1931 after Gandhi-Irwin pact was signed. He protested against the Gandhi-Irwin pact and opposed the suspension
of Civil Disobedience movement specially when Bhagat Singh and his associates were hanged.

Subash Chandra Bose was soon arrested again under the infamous Bengal Regulation. After a year he was released on medical
grounds and was banished from India to Europe. He took steps to establish centres in different European capitals with a view to
promoting politico-cultural contacts between India and Europe. Defying the ban on his entry to India, Subash Chandra Bose returned
to India and was again arrested and jailed for a year. After the General Elections of 1937, Congress came to power in seven states and
Subash Chandra Bose was released. Shortly afterwards he was elected President of the Haripura Congress Session in 1938. During his
term as Congress President, he talked of planning in concrete terms, and set up a National planning Committee in October that year.
At the end of his first term, the presidential election to the Tripuri Congress session took place early 1939. Subhas Chandra Bose was
re-elected, defeating Dr. Pattabhi Sitaramayya who had been backed by Mahatma Gandhi and the Congress Working Committee.
Clouds of World War II were on the horizon and he brought a resolution to give the British six months to hand India over to the
Indians, failing which there would be a revolt. There was much opposition to his rigid stand, and he resigned from the post of
president and formed a progressive group known as the Forward Block.

Subhas Chandra Bose now started a mass movement against utilizing Indian resources and men for the great war. There was a
tremendous response to his call and he was put under house arrest in Calcutta. In January 1941, Subhas Chandra Bose disappeared
from his home in Calcutta and reached Germany via Afghanistan. Working on the maxim that "an enemy's enemy is a friend", he
sought cooperation of Germany and Japan against British Empire. In January 1942, he began his regular broadcasts from Radio Berlin,
which aroused tremendous enthusiasm in India. In July 1943, he arrived in Singapore from Germany. In Singapore he took over the
reins of the Indian Independence Movement in East Asia from Rash Behari Bose and organised the Azad Hind Fauj (Indian National
Army) comprising mainly of Indian prisoners of war. He was hailed as Netaji by the Army as well as by the Indian civilian population
in East Asia. Azad Hind Fauj proceeded towards India to liberate it from British rule. Enroute it lliberated Andeman and Nicobar
Islands. The I.N.A. Head quarters was shifted to Rangoon in January 1944. Azad Hind Fauj crossed the Burma Border, and stood on
Indian soil on March 18 ,1944.

However, defeat of Japan and Germany in the Second World War forced INA to retreat and it could not achieve its objective. Subhas
Chandra Bose was reportedly killed in an air crash over Taipeh, Taiwan (Formosa) on August 18, 1945. Though it is widely believed
that he was still alive after the air crash not much information could be found about him.

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Biography

Born: April 14, 1891


Died: December 6, 1956
Achievements: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was elected as the chairman of the drafting committee that was constituted by the Constituent
Assembly to draft a constitution for the independent India; he was the first Law Minister of India; conferred Bharat Ratna in 1990.

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar is viewed as messiah of dalits and downtrodden in India. He was the chairman of the drafting committee that was
constituted by the Constituent Assembly in 1947 to draft a constitution for the independent India. He played a seminal role in the
framing of the constitution. Bhimrao Ambedkar was also the first Law Minister of India. For his yeoman service to the nation, B.R.
Ambedkar was bestowed with Bharat Ratna in 1990.

Dr.Bhimrao Ambedkar was born on April 14, 1891 in Mhow (presently in Madhya Pradesh). He was the fourteenth child of Ramji and
Bhimabai Sakpal Ambavedkar. B.R. Ambedkar belonged to the "untouchable" Mahar Caste. His father and grandfather served in the
British Army. In those days, the government ensured that all the army personnel and their children were educated and ran special
schools for this purpose. This ensured good education for Bhimrao Ambedkar, which would have otherwise been denied to him by the
virtue of his caste.

Bhimrao Ambedkar experienced caste discrimination right


from the childhood. After his retirement, Bhimrao's father
settled in Satara Maharashtra. Bhimrao was enrolled in the
local school. Here, he had to sit on the floor in one corner in the classroom and teachers would not touch his notebooks. In spite of
these hardships, Bhimrao continued his studies and passed his Matriculation examination from Bombay University with flying colours
in 1908. Bhim Rao Ambedkar joined the Elphinstone College for further education. In 1912, he graduated in Political Science and
Economics from Bombay University and got a job in Baroda.

In 1913, Bhimrao Ambedkar lost his father. In the same year Maharaja of Baroda awarded scholarship to Bhim Rao Ambedkar and
sent him to America for further studies. Bhimrao reached New York in July 1913. For the first time in his life, Bhim Rao was not
demeaned for being a Mahar. He immersed himself in the studies and attained a degree in Master of Arts and a Doctorate in
Philosophy from Columbia University in 1916 for his thesis "National Dividend for India: A Historical and Analytical Study." From
America, Dr.Ambedkar proceeded to London to study economics and political science. But the Baroda government terminated his
scholarship and recalled him back.

The Maharaja of Baroda appointed Dr. Ambedkar as his political secretary. But no one would take orders from him because he was a
Mahar. Bhimrao Ambedkar returned to Bombay in November 1917. With the help of Shahu Maharaj of Kolhapur, a sympathizer of
the cause for the upliftment of the depressed classes, he started a fortnightly newspaper, the "Mooknayak" (Dumb Hero) on January
31, 1920. The Maharaja also convened many meetings and conferences of the "untouchables" which Bhimrao addressed. In September
1920, after accumulating sufficient funds, Ambedkar went back to London to complete his studies. He became a barrister and got a
Doctorate in science.

After completing his studies in London, Ambedkar returned to India. In July 1924, he founded the Bahishkrit Hitkaraini Sabha
(Outcastes Welfare Association). The aim of the Sabha was to uplift the downtrodden socially and politically and bring them to the
level of the others in the Indian society. In 1927, he led the Mahad March at the Chowdar Tank at Colaba, near Bombay, to give the
untouchables the right to draw water from the public tank where he burnt copies of the 'Manusmriti' publicly.

In 1929, Ambedkar made the controversial decision to co-operate with the all-British Simon Commission which was to look into
setting up a responsible Indian Government in India. The Congress decided to boycott the Commission and drafted its own version of
a constitution for free India. The Congress version had no provisions for the depressed classes. Ambedkar became more skeptical of
the Congress's commitment to safeguard the rights of the depressed classes.

When a separate electorate was announced for the depressed classes under Ramsay McDonald 'Communal Award', Gandhiji went on a
fast unto death against this decision. Leaders rushed to Dr. Ambedkar to drop his demand. On September 24, 1932, Dr. Ambedkar and
Gandhiji reached an understanding, which became the famous Poona Pact. According to the pact the separate electorate demand was
replaced with special concessions like reserved seats in the regional legislative assemblies and Central Council of States.

Dr. Ambedkar attended all the three Round Table Conferences in London and forcefully argued for the welfare of the "untouchables".
Meanwhile, British Government decided to hold provincial elections in 1937. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar set up the "Independent Labor
Party" in August 1936 to contest the elections in the Bombay province. He and many candidates of his party were elected to the
Bombay Legislative Assembly.

In 1937, Dr. Ambedkar introduced a Bill to abolish the "khoti" system of land tenure in the Konkan region, the serfdom of agricultural
tenants and the Mahar "watan" system of working for the Government as slaves. A clause of an agrarian bill referred to the depressed
classes as "Harijans," or people of God. Bhimrao was strongly opposed to this title for the untouchables. He argued that if the
"untouchables" were people of God then all others would be people of monsters. He was against any such reference. But the Indian
National Congress succeeded in introducing the term Harijan. Ambedkar felt bitter that they could not have any say in what they were
called.

In 1947, when India became independent, the first Prime Minister Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, invited Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar, who had
been elected as a Member of the Constituent Assembly from Bengal, to join his Cabinet as a Law Minister. The Constituent Assembly
entrusted the job of drafting the Constitution to a committee and Dr. Ambedkar was elected as Chairman of this Drafting Committee.
In February 1948, Dr. Ambedkar presented the Draft Constitution before the people of India; it was adopted on November 26, 1949.

In October 1948, Dr. Ambedkar submitted the Hindu Code Bill to the Constituent Assembly in an attempt to codify the Hindu law.
The Bill caused great divisions even in the Congress party. Consideration for the bill was postponed to September 1951. When the Bill
was taken up it was truncated. A dejected Ambedkar relinquished his position as Law Minister.

On May 24, 1956, on the occasion of Buddha Jayanti, he declared in Bombay, that he would adopt Buddhism in October. On 0ctober
14, 1956 he embraced Buddhism along with many of his followers. On December 6, 1956, Baba Saheb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar died
peacefully in his sleep.

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