Lakshmi Niwas Mittal Lakshmi Niwas Mittal (born June 15, 1950) is a London-based Indian billionaire industrialist, born in Sadulpur, in Churu district of Rajasthan, India, and residing in Kensington, London. He is the 5th richest man in the world and, according to the Sunday Times Rich List, the richest in the UK, with a net worth of £14.8 billion (April 2006).

Ratan Naval Tata Ratan Naval Tata is the present Chairman of the Tata Group, a leading Indian conglomerate established by earlier generations of his family. Mr. Tata was honoured by the Government of India with the Padma Bhushan on 26th January 2000, on the occasion of the 50th Republic Day of India. He serves in important capacities in various organisations in India and is a member of the central board of the Reserve Bank of India and of the Prime Minister's Council on Trade and Industry. His foreign affiliations include membership of the international advisory boards of the Mitsubishi Corporation, the American International Group, JP Morgan Chase and Booz-Allen Hamilton Inc. He is also a member of the board of trustees of the Ford Foundation and his alma mater, Cornell University. font>

Azim Hashim Premji Azim Hashim Premji is an Indian businessman and Chairman & CEO of one of the largest software companies in India, Wipro Technologies (headquarters located at Bangalore). He was rated the richest person in the country from 1999 to 2005 by Forbes. In 2000, he was voted among the 20 most powerful men in the world by Asiaweek. He was also among the 50 richest people in the world from 2001 to 2003 according to Forbes. In April 2004, he was rated among the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine. His assets include 84% holding in Wipro Technologies (the remaining belonging to the cofounder of Wipro). In January 2006, he was the 10th richest man in the world. In 2005, Premji was awarded the Padma Bhushan.

Mother Teresa Mother Teresa of Calcutta was a Roman Catholic nun of Albanian descent, who founded the Missionaries of Charity in India. Her work among the poverty-stricken of Kolkata (Calcutta) made her one of the world's most famous people, and she was beatified by Pope John Paul II in October 2003. Hence, she may be properly called Blessed Teresa by Catholics. In 1962, she received the Magsaysay Award for Peace and International Understanding. In 1971, she was awarded the Pope John XXIII Peace Prize. Teresa was also awarded the Templeton Prize in 1973, the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979, and India's highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna, in 1980. She was awarded the Legion d'Honneur from Jean-Claude Duvalier in 1981. She was presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1985, was made an Honorary Citizen of the United States in 1996, and received the Congressional Gold Medal in 1997. She was the first and only person to be featured on an Indian postage stamp while still alive. Her supporters sometimes referred to her as the "Angel of Mercy" and "Saint of the Gutter."While many Catholics and others considered Teresa the embodiment of a "living saint," critics have raised questions about her public statements, working practices, political connections, and the use of funds donated to her charity.

Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar was an Indian jurist, scholar and Dalit political leader who is the chief architect of the Indian constitution. He spent his life fighting against the discrimination system of Hindu untouchability and Hindu Caste System. He is also credited for having sparked a revival of Buddhism in India, known as the Indian Buddhist movement.

Overcoming numeous social and financial obstacles, Ambedkar became one of the first untouchables to obtain college education in India. He went on to pursue higher studies in the United States and England, where he earned law degrees and multiple doctorates for his studies and works in law, economics and political science. A famous scholar, Ambedkar practised law for a few years before he began publishing journals advocating political rights and social freedom for India's untouchables. Leading numerous public agitations, he would become a fierce critic of Mahatma Gandhi and the Indian National Congress.

Ambedkar organized untouchable political parties and social organizations, and served in the legislative councils of British India. He would intensify his criticism of orthodox Hindu society and would oppose nationalist rebellions. Despite this, his reputation as a scholar led to his appointment as free India's first law minister, and chairman of the committee responsible to draft a constitution. Ambedkar's work would guarantee political, economic and social freedoms for untouchables and other ethnic, social and religious communities of India. His fierce condemnation of Hinduism would make him unpopular and controversial, although his conversion to Buddhism sparked a revival in interest of Buddhist philosophy in India.

Medha Patkar Medha Patkar is a social activist from India. Medha Patkar is known prominently as the leader of Narmada Bachao Andolan (Save Narmada Movement), which she founded alongwith Baba Amte,tribal activists, environmentalists and human rights activists. Narmada Bachao Andolan has been spearheading the movement against Narmada Dam Sardar Sarovar Dam being built across Narmada river in Gujarat, India and for the proper rehabilitation of the displaced pepole. In 2001, Gujarat High Court gave an order asking the Government of India to consider imposing a ban on the Narmada Bachao Andolan for its "anti-national" activities.

Sports

Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar is an Indian cricketer who is considered by many fans, critics and analysts as one the greatest batsmen of all time. Tendulkar was rated by Wisden in 2002 as the second greatest Test batsman ever, after Sir Don Bradman[1]. He holds several batting records, including the most Test centuries, most ODI centuries and the most runs in ODI cricket. He is also the most capped player currently playing international cricket. He received the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, India's highest sporting honour, for 1997-1998, and the civilian award Padma Shri in 1999. Tendulkar was a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1997.

Sania Mirza Sania Mirza is an Indian tennis player. She is the highest ranked female tennis player ever from India, ranked number 31 in singles and 109 in doubles by mid-October 2005. She became the first Indian woman to reach the fourth round of a Grand Slam tournament at the 2005 US Open, defeating Mashona Washington, Maria Elena Camerin and Marion Bartoli. In 2004, she finished runner up at the Asian Tennis Championship.In 2005 Mirza reached the third round of Australian Open, losing to eventual champion Serena Williams.On February 12, 2005, she became the first Indian woman to win a WTA singles title defeating Alyona Bondarenko of Ukraine in the Hyderabad Open Finals. Sania won the Wimbledon Championships Girls' Doubles title in 2003, teaming up with Alisa Kleybanova of Russia.

PT Usha Pilavullakandi Thekkeparambil Usha popularly known as PT Usha is an Indian athlete. The queen of Indian track and field for two decades, P.T. Usha has been associated with Indian athletics since 1979. In 1976 the Kerala State Government started a Sports School for women, and Usha was chosen to represent her district, at a cost of Rs. 250 per month paid by the state. Usha's success story begins from the 1982 Asiad in which she won two silver medals in 100 meters and 200 meters respectively. She won 17 medals — 13 gold, 3 silver and a bronze in four Asian Track and Field Championship during the period from 1983-89. Usha has won 101 international medals so far. She is employed as an officer in the Southern Railways. In 1985, she was conferred the Padma Shri and the Arjuna award.

Dhyan Chand Major "Dhyan Chand" Singh was a former Indian hockey player and Olympian. Regarded as the best hockey player ever, he mesmerised Adolf Hitler with his exploits in the sport. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan, India's third highest civilian honour. He got the title "Chand" or (moon) from his first coach, Pankaj Gupta, who had predicted that he would one day shine like a chand or moon. Dhyan Chand was affectionately called Dadda.

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