Faiz Ahmad ‘Faiz’   Pakistan : A great Urdu poet Born : 1911 Died : 1984   The great Urdu poet `Faiz’ was born at Sialkot (Pakistan). He had his early education at Lahore. During 1942-47, he was in the information department of the Government of India. He was also a colonel in the Indian army. Married .o a Russian lady, Faiz lived up to the age of 73.   The...

Jean-Paul Sartre   France : Renowned philosopher-author Born : 1905        Died : 1980 Jean-Paul Sartre was a great intellectual who gave this world anew and j volatile philosophy. Sartre rejected all the established norms and was a rebel in thoughts and actions. As time passed, his thoughts became all the more revolutionary. He opposed wearing a tie and the system of marriage. During the Second World War, he worked as...

Joseph Stalin   Russia : The ‘Iron Man’ of Russia Born : 1879                 Died :1953     Stalin was known as the ‘Iron Man’ of the USSR and the epithet fitted him like a glove. His real name was Joseph Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili and he was known as a ruthless administrator who brooked, no opposition. Born in Georgia in a shoemaker’s family, Stalin imbibed revolutionary ideas from an early age. He...

Chou En-Lai   China : An astute statesman Born : 1898 Died : 1976 Chou En-Lai was one of the most powerful politicians of the Peoples’ Republic of China. He was a confidant of Mao Tse-Tung and occupied the second most important position for more than 25 years. He played an important role in the establishment of communist rule in China. He was appointed as the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister...

Dr  S. Ramgoolam   Mauritius : Father of Mauritius Born : 1900         Died : 1985     Mauritius is an island in the Indian Ocean. Its area is about 700 sq kilometres. It was under occupation of Great Britain for centuries and has great strategic value. A large percentage of its population is of Indian origin who went there to work as indentured labour. The Indian labour led a pitiable life....

Vikram Sarabhai   India : Renowned physicist Born : 1919   Died : 1971 If there was any scientist, who could be credited with launching India into space age, it is Vikram Sarabhai, who made valuable contribution in this regard. His services to the country and science will always be remembered. He took Indian science to greater heights and was a top scientist. A grateful nation named the space centre after him...

Colonel Nasser   Egypt : Builder of modern Egypt Born : 1918                 Died : 1970 Col. Abdul Gamal Nasser was one of those ardent patriots who dedicated their lives to serve their people and country. Egypt was languishing under the tyrannical rule of a debauch Farouque, who was propped up by western powers. Nasser formed a group in the Egyptian army that pursued the aim of getting rid of the...