Amrita Pritam   India : Punjabi Author of World Fame Born : AD 1919   Death AD 2005 Amrita Pritam is one of the great writers of modem India. A Gyanpeeth award-winner for 1983 for her Kagaz to Kanvas (Punjabi), Amrita Pritam has authored more than 60 books. Her works have been translated in as many as 30 languages. Besides Punjabi, she has mastery over Hindi and Urdu. She was nominated as...

Birju Maharaj   India : A Kathak Dance Wizard Born : AD 1938 If one were to refer to Kathak Dance, the name to be conjured with will be Ilirju Maharaj. It is he who has established Kathak as a classical dance-form. He is a great guru who has produced renowned artists, evolved different styles and new traditions. Kathak dance form flowered due to his efforts. If it is popular and...

Abu Nidal   Palestine : International Terrorist Born : AD 1937    Death AD 2002 In the last few years acts of terrorism are growing constantly. Thousands of people have lost their lives in air crashes. Sometime back a Pan-Am aircraft exploded in mid-air causing death to 239 persons. Many similar tragedies have occurred in the past. All these acts are linked to Abu Nidal, the dreaded terrorist from Palestine. The...

Rukmabai Tuller India : A Woman of Fortitude Rukmabai Tuller is an ideal woman to be emulated. She is an inspiration for Indian woman to get up and walk on the path of life despite troubles and tribulations. Life was not smooth for Rukmabai. It dealt her harsh blows but her spirit could not be broken by the difficulties it posed. Married at 12, a mother at 14, and widow at...

Dr. Swaminathan   India : Agricultural Scientist Born : AD 1925 Dr. Swaminathan is not only a famous scientist but also an able administrator and an efficient organisor of projects. He has served the country by holding many significant positions. His researches in the field of agriculture and his efforts for improving the quality of wheat in particular, have won him laurels. Dr Borlogue has highly appreciated his works. Dr Swaminathan...

Enricho Fermi   Italy : A Scientist of Atomic Energy Born : AD 1901                    Died : AD 1954 Fermi was a brilliant scientist. He was born in Rome, Italy on 29 September 1901. He was inclined towards science from the very beginning. Apart from his textbooks he read so much that by the time he reached college, he had acquired so much knowledge about physics that was greater than his...

V. Shantaram   India : Film Producer and Director  Born : AD 1901                    Died : AD 1990 Shantaram Rajaram Vankudre has a special place in the Indian film industry. Apart from being a producer-director, he also acted in few films. His contribution to the Indian film industry is immeasurable. Saavkari Paash was his first film. Social order, exploitation and music and dance were his forte. He also produced a documentary...

Suryakant Tripathi ‘Nirala’   India : Hindi Poet Born : AD 1897          Died : AD 1961 Nirala was a genius. Apart from being a poet, he was a novelist, a story writer, an essayist and a critic. Nirala is considered to be a pillar of modem literature. He put a lot of variety in his poetry. He has covered subjects like love, beauty, suspense and nationalism. He strongly wrote against...