Hans Christian Anderson   Denmark : Author of Fairy Tales Born : AD 1805          Died : AD 1875 Hans Christian Anderson, the world-renowned author of Fairy Tales was born in Denmark of a poor cobbler. Could one imagine then that this child from slums would grow to be a world-famous writer of fairy tales one day and a friend of the king of Denmark? Children all over the world read...

Sir Shri Ram   India : Famous Industrialist Born : AD 1883                    Died : AD 1963 Sir Shri Ram started his career as an assistant secretary in the Delhi Cloth &General Mills on a salary of rupees one hundred per month. By the time he died, he was one of the few noted industrialists of the country. He got the job in Delhi Cloth Mills only because his father Madan...

Ghanshyam Das Birla   India : Nationalist and Industrialist Born : AD 1894                    Died : AD 1983 Ghanshyam Das Birla was a great architect of India’s industrial  growth. He started his career in Calcutta” at the beginning of this century. He set up many industries. He entered the field of business during the days of the First World War, and established himself after the war years. First, he established a...

Bankim Chandra Chatterjee   India : Composer of National Song Born : AD 1838                    Died : AD 1894 The man to rouse the nation through ‘Vande Mataram’, Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, was a Deputy Collector when only twenty. He studied law and got the opportunity to become a Magistrate. From an early age, he was inclined towards literature. Gradually, he became a writer. In 1882, he wrote Anandmath. Besides, he also...

Thyagaraja   India : Karnatic Music Born : AD 1767                    Died : AD 1847 Thyagaraja was born in a small village in South India. Since his  childhood, he had an attraction towards devotion of God. He composed devotional verses and set them to music. His popularity spread to the kings of the South as a great devotional poet and musician. The kings of Tanjavur and Travancore invited him to their...

Albert Schwitzer   France : Religionist, Philosopher & Musician Born : AD 1875 Died : AD 1965 Schwitzer was primarily a Padre. He was educated at Paris and Berlin Li Universities. He looked after a Church in Straussberg. He also taught religion at Straussberg University, simultaneously. In 1905, he gave up priesthood and started work in the field of Medicine. After being successful at home, he went to Africa to serve...

Adam Smith   Scotland : Philosopher and Economist Born : AD 1723                    Died : AD 1790 In 1776, a book entitled Wealth of Nations was published by a Philosopher and Economist which rendered great help to scholars and diplomats in their works in economics. This great work dealt elaborately with production and wealth and its exchange between nations. The author was Adam Smith, an Economist from Scotland. Adam Smith was...

Imon De Valera   Ireland : Freedom Fighter Born : AD 1882                    Died : AD 1975 Imon De Valera was a great revolutionary and freedom lighter. He was jailed for taking part in Easter-Revolution against Great Britain in 1916. He was sentenced to death which was later changed to life imprisonment. He was released from prison by Amnesty International only after one year. He then became Chairman of Sinn Finn,...