Razia Sultan   India : First woman ruler of medieval India Birth : Not known                Died : 1240 Razia Sultan was the first woman ruler during the Sultanate period in India. She ruled for five years. A historian has opined that though she was a woman, she had the qualities of man and was better than twenty sons. The Muslim courtiers, amirs, and army commanders could not stomach the fact...

Olof Palme   Sweden : Votary of socialism and disarmament Born : 1927                 Died : 1986 The shocking news that the Prime Minister of Sweden, Olof Thad been shot dead when he was walking towards his residence  with as his wife after witnessing a movie, stunned the people of hi  his own countrymen. The late Prime Minister was counted as a firm friend of our country. He was a votary...

Josip Broz Tito   Yugoslavia : The peoples’ leader Born : 1892              Died : 1980 Bom in a poor farmer’s family on 7 July, 1892, Tito rose to be what can at best be described as the peoples’ leader. Tito had seen many ups and downs in his life but he remained steadfast in his loyalty towards his motherland and her independence. After his preliminary...

Michael Faraday   England : Inventor of Dynamo Born : 1791        Died : 1867 Faraday did not have a university education or even proper schooling. But, he had a keen mind and desire to learn things. He is a living example of the ‘fact-that a man can achieve much with his common sense and industry. Michael Faraday had to start earning his living at an early age. At the age...

Martin Luther Germany : Religious Reformist Born : 1483                 Died : 1546 Martin Luther is supposed to be father of ‘Protestantism ‘ in Christianity. With the passage of time many evils had crept into the Roman Catholic religion and the priests were taking full advantage of their position. Many people in the past pointed out these evils and were put to death because of their criticism of the misuse of...

Solomon   Israel : His name spelled wisdom Born : 973 B.C.          Died : 933 B.C. For ages, King Solomon’s name has been regarded as synonymous with wisdom. Hundreds of stories circulate all over the world regarding his sense of justice. It was said that if King Solomon could not find a solution to a problem, it could never be solved. You must have read the story regarding two women...

Marc Chagall   Russia : A representative painter of 20th century Born : 1887          Died : 1985   Marc Chagall is considered as one of the talented painters of twentieth century, as great as, if not greater than, the world renowned Picasso. Chagall who was born in Russia, but lived in France, has left his indelible mark on lithography, etchings, murals, inlay work and artwork on painted...

Benito Mussolini   Italy : Exponent of fascism Born : 1883  Died : 1945 Mussolini’s dictum was ‘Live Dangerously’. His entire life exemplified it. He was an ardent nationalist who lived and died for his principles, even if they were outmoded. The conditions in Italy after the First World War were quite miserable. Internal disorders and social conflicts beset that nation. At this time, Mussolini talked of restoring Italy’s prestige and...