Leo Tolstoy   Soviet Union : Mystic and Leading Novelist Birth : 1828       Death : 1910 Count Leo Nicholaievich Tolstoy is the leading Russian novelist and one of the best known literay figures in the world. The universal fame of his writings rests on the fact that the human sentiments expressed therein hold appeal to the people of every era and every country. War and Peace is his masterpiece. Written...

Yuri Gagarin   Soviet Union : First Cosmonaut Birth : 1934 Death : 1968 Yuri Alexeyvich Gagarin was the first person to fly into space. He made this trail-blazing space flight on the spacecraft Vostok-1, which was launched into space from a Kazhakistan cosmodrome on 12 April, 1961 at 9.07 a.m. Gagarin spent a total of 108 minutes in space and at a height of 340 km from the Earth and...

Moses   Egypt : Hebrew Prophet : ‘ Ten Commandments’ Birth — Death : 13th Century B.C. Moses, was the Hebrew prophet who liberated his people— the Hebrews from Egyptian subjugation and led them back to Israel: This journey took 40 years to complete. Moses gave the famous Ten Commandments to his people. These are still the basic rules of conduct for all Christians. These were dictated to Moses by Jehovah,...

Bobby Fischer   U.S.A.: Chess King Birth :1843 James Robert Fischer (Bobby Fischer) of U.S.A. and Gary Kasparov of U.S.S.R. are the two most well-known chess players who established their supremacy in such a difficult sport as chess at a comparatively very young age. Bobby achieved a very spectacular success when he became the national chess champion of U.S.A. at the age of 13 only. The year 1972 has historical importance...

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar   India: Father of Indian Constitution Birth : 1893       Death : 1956 As the unquestioned leader of the depressed classes and the principal architect of the Indian Constitution, the name of Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar will always be remembered in Indian history. His was the main inspiration behind the inclusion of special provisions in the Constitution of India for the development of schedule caste people. Dr. Ambedkar played...

J. Krishnamurti   India : A World Teacher Birth : 1895       Death : 1986 Jiddu Krishnamurti was one of the profoundest thinkers of the modem age. He gave a new meaning to spiritualism and salvation and brought them to the level of the common people. He had no faith in traditions, prayers and the institution of ‘Guru’ or the ‘Master’ and his thinking rose much above the identities of motherland,...

W A  Mozart   Austria : Great Music Composer. Birth : 1756                 Death : 1791 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is one of the greatest music composers of the West. He was a music genius who gave a new direction of the western music and also brought great improvement in it. In its beauty and purity of style, Mozart’s music is one of the greatest ever written. Mozart started his music career...

Erwin Rommel   Germany : Renowned General of World War II Birth : 1891 Death : 1944 Erwin Rommel was one of the most capable generals who fought during the Second World War. He earned the admiration and respect of both his own men and opponents. He made his full contribution in Hitler’s early victories over France and Poland. His greatest achievement in the battlefield which made him so famous was...