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10 Indians who succeeded against all odds

Last updated : January 27th, 2024 05:07 pm

10 Indians who succeeded against all odds

“If you live long enough, you’ll make mistakes. But if you learn from them, you’ll be a better person. It’s how you handle adversity, not how it affects you. The main thing is never quit, never quit, never quit.” – a quote by Bill Clinton and the inspiration behind this article. The last few years have been a very trying and tumultuous time for many of the entrepreneurs and business owners in India owing to the economic slowdown and policy logjams in India. Therefore, entrepreneurs must realize that sometimes it is necessary to face adversities in life to become successful and never giving up is the only way to success. We now look at a list of 10 Indians who succeeded against all odds to become wildly successful during their lifetime. They are some of the most well know Celebrities, Businessmen and Sportspersons we all know and love – who have created a memorable Indian rags to riches story. 

Super Star Rajinikanth

Rajinikanth, a cultural icon and very successful movie star was born as  Shivaji Rao Gaikwad in an  impoverished family. He lost his mother at the age of five and grew up with four siblings, while his father worked as a police constable. On completing his school eduction, Rajinikanth continued to perform various blue collar jobs in the cities of Bangalore and Madras, including that of a coolie, carpenter and bus conductor. While working as a bus conductor, he came across an advertisement offering acting classes and enrolled in it with his friends financial support. During his course in acting, he was noticed by Tamil film director K. Balachander and the rest is history. 

Super Star Rajinikanth’s was recently listed by NDTV’s among the 25 Greatest Global Living Indian Legends. His speech after receiving the honor is heart touching  and a testament to his life, that has been nothing short of incredible.

Rajinikanth’s speech at NDTV award: “Many people don’t believe in miracles but miracles do happen. An ordinary bus conductor sharing the dais with the greatest living legends is a miracle. Miracles do happen. I dedicate this award to my brother Sathyanarayana Rao Gaikwad who is like my father and mother, my guru Balachander and also people of Tamil Nadu, Without their love and affection I wouldn’t be here”.

Click here to watch:  Rajinikanth’s Speech at NDTV’s 25 Greatest Global Living Indian Legends Award

Dhirubhai Ambani

Dhirubhai Ambani, the first Indian to Entrepreneur to feature his Company on the Forbes 500 list was born Dhirajlal Hirachand Ambani in a middle class family. His father was a school teacher and Ambani moved to Yemen at the age of 16, and worked there as a gas-station attendant and as a clerk in an oil company. He returned to India in 1958 with Rs 50,000 and set up a textile trading company, which is now one of the largest business houses in India with interest in many different sectors.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni

Mahendra Singh Dhoni, one of the greatest cricketers from India did not really have a huge interest in cricket from his childhood. Dhoni initially played badminton and football, at the district and club level. It was while he was playing football as a goal keeper, he was selected by his coach to play as a wicket-keeper in the local cricket club. As he started wicket-keeping regularly for the local club, he honed his cricketing skills and was regularly selected in club cricket. Dhoni hails from a lower-middle class family and his father Pan Singh was employed at the junior level at MECON. Hence to support himself and his family, Dhoni  took up the job of a train ticket examiner or TTE in the Indian Railways. Dhoni worked as a Railways Ticket Examiner during the years 2000 to 2003 and was selected for the Indian Cricket Team in the year 2004. Today Mahendra Singh Dhoni is the captain of Indian Cricket Team in all three forms of the game, and his records are the best among all Indian captains to date.

Dr. Abdul Kalam

Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, an Indian scientist and the 11th President of India from 2002 to 2007, has faced insurmountable odds in his path to becoming the leader of a Nation. Dr. Abdul Kalam was born in a Tamil Muslim family; his father Jainulabdeen was a boat owner and  his mother Ashiamma was a housewife. Dr. Abdul Kalam hails from a poor family and started working at an early age to supplement his family’s income by distributing newspapers after school to financially contribute to his father’s income. In his school years, he had average grades, but was a hardworking student with interest in mathematics. Even during his senior class project while in college, the Dean was dissatisfied with the lack of progress and threatened revoking his scholarship unless the project was finished within the next three days. He then worked tirelessly on his project and met the deadline, impressing the Dean. From there on, Dr. Kalam joined Aeronautical Development Establishment of Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) as a scientist and went on to head the organization. The rest is history.

Amitabh Bachchan

“In the year 2000, when the entire world was celebrating the new century, I was celebrating my disastrous fortune. There were no films, no money, no company, a million legal cases against and the tax authorities had put notice of recovery on my home,” – This quote by Amitabh Bachchan at the turn of the century gives an insight into the adversities faced by Amitabh Bachchan while he was in his late fifties. In 1999 Amitabh Bachchan was facing an unprecedented liquidity crunch as substantial funds were blocked in the production and distribution of his films. He was pressurized by the creditors and Amitabh Bachchan’s Company “Amitabh Bachchan Corporation Limited” was declared as a ‘sick’ company. Amitabh’s friends and financial advisors advised him to close the sick company and move on; but, Amitabh didn’t quit and kept going.

He now recalls how he felt like there was a sword hanging on top of his head at all the time and  the number of nights spent sleepless. It was at this time that Amitabh one morning got up early and went to Yash Chopra. He told him that he was bankrupt,  had no films and that his house was attached by creditors. Yash Chopra then offered him a role in his film Mohabattein. Amitabh also started doing commercials and television programs. It was at this time that he got a huge break through Kaun Banega Crorepati; it propelled him into national stardom and helped in the reversal of his fortunes.

Narayana Murthy

Narayana Murthy, who is described as the father of the Indian IT Sector and listed by Fortune Magazine among  the 12 greatest entrepreneurs of our time, has not always been successful with his ventures. Narayana Murthy’s  first venture, a company named Softronics, failed in about a year and a half after its start. After the failure of his first venture, Narayana Murthy joined Patni Computer Systems and worked there for about five years. He then founded Infosys in 1981 along with six software professionals and a meagre capital provided by his wife Sudha Murthy. Infosys is today India’s fifth largest publicly traded company and the third largest Indian based IT Services company.

Gautam Adani

Gautam Adani is the Founder and Chairman of Adani Group with interests in industries such as coal trading, coal mining, oil & gas exploration, ports, multi-modal logistics, power generation & transmission and gas distribution. Gautam  Adani’s path to creating his empire however wasn’t easy as he faced tremendous adversities early on in his life. At the age of 18, Gautam Adani had to drop out of Gujarat University while in his second year of B.Com course and begin working as a Diamond sorter in Mumbai due to financial conditions. However, the young Adani was not scummed by his early adversities and he quickly established a diamond trading business, and made his first million by the age of 20. Adani continued on and  in a short period of time, has managed to create one of India’s well know business houses, a $8 billion professionally managed empire. 

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw started Biocon in 1978 while she was just twenty-five at a rented garage space with a capital of Rs.10,000. Starting a company in an nascent industry with minimal experience presented many challenges and adversities to Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw early on. She had difficulty raising bank loan, challenges in recruiting the right talent and other problems to overcome. Mazumdar-Shaw overcame those adversities over the years and has today grown Biocon to be one of the leading Indian biopharmaceutical company with revenue in excess of Rs.15.55 billion.

Captain Gopinath

Captain Gopinath, the founder of Air Deccan, which revolutionized air travel in India hails from a simple family. Captain Gopinath’s father was a school teacher and he was the second of eight children. After finishing his schooling, Gopinath was commissioned with the Indian Army for a period of eight years. After retirement from the armed forces, he became a farmer – established a sustainable farm, opened an enfield dealership and ran a Udipi hotel. Only after many ventures, failures and adversities did Captain Gopinath finally start Deccan Aviation, a helicopter charter service – which later became the launch pad for Air Deccan.

Sushil Kumar

Sushil Kumar is an renowned Indian World Champion wrestler who won the gold medal in the FILA 2010 World Wrestling Championships, a silver medal in the 2012 London Olympics and a bronze medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The renowned Indian wrestler hails from a lower-middle class family and his father was a DTC bus driver and his mother is a housewife. Sushil Kumar was inspired to taken on wrestling by his cousin Sandeep, who eventually quit wrestling as their family could support only one wrestler. Despite the minimal funds available, poor training facilities and lack of dietary supplements, Sushil Kumar has become an world-renowned Wrestling Champion through hard work and sheer determination. Sushil Kumar is presently employed with the Indian Railways as an Assistant Commercial Manager.

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• 10 Must Read Biographies On...

10 Must-Read Biographies On Inspirational People From India

Biographies always end up becoming a source of inspiration and many authors have compiled accounts on impactful Indians whose lives are worth sharing. We’ve shortlisted the 10 best biographies you should read.

Outlaw: india’s bandit queen and me by roy moxham.

Roy Moxham’s biography of spine-chilling events that occurred in Phoolan Mallah’s life was a result of his journey and friendship with her in the later years of her life. Known as ‘bandit queen’ in India, Phoolan hailed from a poor rural family in Uttar Pradesh. She was gang-raped and abused many times before she became a gang leader and then a Member of the Parliament in India. Roy’s biography is a gripping story of the incredible woman who was gunned down in 2001.

Akhada: The Authorized Biography of Mahavir Singh Phogat by Saurabh Duggal

Saurabh Duggal tells the story of Mahavir Singh Phogat in his biography. The amateur wrestler rebelled against the appalling practice of female foeticide in Harayana and trained his own daughters in the sport. His eldest daughter, Geeta Phogat, became the first ever freestyle wrestler to win a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in 2010 and the first female wrestler from India to qualify for the Olympics.

Sir C V Raman by A. Krishna Bhatt

This biography by A. Krishna Bhatt gives an intimate account of Nobel Prize winner C. V. Raman’s life . Bhatt’s research reveals how Raman was a jovial person, always curious and a great teacher. The book makes C. V. Raman more human, going beyond the image of a worshipped physicist. Raman’s humble beginnings and great achievements are a source of inspiration.

The Man Who Knew Infinity: A Life of The Genius Ramanujan by Robert Kanigel

Robert Kanigel paints a picture of Srinivasa Ramanujan’s life since childhood in Tamil Nadu, India. His family couldn’t send him to school after a point but that didn’t stop Ramanujan from studying pure mathematics and working under the British mathematician G. H. Hardy. In his biography , Robert delves into Ramanujan’s struggle to be taken seriously and eventually being recognised for his contributions in mathematics.

Beyond the Last Blue Mountain by R. M. Lala

Beyond The Last Blue Mountain is one of the best biographies written about an Indian. The book is divided into four parts, taking the readers through the details of Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata’s childhood and milestones. J.R.D Tata’s interest in aviation that led to the beginning of the aviation industry in India and his contributions as an industrialist, are discussed comprehensively. The last part of the book talks about his friendships, personal life and how he kept it away from the public eye.

Spy Princess: The Life of Noor Inayat Khan by Shrabani Basu

Shrabani Basu’s detailed chronicle of Noor Inayat Khan makes the biography a riveting read. Noor was an Indian-origin Briton from an affluent family. As a shy, sensitive girl, she chose the most unlikely work for herself, in the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force during the Second World War. She lived a life of danger and adventure before being killed in a concentration camp in Dachau. Basu’s book is heartwarming and inspirational.

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Husain: Portrait of an Artist by Ila Pal

The late Maqbool Fida Husain, better known as M.F. Husain , was a peculiar but charming figure of the 20th-century. No one knows much about the man, except that he was an internationally acclaimed modern painter who always walked barefoot with a paintbrush in his hand. The image almost became his brand statement. Ila Pal goes deep into M.F. Husain’s life and reveals his wit and thought process. Ila met the painter in 1961 and made him her case study for 50 years and the biography is a beautiful culmination of that association.

Gandhi Before India by Ramachandra Guha

Gandhi Before India is a deviation from what is usually written about M.K. Gandhi who is revered as ‘father of the nation’ for his mammoth contributions to India’s independence movement. Ramachandra Guha’s detailed research spans across four continents. He writes about Gandhi’s formative years in South Africa and personal details of his life as a father and husband. Ramachandra’s beautifully written biography paints Gandhi in a different light and tells us why M. K. Gandhi was an inspirational figure.

Helen: The Life and Times of an H-Bomb by Jerry Pinto

Jerry Pinto is probably one of the best Indian authors of the 21st-century and his biography on Helen tells everything we ever wanted to know about the French-Burmese actress. An icon in Bollywood , Helen came to the country as a refugee from Burma. To support her widowed mother and two brothers she worked as a chorus dancer in Hindi films. At her career’s peak she was called the ‘H-Bomb’.

Lilavati’s Daughters by Indian Academy of Sciences

The collection of biographical essays on women scientists of the 19th and 20th-century is nothing but inspirational. The book tells us about botanist E. K. Janaki Ammal, chemist Asmita Chatterjee, physician Anandibai Joshi, anthropologist Iravati Karve, biochemist Kamala Sohonie, medical researcher Kamal Ranadive and a few others who pioneered women’s education in India at a time when women were hardly allowed to finish high school.

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• general knowledge

15 Famous Indian Personalities and their Autobiographies

Famous indian personalities and their autobiographies: biographies of famous personalities are always a source of inspiration. the biographies will tell you about the controversies, the dark sides of a person that you may have never heard of..

1- The Story of My Experiments with Truth by Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

In 1940, Father of Nation, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi wrote his autobiography 'The Story of My Experiments with Truth' where he covered his life from childhood days to 1921. In 1998, a committee of global spiritual and religious authorities designated it as one of the "100 Best Spiritual Books of the 20th Century". 

2- An Autobiography by Jawaharlal Nehru

3- autobiography of a yogi by paramahansa yogananda, 4- atmakatha (malayalam) by anna chandy, 5- waiting for a visa by b. r. ambedkar , 6- all from memory by b. v. acharya , 7- a grain of sand in the hourglass of time by arjun singh and ashok chopra.

In 2011, former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh started writing his autobiography 'A Grain of Sand in the Hourglass of Time' but died on March 4, 2011, before completing it. The autobiographical book was then completed by Ashok Chopra. Ashok is a publisher, author, editor, and literary columnist by profession. 

8- Baburnama by Babur

9- courage and conviction by general vijay kumar singh, 10- ente katha (my story) by kamala surayya, 11- en sarithiram by u. v. swaminathan iyer, 12- how i became a hindu by sita ram goel , 13- jakhan choto chilam by satyajit ray, 14- living shadows by aribam syam sharma, 15- a shot at history by abhinav bindra .

In 2011, Indian Shooter and Gold medalist Abhinav Bindra published an autobiographical book 'A Shot at History: My Obsessive Journey to Olympic Gold'. 

Rishi Kapoor Biography: Early Life, Illness, Death, Family, Film Career, Famous Dialogues and Awards

Get here current GK and GK quiz questions in English and Hindi for India , World, Sports and Competitive exam preparation. Download the Jagran Josh Current Affairs App .

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Mahatma Gandhi

By: History.com Editors

Updated: June 6, 2019 | Original: July 30, 2010

Revered the world over for his nonviolent philosophy of passive resistance, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was known to his many followers as Mahatma, or “the great-souled one.” He began his activism as an Indian immigrant in South Africa in the early 1900s, and in the years following World War I became the leading figure in India’s struggle to gain independence from Great Britain. Known for his ascetic lifestyle–he often dressed only in a loincloth and shawl–and devout Hindu faith, Gandhi was imprisoned several times during his pursuit of non-cooperation, and undertook a number of hunger strikes to protest the oppression of India’s poorest classes, among other injustices. After Partition in 1947, he continued to work toward peace between Hindus and Muslims. Gandhi was shot to death in Delhi in January 1948 by a Hindu fundamentalist.

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born on October 2, 1869, at Porbandar, in the present-day Indian state of Gujarat. His father was the dewan (chief minister) of Porbandar; his deeply religious mother was a devoted practitioner of Vaishnavism (worship of the Hindu god Vishnu), influenced by Jainism, an ascetic religion governed by tenets of self-discipline and nonviolence. At the age of 19, Mohandas left home to study law in London at the Inner Temple, one of the city’s four law colleges. Upon returning to India in mid-1891, he set up a law practice in Bombay, but met with little success. He soon accepted a position with an Indian firm that sent him to its office in South Africa. Along with his wife, Kasturbai, and their children, Gandhi remained in South Africa for nearly 20 years.

Did you know? In the famous Salt March of April-May 1930, thousands of Indians followed Gandhi from Ahmadabad to the Arabian Sea. The march resulted in the arrest of nearly 60,000 people, including Gandhi himself.

Gandhi was appalled by the discrimination he experienced as an Indian immigrant in South Africa. When a European magistrate in Durban asked him to take off his turban, he refused and left the courtroom. On a train voyage to Pretoria, he was thrown out of a first-class railway compartment and beaten up by a white stagecoach driver after refusing to give up his seat for a European passenger. That train journey served as a turning point for Gandhi, and he soon began developing and teaching the concept of satyagraha (“truth and firmness”), or passive resistance, as a way of non-cooperation with authorities.

The Birth of Passive Resistance

In 1906, after the Transvaal government passed an ordinance regarding the registration of its Indian population, Gandhi led a campaign of civil disobedience that would last for the next eight years. During its final phase in 1913, hundreds of Indians living in South Africa, including women, went to jail, and thousands of striking Indian miners were imprisoned, flogged and even shot. Finally, under pressure from the British and Indian governments, the government of South Africa accepted a compromise negotiated by Gandhi and General Jan Christian Smuts, which included important concessions such as the recognition of Indian marriages and the abolition of the existing poll tax for Indians.

In July 1914, Gandhi left South Africa to return to India. He supported the British war effort in World War I but remained critical of colonial authorities for measures he felt were unjust. In 1919, Gandhi launched an organized campaign of passive resistance in response to Parliament’s passage of the Rowlatt Acts, which gave colonial authorities emergency powers to suppress subversive activities. He backed off after violence broke out–including the massacre by British-led soldiers of some 400 Indians attending a meeting at Amritsar–but only temporarily, and by 1920 he was the most visible figure in the movement for Indian independence.

6 Things You Might Not Know About Gandhi

The iconic Indian activist, known for his principle of nonviolent resistance, had humble beginnings and left an outsized legacy.

When Gandhi’s Salt March Rattled British Colonial Rule

In March 1930, Mahatma Gandhi and his followers set off on a brisk 241‑mile march to the Arabian Sea town of Dandi to lay Indian claim to the nation's own salt.

Assassination of Gandhi

Passive Resistance For some 50 years, Gandhi, born on October 2, 1869, and called “Mahatma” (“great‑souled” in Sanskrit), fought for India’s independence from Britain, practicing civil disobedience and peaceful protests that included fasting, boycotts and marches. He was an adherent of satyagraha (“truth‑force”), a passive political resistance he defined as “a weapon of the strongest […]

Leader of a Movement

As part of his nonviolent non-cooperation campaign for home rule, Gandhi stressed the importance of economic independence for India. He particularly advocated the manufacture of khaddar, or homespun cloth, in order to replace imported textiles from Britain. Gandhi’s eloquence and embrace of an ascetic lifestyle based on prayer, fasting and meditation earned him the reverence of his followers, who called him Mahatma (Sanskrit for “the great-souled one”). Invested with all the authority of the Indian National Congress (INC or Congress Party), Gandhi turned the independence movement into a massive organization, leading boycotts of British manufacturers and institutions representing British influence in India, including legislatures and schools.

After sporadic violence broke out, Gandhi announced the end of the resistance movement, to the dismay of his followers. British authorities arrested Gandhi in March 1922 and tried him for sedition; he was sentenced to six years in prison but was released in 1924 after undergoing an operation for appendicitis. He refrained from active participation in politics for the next several years, but in 1930 launched a new civil disobedience campaign against the colonial government’s tax on salt, which greatly affected Indian’s poorest citizens.

A Divided Movement

In 1931, after British authorities made some concessions, Gandhi again called off the resistance movement and agreed to represent the Congress Party at the Round Table Conference in London. Meanwhile, some of his party colleagues–particularly Mohammed Ali Jinnah, a leading voice for India’s Muslim minority–grew frustrated with Gandhi’s methods, and what they saw as a lack of concrete gains. Arrested upon his return by a newly aggressive colonial government, Gandhi began a series of hunger strikes in protest of the treatment of India’s so-called “untouchables” (the poorer classes), whom he renamed Harijans, or “children of God.” The fasting caused an uproar among his followers and resulted in swift reforms by the Hindu community and the government.

In 1934, Gandhi announced his retirement from politics in, as well as his resignation from the Congress Party, in order to concentrate his efforts on working within rural communities. Drawn back into the political fray by the outbreak of World War II , Gandhi again took control of the INC, demanding a British withdrawal from India in return for Indian cooperation with the war effort. Instead, British forces imprisoned the entire Congress leadership, bringing Anglo-Indian relations to a new low point.

Partition and Death of Gandhi

After the Labor Party took power in Britain in 1947, negotiations over Indian home rule began between the British, the Congress Party and the Muslim League (now led by Jinnah). Later that year, Britain granted India its independence but split the country into two dominions: India and Pakistan. Gandhi strongly opposed Partition, but he agreed to it in hopes that after independence Hindus and Muslims could achieve peace internally. Amid the massive riots that followed Partition, Gandhi urged Hindus and Muslims to live peacefully together, and undertook a hunger strike until riots in Calcutta ceased.

In January 1948, Gandhi carried out yet another fast, this time to bring about peace in the city of Delhi. On January 30, 12 days after that fast ended, Gandhi was on his way to an evening prayer meeting in Delhi when he was shot to death by Nathuram Godse, a Hindu fanatic enraged by Mahatma’s efforts to negotiate with Jinnah and other Muslims. The next day, roughly 1 million people followed the procession as Gandhi’s body was carried in state through the streets of the city and cremated on the banks of the holy Jumna River.

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• Famous Personalities /

What Can We Learn From The Great Personalities?

• Updated on  
• Sep 16, 2024

When you ask young kids about what they want to become when they grow up, you are sure to come across answers like “I want to become a scientist like Albert Einstein ” or “I want to become a cricketer like Sachin Tendulkar.” It is exciting how great personalities influence not only adults but also children. Reading stories of successful people can leave an indelible impression on the people and their lives. From their struggles to their passion and achieving great reputations, there is an endless number of things that you can learn from such personalities. Keeping that in mind, we have formulated a list of great personalities who not only excelled in their careers but also gave the power to dream to millions of others. 

This Blog Includes:

17+ great personalities of india, 15 great personalities of the world, great personalities in science, great personalities in social welfare, great political leaders, great personalities in innovation & technology, greatest personalities in arts & literature, famous indian female personalities, dr apj abdul kalam, coco chanel, albert einstein, abraham lincoln, walt disney, nelson mandela, sachin tendulkar, michael jackson, marilyn monroe, thomas alva edison, kalpana chawla , leo tolstoy, satyajit ray, additional great personalities, additional famous personalities of india, great personalities quotes.

From the independence era to the present day, India has seen great personalities who have contributed to nation-building in their own capacities and in different fields. Here are the names of some greatest Inspiring Personalities in India:

Before we dive deep into the great personalities of the world and their inspiring endeavors, let us take a look at the top 15 world-famous and inspiring personalities – 

25 Great Personalities Inspiring Children

Many well-known personalities in science, literature, politics, technology, business, and arts inspire children to give their best and learn about the complexities of life! Here are the greatest personalities who are truly an inspiration to children.

• Albert Einstein : German Theoretical Physicist, Renowned for developing the Theory of Relativity
• Isaac Newton : English Mathematician, Physicist, and Astronomer who gave the Laws of Motion and Gravitation
• Thomas Alva Edison : American inventor and businessman, known as America’s greatest inventor
• Nikola Tesla : a Serbian-American Engineer and Physicist, designed the Alternating-Current (AC) electric system
• Dr APJ Abdul Kalam : Indian Aerospace Scientist and 11th President of India
• Nelson Mandela : South African Anti-Apartheid Revolutionary
• Abraham Lincoln : 16th President of the US; Leader of the American Civil War
• Mahatma Gandhi : Often called the father of India, an anti-colonial Nationalist, Led the Non-violence movements against British colonisers for India’s independence
• Mother Teresa : Albanian-Indian Roman Catholic nun and missionary
• Kailash Satyarthi : Indian social reformer working towards the elimination of child labour in India; Nobel Peace Prize Winner 2014
• Martin J. Luther King : American Activist who led the Civil Rights Movement
• Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru : the First Prime Minister of India, an Indian Independence activist
• Dr Rajendra Prasad : Indian Independence activist, lawyer, and the First President of India
• Barack Obama : American Politician and Attorney, the first African-American President of India
• Subhash Chandra Bose : Indian National, Founder of the Indian National Army
• Steve Jobs : American inventor, the Co-founder of Apple Computers
• Mark Zuckerberg : American Entrepreneur, the Co-founder of Facebook
• Jeff Bezos : American Entrepreneur, CEO and Founder of Amazon
• Jack Ma : Chinese Entrepreneur and co-founder of Alibaba Group
• Elon Musk : American businessman, Engineer, CEO, CTO & Chief Designer of SpaceX
• William Shakespeare : English Playwright, Poet and Actor, and one of the greatest playwrights in English Literature
• Rabindranath Tagore : Indian writer, poet, and composer, Nobel Laureate in Literature, Best known for his literary works in Bengali literature including Gitanjali, The Home and The World, and Gora
• Jane Austen : English Novelist, best known for Pride and Prejudice, Emma, and Sense and Sensibility
• Anne Frank : German-Dutch Diarist, known for the Diary of a Young Girl
• Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910) : Renowned Russian Writer, known for his phenomenal works like Anna Karenina and War and Peace
• Anandibai Gopalrao Joshi
• Roshini Sharma
• Shila Dawre
• Arunima Sinha
• Reita Faria Powel
• Mithali Raj
• Mother Teresa
• Indira Gandhi
• Pratibha Patil

“Dream, dream, dream. Dreams transform into thoughts and thoughts result in action.” – Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam

People’s favourite leader, Dr Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam, also known as APJ Abdul Kalam , was a millennial Aerospace scientist. Named the Missile Man of India, he brought astounding technological reform to the country. From introducing the launch vehicle facility and ballistic missile to supporting the second round of nuclear tests at Pokhran, he did everything necessary for the nation’s civilian space program and military missile development.

• Dr Kalam spent close to 4 decades in ISRO and DRDO as a scientist and administrator.
• He served as the 11th President of India from 2002 to 2007. 
• After retiring, he became a visiting professor at IIMs, IITs, and other universities where he motivated students to innovate and compete with the world.

From the Prithvi missile in 1988 to the Agni missile in 1989, his contribution and achievements have earned him the Bharat Ratna, Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan, King Charles II Medal, Hoover Medal, and many others. He is a hero to millions of people making him one of the great personalities of all time. 

“When I write, I can shake off all my cares.” – Anne Frank

The world-renowned German-born diarist, Anne Frank, jotted down her experiences as her family went into hiding from Nazis during the Holocaust. She spent two years in a “Secret Annex” somewhere in Amsterdam before being discovered and deported to concentration camps. Anne got her diary as a gift for her thirteenth birthday and wrote down the different events during the two years of hiding with her family.

She expressed her feelings and thoughts, began a novel as well as wrote a bunch of short stories because according to her, writing helped in passing time during those years. Her diary was later discovered by two helpers and then her writings were published as “The Diary of Anne Frank”. Anne’s father Otto survived the Holocaust and got to know about her diary from his friend and realized that it was an entirely different girl that he knew and said, “I had no idea of her depth of thoughts and feelings”.

The Diary of Anne Frank has been translated into 57 languages and tells an incredible perspective of the holocaust through the point of view of a thirteen-year-old girl in hiding and shows her extraordinaire storytelling as well as unfaltering spirit even amidst the horrible circumstances.

“Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening.” – Coco Chanel

Gabrielle Bonheur “Coco” Chanel, was a French fashion designer and businesswoman who established the prolific fashion brand Chanel. From little black dresses, tweed jackets, bell-bottomed pants, gold-chained handbags, menswear, and womenswear to their signature scent, Coco Chanel has contributed to the sphere of fashion and design making her one of the great personalities.

• Coco’s intense belief that fashion cannot be restricted to couture clothing brought accessories and fragrances as an essential part of fashion. 
• She worked as a seamstress and stage performer to save money to put up her first store. In 1913, Coco managed to open her first shop in Paris followed by another in Deauville.

Her affection and passion for every item produced by the brand made her a fashion icon in no time. Who knew a young girl who learned sewing at an orphanage would someday not just design the famous Chanel logo herself but also inspire millions of people looking out for opportunities to make a career in Fashion Designing ?

“Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value.” – Albert Einstein

You must be aware of the world’s most famous equation E=mc^2, the theory of relativity, which helped to complete theories that had been put forth by Newton and the discovery of the law of the photoelectric effect which is an important step in the development of quantum theory. A German-born theoretical physicist , Albert Einstein is the man behind these innumerable findings.

As a fact, do you know that Einstein took a diploma from Federal Polytechnic School and was later awarded a PhD by the University of Zurich ? He started his career working in a patent office but later shifted to the research & development domain completely. The famous scientist greatly contributed his knowledge to students in various educational institutes like the University of Bern , Humboldt University of Berlin , Caltech , University of Oxford , etc.

Awarded a Nobel Prize for Physics in 1921, Albert Einstein is generally considered the most influential physicist of the 20th century. With his great personality and contribution, many leading scientists and physicists are trying to complete Einstein’s ultimate dream of a “theory of everything.”

“My best friend is a person who will give me a book I have not read.” – Abraham Lincoln

Renowned for the liberation of slaves in the United States, Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12, 1849. He was raised in Kentucky where he pursued a meagre education as he had to juggle between jobs to provide for his family consistently.

• He was a self-taught lawyer and legislator, who went on to become one of the American heroes and great personalities of the American Civil War. 
• He was appointed as the 16th US President shortly before the outbreak of the Civil War. Lincoln adopted an unconventional approach as a war leader in which he preferred to react to arising problems and circumstances rather than originating new policies and laying out designs.

Taking an experimental approach, he blended statecraft with the direction of armies. He utilised his practical insight and common sense to bring triumph to the country as a brilliant military strategist and savvy leader. It was not just his military genius that set him apart, but his gradual plan to bring freedom to the slaves through his tactical Emancipation Proclamation which paved the way for the abolishment of slavery in America.

“All dreams can come true if we dare to pursue them.” – Walt Disney

The legendary pioneer of Disney cartoons, Walt Disney created the beloved animated character of Mickey Mouse and was the mastermind behind mesmerizing animations as well as scintillating theme parks! Growing up in a poor family, his artistic talent was sparked by a doctor in his neighbourhood who asked him to draw a horse. Young Walt fell in love with drawing and painting and worked on improving his art by drawing cartoons from his father’s newspaper.

He joined the Mckinsey High School as his family moved to Chicago but dropped out at the age of 16 determined to join the army. With his relentless efforts, he somehow entered the Red Cross and then travelled to France with the army. Amidst the grim injuries and bloodshed that he witnessed daily, Walt found comfort in imagining new cartoon characters to fulfil his dream as an artist. Then, he came back to the city and took up a job as a cartoonist though soon fired with a decline in revenue given the reason that “he lacked imagination”.

He wrote “Alice in Wonderland” while struggling with the fall of his two businesses and then shifted to Hollywood to sell his story. But destiny had something else for him as he went on to produce Alice in Wonderland under the Banner of Disney Bros. Studios and then there was no looking back as the studio reached new heights and established itself among the top film studios in the country as well as the world!

“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. “ – Nelson Mandela

Born in a small village named Mvezo in South Africa, Nelson Mandela was originally named Rolihlahla Mandela. He grew up listening to the stories of the valour of his ancestors during the wars of resistance.

• In the early 1940s, he chose to study law at the University of Witwatersrand where he got to know people from all races and backgrounds. 
• During these years, he went on to join the African National Congress (ANC) in which a group of young Africans aimed to start a mass grassroots movement to voice the concerns of rural peasants and working people. 
• ANC accepted his effective ways of petitioning like boycotts, strikes, non-cooperation, and civil disobedience. 

What ensued ahead was a long journey of defiance against the oppressive South African regime and its apartheid policies.

Mandela spent almost 27 years in prison. He was arrested and detained continuously and emerged as a potent symbol of black resistance. He was released in 1990, and in 1993, Mandela received a Nobel Peace Prize for dismantling apartheid in South Africa. In 1994, he was elected as the first black President of South Africa in the country’s first-ever democratic elections.

“People throw stones at you and you convert them into milestones.” – Sachin Tendulkar

Famed all across the world and carrying the nation’s pride on his No. 10 jersey, Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar is prominent in the list of great personalities. Popularly known as a ‘ master blaster ’, he is a true inspiration for all cricket lovers. This finest right-handed batsman in the history of international cricket started his cricket journey at the age of 11 and made his first-class debut when he was 15 and his first test debut against Pakistan at the age of 16. We know, that in India cricket is a religion and Tendulkar is a modern legend and India’s very own God of Cricket. After his retirement in 2013, he was awarded the Bharat Ratna – the youngest person to receive this award. With a career of 22 years 91 days, he has recorded as the only player to score over 30,000 runs in international cricket, the only one to secure 100 international hundreds and the first player to score a double hundred in limited-overs cricket, 62 Man of the Match, 15 Man of the Series, and the list is endless.

He was among the first Indian players to become a part of the Yorkshire club. Not just this, being an active member of Rajya Sabha, he has donated his entire Rajya Sabha money to the Government of India for the country’s welfare.

Tendulkar carried the hopes of millions every time he walked up to bat and continues to be the biggest reason students across the world aspire to make a career in Sports and Sport Management . Watching his memorable knocks and winning many games single-handedly, people started watching cricket just to see him bat.

Also Read – Here’s How to Become a Cricketer!

“If you wanna make the world a better place, take a look at yourself, then make that change.” – Michael Jackson

Popularly known as the “King of Pop”, the best-selling American singer, songwriter and dancer, Michael Joseph Jackson was a multi-talented musical entertainer who enjoyed a topping career both as a solo artist and with the Jackson 5.

• Encouraged by his father, Joseph Walter Jackson, MJ started his musical journey at the early age of 5 and later came to be recognised as the greatest entertainer of the 20th century. 
• With his popular moonwalk dance moves and fashion specialism like his crystal gloves, and immortalised solitary, trophy jacket trend in the 80s, he was in the limelight for more than 4 decades.
• Jackson’s most famous work was exhibited in Thriller which was the second best-selling album in history and he later released a series of hit records like Bad, Dangerous, Off the Wall, History, and Invincible.

Some of his greatest achievements include 31 Guinness World Records, 13 Grammy Awards, 26 American Music Awards, Billboard 100 top ten singles in five different decades, etc. People across the world consider him among the great personalities for the kind of excellence he had towards his work while others sign up for Music Production courses to be a legend like him. 

“I am not interested in money. I just want to be wonderful.” – Marilyn Monroe

Popularly known as the Blonde Bombshell by her millions of admirers, Marilyn Monroe was one of a kind. Famous for her bold acting roles, she was a complete star with great modelling and singing skills. Monroe was born in 1926 in Los Angeles and was named Norma Jeane Mortenson.

After a rough childhood where she was constantly moving parts from foster homes to orphanages, she met her first love and decided to get married at the age of 16. 1946 was the golden year of her life, as she established a great career as a Model and also signed her first movie.

As she had no knowledge or background in acting, her performance was judged by the people to a great extent. But, in no time she became one of the great personalities of all time. Her best work includes The Seven Year Itch, The Prince and the Showgirl, Some Like It Hot, The Misfits and Bus Stop. Due to the struggle, anxiety, depression and family issues, she died at the early age of 36.

“Genius is one per cent inspiration and ninety-nine per cent perspiration.” – Thomas Alva Edison

Known as the most creative inventor of all time, Thomas Alva Edison spent most of his life bringing new inventions to people’s lives by feeding his ideas with a correct approach. Edison was born in 1847 in Milan, Ohio and spent his early childhood days in Michigan. His family was canal owners and with time, the business declined.

To support his family, he started selling candies and vegetables on trains. Later he became a telegraph operator and spent a handful of years in this profession. At 19 he moved to Kentucky to work at the Associate Press Beuro and requested the night shift, this would give him plenty of time to read and experiment.

Due to an incident that occurred at the press house, because of his experiment, he was fired. This is when he decided to open his research laboratory. His most famous inventions were Photograph, Motion Picture Camera and the life-changing – Light Bulb. Edison is also regarded as the very first inventor who promoted teamwork while processing an invention with researchers and employees.

“You are just your intelligence.” – Kalpana Chawla 

A girl born to change the vision of a country towards women, born to bring change in the world with her starry imagination, Kalpana Chawla is a true name that stands to be on the list of great personalities of all times. She was born in 1962 in Haryana and since the beginning of her school life, the universe fascinated her the most.

She was an ordinary girl with towering dreams and indomitable courage that made her the first Indian woman and the second Indian person to fly in space in 1997. As she recalls in an interview before the Columbia mission, how she and her brother used to hop on their bicycles to see where the aeroplanes were headed to.

From choosing her name ‘Kalpana’ which means ‘imagination’ to drawing colourful aeroplanes, her creativity led her to embark on an explorative journey which gave a reason for many young minds to pursue their dreams.

Chawla was one of the seven crew members who died in the Space Shuttle Columbia accident on February 1, 2003, when the ship exploded upon re-entering the atmosphere. Chawla received the Congressional Space Medal of Honor posthumously, and various streets, colleges, and other organisations carry her name. In India, she is remembered as a national hero.

“ I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be done does away with fear. “ – Rosa Parks

Known as the woman who refused to give her seat to a white passenger on a bus in Montgomery, Rosa Parks was a civil rights activist whose single act of defiance led to nationwide efforts to abolish racial segregation in America.

She spent her school education in segregated schools, Parks witnessed racial segregation throughout her life and when she refused to stand from her seat on the bus and was arrested. During her trial, around 500 supporters were present for her in the court and later in her support, a city-wide boycott of buses happened when African-American commuters chose to walk to work rather than take the buses. Parks is among the foremost activists to take a stand against racial segregation carried out in the buses during that time and emerged among the great personalities who led the largest and most successful mass movements in American history. She was later honoured with the Martin Luther King Jr. Award by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

“Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.” – Leo Tolstoy

With notable work in the realm of Literature, Leo Tolstoy, a Russian novelist and moral philosopher are regarded as one of the great personalities of bibliophiles. Ranked as one of the world’s leading writers, Tolstoy has worked intensely on philosophical essays, short stories and numerous plays that turned out to be best sellers.

Some of his renowned work includes The Death of Ivan Ilyich, Anna Karenina, Resurrection, War and Peace, Hadji Murad, and The Kingdom of God Is Within You , to name a few. Tolstoy did his schooling at home with the help of German and French tutors and later went for a course in oriental languages. Although writing was something which always fascinated him, Tolstoy later joined the army as a junker for a short period and was a part of the Crimean War in 1855.

Leo is often acknowledged as having possessed a skill for describing characters’ unconscious motives. With a belief that novels are not just a source of entertainment, but tools for psychological education and reform, Tolstoy’s finest achievements have continued to inspire young writers and students planning to pursue a BA in English Literature , an MA in English and a PhD in English.

“The director is the only person who knows what the film is about.” – Satyajit Ray

“Not to have seen the cinema of Ray means existing in the world without seeing the sun or the moon.” The personality of Satyajit Ray cannot be better explained than the words about him by Akira Kurosawa, one of the most influential filmmakers . Revered among the best storytellers of the 20th century, Satyajit Ray has left an indelible legacy in film direction which continues to inspire the modern industry.

Born in Bengal in 1921, Satyajit is counted among the very few filmmakers having mastery over several fields. A Screenwriter, Music Composer, Graphic Artist, Lyricist, and Author, Ray has an unmatched reputation as a polymath in modern cinema. Regarded as among the greatest film directors of all time, he has several awards to his credit including the prestigious National Film Award, BAFTA , and Ramon Magsaysay award.

Having produced several films, the critically lauded ones include Pathar Panchali, Charulata, Music Room, and The Big City. The cynosure of Indian cinema, Satyajit’s genius is incontestable making among great personalities. His dedication motivates many to pursue Film Studies , Film Editing , and Acting Courses . 

Here are the motivational and inspiring quotes by great personalities in the world:

“Imagination is more important than knowledge.” – Albert Einstein

“However difficult life may seem, there is always something good you can succeed at.” – Stephen Hawking

“All our dreams can come true if we dare to pursue them.” – Walt Disney

“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear. “ – Nelson Mandela

“It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves.” – William Shakespeare

“Don’t spend time beating on a wall hoping to transform it into a door.” – Coco Chanel

“It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” – Confucius

Mahatma Gandhi. What is this? Mahatma Gandhi is considered the father of India as he led the nationalist movement against British rule in India

Most Popular People in the World 2022.  Elon Musk : Elon Musk is the CEO of Tesla Inc and SpaceX. He is the world’s richest man, with a net worth of $239.6 billion as of 2022

American veteran actor Swayne Johnson is the most popular actor in the world in 2022.

Find Other Relevant Blogs Here!

This was everything about the great personalities who inspire generations. If you want to know more about other Famous Personalities then visit our General Knowledge page!

Nitika Sharma

Nitika is a tech-savvy Content Creator and Marketer with 5+ years of experience. She has a keen nose for learning new things and keeps updated with the best Content Marketing practices. You will find her baking a cake when she is not working.

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Home » List of Famous Indian Personalities and their Autobiographies

List of Famous Indian Personalities and their Autobiographies

Names of famous personalities of india 2022.

We are given a new updated list in tabular column. It contains names of Famous Personalities of India 2022. Also we have given their autobiography and their profession details. They have made a huge contribution to our nation. It is very important in exam point of view. Students please view this page and find the list and names of famous personalities of India 2022 before appearing for the exam.

List of Famous Indian Personalities and their Autobiographies FAQs

Q: List of famous Indian Personalities and their Autobiographies comes under in which section?

A: List of famous Indian Personalities and their autobiographies comes under Static GK Section.

Q: What is the Autobiography name of Sardar Vallabhai Patel?

A: The Sardar Of India  is the Autobiography name of Sardar VallaBhai Patel.

Q: In Which year Bhagat Singh Autobiography Published?

A: The Autobiography of Bhagat Singh was published in 1931.

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10 Indian Great Personalities Who Marked The History With Their Success

Not everyone on this earth is born with a silver spoon, there are many here whose lives were full of difficulties, hardships, struggles, failures and poverty. But somehow with their persistence, hard work, talent, confidence and their never give up attitude turned their destiny. Some of them achieved success at a very early and few later but from here, their life directly jumped into another track.

Our country India has also given birth to such great personalities whose journey is inspiring the whole world today. They are the one who dared to challenge their problems and taken their stand to achieve their goal. In this article, I have mentioned the name of top great successful personalities of the country. Let’s know the names and stories of these great Indian personalities.

Dhirubhai Ambani- Dhirajlal Hirachand Ambani, popularly famous among all as Dhirubhai Ambani. He is the founder of Indian Conglomerate Multinational Reliance Industries and the first Indian entrepreneur whose company got the listing in Forbes Magazine. He belongs to a middle-class family and his father was a teacher. During his school days, he used to sell bhajia and at the age of 16, he went to Yemen. Here, he got a job in an oil company and served the role of the gas station attendant and clerk. In 1958, he returned to India with an amount of Rs.50,000 and set up a textile company. The company is now one of the great business houses in India. The position he achieved is only the outcome of his hard work, not his luck.

Quote by Dhirubhai Ambani P URSUE YOUR GOALS EVEN IN THE FACE OF DIFFICULTIES AND CONVERT ADVERSITIES INTO OPPORTUNITIES.

Dr APJ Abdul Kalam- The 11th President of India and Indian scientist Dr A.P.J Abdul Kalam (full name- Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam) belongs to a Muslim family of Tamil Nadu. He belongs to a very poor family where his father Jainulabdeen was a boat owner and mother Ashiamma was a housewife. He started earning at a very young age by distributing a newspaper after his school to support his family financially. Well, during his school days he was an average student but at the same time, he was hardworking too. Even his college Dean was also dissatisfied with his project and given an ultimatum of 3 days to complete the project unless his scholarship will get revoked. With this fear, he worked tirelessly and completed the project within the given timeline which worked successfully to save his scholarship and impressed his Dean. After completing his graduation, he joined Aeronautical Development Establishment of Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) as a scientist and from here onwards history goes on

Quote by Dr APJ Abdul Kalam MAN NEEDS THE DIFFICULTIES IN LIFE BECAUSE THEY ARE NECESSARY TO ENJOY THE SUCCESS

Amitabh Bachchan- The superstar and Shahenshah of Indian Cinema, Amitabh Bachchan (full name- Amitabh Harivansh Srivastava) has struggled hard to take his strong place in Bollywood. He is the son of poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan and Teji Bachchan. After completing his studies, he went to Mumbai to try his luck in Bollywood. His unconventional looks and great height became a reason of rejection there. Even he faced rejection in the radio jockey job due to his heavy voice. Later, due to his hard work and patience, he finally got a chance in Bollywood in the film Saat Hindustani (released in the year 1969) which not worked well in the box office. In the initial years of his career, he has given 9 flops continuously where he played small roles and also did voice-overs. From the film Zanjeer (released in the year 1973), his destiny took him on the track of success and prosperity.

Well after achieving a great space in Bollywood, he faced a hugely difficult situation in 2000 when his company Amitabh Bachchan Cooperation limited was declared a ‘Sick’ company. It was a period when he was under a lot of debt and had many sleepless nights. His friends and relatives advised him to shut down the company but he did not give up. During this period he got a role in the film of Yash Raj Productions named Mohabbatein and a huge break came from his TV Show Kon Banega Crorepati which brings his life back on track. Since then he never turned back.

Quote by Amitabh Bachchan

THAT WHICH LAST LONG IS NOT EASILY GOT, THAT WHICH EASILY GOT, DOES NOT LAST LONG.

Narendra Modi- Started his journey as a tea vendor in Gujarat is now the Prime Minister of India. He was born in the post-independence period when everyone in the country dealing with poverty. He belongs to a poor family of grocers in Gujarat. After completing his school studies he left his home to earn his livelihood and joined Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) at a very young age. In the year 1980, he jumped into politics by joining the Bhartiya Janta Party of Gujarat wing in 1980. Primarily he worked here as an Innovative Field Officer and occupied his special place in the party. He served the role of Chief Minister of Gujarat for 14 years and after this, he participated in the Lok Sabha elections of Prime Minister in 2014 and rest history speak itself. Apart from this, he has become a global figure whose ideologies and principles are loved worldwide.

Quote by Narendra Modi HARD WORK NEVER BRINGS FATIGUE. IT BRINGS SATISFACTION

Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi- Who says that the children born in a rich family have no struggle? Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi is a real-life example to prove this statement wrong. He is also very popular with his nickname Tiger Pataudi. Being a Nawab of Bhopal, his financial status and prosperity is beyond our imagination but one road accident changed his life. In this accident, he lost his one eye due to which he saw doubled image of every object. But his one eye was enough to add his name in the history. He played cricket with his single eye and also served the role of captain of Indian Cricket Team.

Quote by: Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi

LOOK, YOU ARE NOT PLAYING FOR DELHI, PUNJAB, MADRAS, CALCUTTA OR BOMBAY; YOU ARE PLAYING FOR INDIA. YOU ARE INDIAN.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni- The name of Indian cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni is not an ordinary name today. He belongs to a lower-middle-class family of Ranchi and did not have an interest in cricket initially. His father Pan Singh was employed at the junior level at MECON. Earlier he used to play badminton and football at the club and district level. Being a part of the lower-middle-class family he joined Indian Railways and served the role of TTE or Train Ticket Examiner in the years between 2000-2003. In 2004, he joined Indian Cricket Team and also served the role of successful captain. During his entire captaincy tenure, he made great records and also regarded as the best captain of all time.

Quote by: Mahendra Singh Dhoni –

” FORGET FEAR, DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.”

Nawazuddin Siddique – Nawazuddin Siddique is one of the best actors of the Indian Cinema and known for his amazing acting talent of playing an intense role. He belongs to a farmer’s family and despite being financially weak then also he and his siblings managed to study. After completing his studies he worked as a chief chemist in a petrochemical company. Becoming an actor was his childhood dream but due to not having a looks like a hero he faced rejection. But he didn’t give up and move to Delhi to learn acting. Due to not having money, he did a job of watchman for almost 4-5 years. After some time he started applying for the roles in Bollywood films. Here also his struggle not ended because of not having a good look like a hero but after getting a chance to play a role in the film Peepli Live, he never turned back. From Peepli Live, he got a strong space in Bollywood and now working in the films of top producer and director.

Despite having simple looks, he made his space in the Indian Film Industry with his hard work, persistence and never give up attitude.

Quote by Nawazuddin Siddique

MY EFFORT IS, THAT MY GETUP I SHOULD CONCENTRATE ON HOW DIFFERENT I CAN BE, EVEN MENTALLY. I PRACTICE ACTING EVEN WHEN I HAVE NO WORK. DANCERS AND SINGERS DO IT, SO WHY SHOULDN’T WE.

Rajnikanth- The superstar of Bollywood and South Film Industry is the highest-paid actor in Asia whose film release date is declared as the holiday in many states. But the story of his stardom was full of struggle and difficulties. He was born in the lower-middle-class family of Mysore state. His childhood was full of struggle due to poverty as the earnings of his father was not enough. At the age of six, he started going to school and was a very mischievous child too. He was a bright student and had a great interest in sports and acting. After completing his school, he did many odd jobs like carpenter, coolie and bus conductor. But his passion was always acting that’s why he kept on playing the roles in play given by Topi Munnippa. During this period he found an advertisement by a Madras film institute which was completely a new thing in those days. The institute offered him an acting course which was not supported by his family. But his friends and colleagues fully supported him and helped him financially too. His struggle paid him well and got a chance to work in the films.

Quote By Rajnikant

GOD GIVES A LOT OF THINGS TO BAD PEOPLE, BUT HE WILL LET THEM FAIL EVENTUALLY, GOD TESTS GOOD PEOPLE A LOT, BUT HE WILL NEVER LET THEM DOWN.

Shahrukh Khan – The King of Romance and Badshah of Bollywood is the favourites of all the Indians and foreigners as well. His journey from Delhi to Mumbai was not easy and the thing which made him successful today is his determination. Despite having a dark look and facing a lot of rejection, he managed to become a superstar and that too without any Godfather in the industry. He belongs to a lower-middle-class family with whom he lived in the rented apartment of Delhi. He played small roles in serials like Joker to earn his livelihood and never gave up on his acting dream which finally gave him a chance to work in the films. The man who was living in a rented apartment and has no enough money to watch the films in the theatre can now buy every luxurious thing in the world. This success is impossible without his hard work, persistence and determination. He is now an inspiration and role model for others.

Quote by Shahrukh Khan

THERE IS ONLY ONE RELIGION IN THE WORLD- HARD WORK.

Akshay Kumar – The Khiladi of Bollywood, Akshay Kumar (Full Name-Rajiv Hari Om Bhatia) had never imagined that he become the Bollywood actor one day. His journey from the waiter of Bangkok to Indian film star was not easy. He had completely no interest in studies. That’s why he left studies after 12th and went to Bangkok where he worked as a waiter for 4-5 years and returned to Mumbai. For some time he lived in Bangladesh too and after returning to Mumbai he started giving martial art classes to students. Here, one of the parents of his students offered him modelling. At that time, he had no idea about this because he doesn’t belong to this field. His good looks and physique gave him a chance to work as a background dancer in Hindi films. After that, he made his debut in Bollywood with the film ‘Saugandh’ in 1991. Since then there was no turning back in his career.

Quote by Akshay Kumar

WHEN YOU TASTE SUPER-SUCCESS AFTER TASTING SUPER-FAILURE, THERE IS A HUGE RELIEF

The above-names are the live examples of hard work and determination which remained the same after facing failure. After taking a lesson from their stories, we should also have this same attitude and even different which makes you unique and will help you in achieving your goal. There is no problem bigger than your hard work, so beat all your obstacles and make your dream come true because life is given only once and it’s your duty to make this life utilized.

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9 Indian Failures Who Became Inspirational Success Stories

Failures are nothing but stepping stones to success. and no one has proved this saying better than these amazingly inspirational people..

Before becoming successful, some of the world’s biggest leaders experienced epic failure. While we all celebrate their success, what's overlooked is the path that got them there. A path that is often marked with failure. Drive and determination are what leads to success and these inspirational sucess stories proves just that.

1. Mahatma Gandhi

His is perhaps the most inspiring personality. Originally a barrister in India by profession, he was not a strong lawyer as he was unable to cross-question his witnesses. After spending sometime drafting litigation letters, he went to South Africa where he developed his political skills. It was not a cake-walk for him even there and his Satyagraha movement was fraught with difficulties even in India. Perhaps his biggest failure of all times was the partition of India and Pakistan.

2. Amitabh Bachchan

A blockbuster performer at the Bollywood box-office, Amitabh Bachchan's career tanked along with his production house, Amitabh Bachchan Corporation Limited (ABCL). His meteoric rise and quick downfall is a true Bollywood tale within Bollywood. He was bankrupt but did not give up and continued to fight. It was at this crucial juncture when his career took at 360 degree turn with the arrival of KBC series in India and slowly, he once again rose to the top. Big B truly proved that nothing, not even a simple desi hairoil advert is "beneath" you but in any profession respect is earned by your skills and your attitude tell us real life inspirational story .

3. Dhirubhai Ambani

Who doesn't know the name Reliance today? But do you know, that Dhirubhai Ambani, the founder of Reliance was perhaps controversy's favourite child? Ambani had a humble beginning and he was not from an affluent background. He moved to Yemen at 16 years of age where he worked as a simple clerk. However, he knew he had to follow his calling and risking everything, he returned to India to set up his business with his close friend. Though Champaklal Damani differed from Ambani in his views and decided to split, Ambani did not give up hope and continued his trade, deciding to even enter the stock market. His stock market dealings and success have often been questioned but the man rose to power through sheer grit and determination. Dhirubhai Ambani is a role model for all youngster's real life inspirations.

4. Ratan Tata

What do you do when you have a role model to look up to and then, you are asked to fill the role model's shoes? When Ratan Tata became the chairman in 1991, he had a mammoth task set before him. His futuristic views and liberal attitude did not go well with some of the top honchos at Tata which resulted in a tussle at the management level. At the very start of his career as chairman, two companies under him faced bankruptcy and his employees faith in him dwindled as he brought down the retirement age from 70 to 65, leading to an ouster of some of the oldest employees of the organisation. Despite the many failures he has seen, Tata Nano being the latest, Ratan Tata did not give up and continues to be a global figure even today.

5. Narendra Modi

A humble chai-vendor, embroiled in one of the most blood-bathed controversies in the country is today the Prime Minister. Does success need any other definition? When Modi took on the reigns of Gujarat as the Chief Minister from Keshubhai Patel, his rise was met with opposition from many within the party. Modi's lack of experience was one of the major concerns. However, Modi stood his ground and became Gujarat's CM. As the CM, he veered from RSS's ideologies and supported privatisation and small government. But perhaps, his true test came in the form of the Godhra violence. While many still blame him for the riots, his name was cleared and he went to become one of the most powerful men in the country.

6. Shiv Khera

A writer of motivational books, he perhaps needed his words the most when he was accused of plagiarism. Post the launch of one of his books, 'Freedom is Not Free', Shiv Khera was accused by a retired civil servant Amrit Lal of plagiarism. While Shiv Khera was dragged to court, he did not give up and continued his writings. He even defended his writings saying he read a lot of books and researched before writing. Some of that research stayed with him. A pretty lame excuse but despite the court case and the out-of-court settlement, he bounced back and his books continue being motivational best-sellers.

7 . Smriti Irani

Not exactly a failure, but Smriti Irani's tale is definitely a rags to riches with WTF interspersed in between. She got her dream break while waitressing at McDonalds and became one of the best known faces on the small screen playing the role of Tulsi in Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. However, after a fallout with the small screen queen Ekta Kapoor, her career seemed like it would end. But Smriti Irani decided to enter the world of Politics and is today the HRD minister. With no education (or atleast a few fudged degrees) mind you!

8. Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi

A cricketer relies on not just his strong reflexes but one of the most important asset is his power to see. A cricketer since childhood, Mansoor Ali Khan pataudi permanently damaged one of his eyes in a road accident. This led to him seeing doubled image. Though he could no longer see clearly, pataudi did not give up. He feared his cricket career was over but he returned to the field to play with just one eye. He is today regarded as one of the greatest captains India has ever had!

9. Nawazuddin Siddiqui

Born to humble farmers in UP, Nawazuddin first worked as a chemist in a petrochemical company. Wanting something more interesting, he moved to Delhi to only be a watchman. He developed an interest in theatre in Delhi and moved to Mumbai to try his luck in movies. However, like every struggler, he did not get any good job or any meaty role and kept appearing in small roles. He resorted to conducting acting work shops to earn some money. However, he got his break when he got noticed as a reporter in Peepli Live and there has been no looking back for him since then!

An adventure lover and philosopher, her affair with words began at a young age. You can find her scribbling away at all odd hours of the day (and night) and if not with her head buried deep inside a book, she is generally romancing nature or ambling along through the maze of Indian streets. A carefree soul, she truly believes happiness lies within.

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Meet the 15 founders making strides in India’s entrepreneurial ecosystem

Starting and scaling a startup can be extremely daunting, but these 15 entrepreneurs have set their companies up for success. entrepreneurs play a key role in every country’s economy, tapping their ideas, skills, and foresight to bring new ideas to market. but being an entrepreneur isn’t easy..

Monday September 16, 2024 , 9 min Read

In an article in Harvard Business Review, Emily Heyward writes that starting a business is not easy, and scaling it is even harder. “ The startup landscape has gotten so competitive that within one month, you’ll see three nearly identical businesses launch. You may think you’re sitting on a completely original idea, but chances are the same cultural forces that led you to your business plan are also influencing someone else, at this very moment, ” she writes.

The challenges are many, but entrepreneurs who know they have a solid idea and vision - and are willing to stay the course – find success.

Here’s a look at 15 entrepreneurs who have set their companies up for success:

Bharath T Rameash, Co-founder and CEO, Adventurus

As Co-founder and CEO of Adventurus , Bharath T Rameash leverages over a decade of expertise in real estate marketing and branding to drive innovation and growth. Alongside his partner Kishan Sakhuja , a performance marketing expert, Rameash has propelled Adventurus to become a leading force in the real estate sector, with 15+ years of experience and a portfolio of over 500 successfully marketed real estate projects. By harnessing the power of automation and AI, Adventurus streamlines the marketing and pre-sales process, empowering realtors with cutting-edge technology that deliver results. Under Bharath’s visionary leadership, Adventurus continues to push boundaries and shape the future of Real estate marketing.

Parag Agrawal, Co-founder and CEO, Fiona Diamonds

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Dr Gulpreet Singh Arora , founder and CEO of SMSGATEWAYHUB , epitomises entrepreneurial success. Earning a PhD in business administration with a marketing specialisation, he revolutionised India's SMS landscape over 13 years. From Indore to leading the nation's top SMS service provider, his journey is a story of innovation, dedication, and visionary leadership. With a client roster including Hitachi and HDFC Bank, Arora’s success is a testament to his inspiring ambition and hard work.

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Poorvi Anthony has taken JUSTDOGS, India’s leading pet care brand, from a small store in 2011 to a nationwide success with over 50 stores across multiple cities, thanks to her unwavering passion for pets. Anthony’s dedication to creating a brand that offers the best for pets has transformed JUSTDOGS into more than a retail business—it’s a community for pet parents. Under her leadership, it has grown into an omnichannel brand, providing in-store and online shopping experiences that cater to the unique needs of pets and their families. Her hands-on approach and forward-thinking vision have revolutionised the pet care industry, setting new standards for quality and care. Anthony remains focused on expanding the brand’s reach and building a larger community of pet parents. She envisions JUSTDOGS continuing to lead the way in pet care, providing innovative products and services that make a difference in the lives of pets across India. For her, this journey is only just beginning.

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Eishwar Maanay, Dean, BNM Institute of Technology

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Upendrra Rai, Chairman, MD and Editor-in-Chief, Bharat Express

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Jayanshi Sharma, Founder and CEO, Vaahan Shunya Media & Communications

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Anjaneyulu Pillalamarri, Co-founder and CEO, Giosun Healthcare

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Nikhil Parmar, Founder and CEO, Impactful Pitch

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16 Famous Indians With Disabilites Who Inspire Us Everyday

These Indians with disabilities prove that it is just a state of mind. Learn about 16 amazing people who have not let their disability hold them back them in any way. From performing in international arenas to bagging gold medals in sports events, there is nothing these champions cannot do! They have made us so proud.

“D isability is a state of mind”

Here are 16 Indians who have proved this statement right by excelling in various fields in spite of their disability and who inspire us in so many ways every day –

1. Sudha Chandran

This Indian actress and classical dancer needs no introduction. Born in Kerala, this 50-year-old artist met with an accident when she was just 16. Doctors missed a small wound in her ankle and plastered it, which later got infected and there was no alternative left but to amputate her leg. She overcame her disability by getting a prosthetic “Jaipur Foot” and became one of the most popular and acclaimed classical dancers of the country. Having performed Bharatnatyam internationally, Chandran has also been a known figure in the Indian television and film industry. Having received many awards for her amazing talent, Chandran is an inspiration to many!

Watch an amazing dance performance by Sudha Chandran here –

2. Ravindra Jain

3. Girish Sharma

4. Shekar Naik

Naik is a perfect example of someone who has converted a disability into an opportunity. With his strong will power and dedication, he became a T20 Blind Cricket World Champion and has 32 centuries to his name. After a lot of financial and social troubles, Naik has emerged as a winner and we salute his spirit. Watch this video to know more about him –

5. H Ramakrishnan

Ramakrishnan was affected by polio in both his legs at a young age of two and half years. From being denied admission in a regular school to getting rejected for a job due to his disability, Ramakrishnan has had to struggle at each step in his life. In spite of this, he worked as a journalist for 40 years and is currently CEO of SS Music television channel. He is also a musician and has showcased his talent at various platforms. He runs a charitable trust called Krupa to help the specially-abled.

6. Preethi Srinivasan

7. Satendra Singh

This acclaimed doctor contracted Polio when he was just nine months old. He is also a prominent disability activist and works extensively to make public places more accessible to persons with disabilities. His efforts made ATMs disabled-friendly by constructing ramps. Similar initiatives were taken for the post  office, medical institutes, polling booths, etc. He is also the founder of Infinite Ability – a medical humanities group on disability.

8. H. Boniface Prabhu

Picture Source

Prabhu’s life changed at the age of four when a botched lumbar puncture made him a quadriplegic for the rest of his life. But he never let this disability change his goals of life and continued his education in a regular school. His immense hard work and dedication has made him a notable figure and a leading quadriplegic wheelchair tennis player. He was a medal winner at the 1998 World Championships and was also awarded the Padma Shri by Government of India in 2014. It seems like disability is not a word in his dictionary.

Help 180 million disabled Indians get access to its pristine beaches! Sign the petition now to make India more accessible.

UMOJA has organized #BeachFest2017 – India’s first ever initiative to provide wheelchair users and their families an opportunity to enjoy a completely accessible experience on the beautiful beaches of Goa from 31st March 2017 to 9th April 2017. We at The Better India are supporting UMOJA’s efforts in calling upon The Goa Department of Tourism to make Goa’s beaches accessible. You too can contribute by signing this petition. Unable to view the above button? Click here

9. Sai Prasad Vishwanathan

Vishwanathan lost sensation in the lower half of his body when he was a kid. But he was not one to let a disability take over his life. He became India’s first skydiver and has his name registered in the Limca Book of Records for being the first Indian with disability to skydive from 14,000 feet. He has co-founded Sahasra, an organization that provides scholarships to financially disadvantaged students with great potential, to pursue higher studies. He currently works as a risk consultant at  Deloitte U.S. in India.

10. Akbar Khan

Born visually impaired in a poor family in Rajasthan, Khan saw a tough childhood. But with immense support from his elder brother, who also happened to be visually impaired since birth, Khan managed to continue his studies with excellent results. Having a great interest in music, Khan was invited to various platforms as a performer as well as a judge. His biggest achievements include getting a National Award for The Welfare of Persons with Disabilities in 1989. Khan has always believed in himself and says that visual impairment is a blessing and not a curse for him.

11. Arunima Sinha

Arunima Sinha lost her leg when some robbers pushed her out of a moving train. Two years later, she became the first woman amputee to climb Mount Everest. She disliked the look of pity and sympathy in everyone’s eyes and did not want to be looked upon as a handicapped person. She has proved that a strong determination and will is far more important than a strong body. Even with a prosthetic leg, she overcame her challenges and made history. Read her story of courage, passion and dedication here .

12. Javed Abidi

He was diagnosed with spina bifidia (a developmental congenital disorder caused by the incomplete closing of the embryonic neural tube) which was not operated on for eight years and caused permanent nerve damage. Further injuries made the situation worse and made him a wheelchair-user when he turned 15. Even this jolt in his life did not stop him from going abroad to finish his education and pursue his dreams of becoming a journalist. He has been actively engaged with disability rights for years, and is the director of the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP) in India, and also the founder of the Disability Rights Group.

13. Rajendra Singh Rahelu

Rajinder Singh Rahelu contracted polio when he was eight months old. Since then, he has not been able to walk. But he did not let his disability come in between him and his dreams. Rahelu decided to discontinue his studies after completing high school. In 1996, a little encouragement from his powerlifter friend motivated Rahelu to pursue a career in this sport. He started by lifting a weight of 75 kgs but rigorous training and motivation made him strong enough to lift a weight of 115 kgs within six months. He continued to practice, and today, he has created history after winning a silver medal in powerlifting at the Commonwealth Games 2014. Read more about the inspiring sports star here .

14. Dr. Suresh Advani

The prominent oncologist started Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in India. He contracted polio at the age of eight and has been wheelchair-bound since then. Having faced many difficulties to pursue his dreams due to his disability, Advani did not give up. His contributions in the field of Oncology have been recognized with many awards, including the Padma Shri in 2002 and the Padma Bhushan in 2012. He is the first oncologist in India to have successfully done a bone-marrow transplant.

15. Sadhna Dhand

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Who is Sheetal Devi? World’s No. 1 Para Archer & Winner of Arjuna Awards, All At Just 17

Suffering from brittle bone disease, 57-year-old Dhand lost her hearing at the age of 12 and stands 3.3 feet tall. But, this disability was not strong enough to stop her from pursuing her passion for painting, for which she has even won a national award. Apart from this, she has received many awards at the state and national level for painting and photography. She is now imparting this art to other students and conducts classes at her house. Not only this, she is an active social worker and donates to various organizations working with children with mental and physical disability.

16. Malathi Krishnamurthy Holla

This international para-athlete from Bangalore was paralyzed completely at the tender age of one after a high fever. A regular electric shock treatment for two years got the strength of her upper body back, but below the waist her body remained weak. Holla decided to live life in the best possible way and chose sports to excel in. She started participating in various games at college, and today she has taken part in various international events including the Para-Olympics. She won Gold in 200m, shot put, discus and javelin throw at the 1989 World Masters’ Games in Denmark. She has over 300 medals in her kitty, and is also the proud recipient of the Arjuna Award and Padma Shri. She runs the Mathru Foundation to help disabled children from rural India.

Like this story? Or have something to share? Write to us: [email protected] , or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter (@thebetterindia) .

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Pollution dips, but fine particulate matter remains top public health threat: AQLI report

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• India’s particulate pollution slightly dropped in one year, between 2021 and 2022.
• Despite this decline, the annual average particulate pollution level in most areas exceeds WHO guidelines.
• Experts recommend the need for sustained and unified policy measures across South Asian countries to reduce emissions.

The Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC) has released its annual Air Quality Life Index 2024 report . The report reveals that people in the most polluted regions on Earth are breathing air six times more polluted than the least polluted areas, reducing life expectancy by about 2.7 years in these regions.

There is good news from South Asia: pollution declined by 18% in one year in the region. India’s particulate pollution, too, has declined from 51.3 in 2021 to 41.4 μg/m³ in 2022, which has added one year to the country’s average life expectancy.

In districts home to cities covered by India’s National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), PM 2.5 concentrations declined by 19% on average, and in the districts not covered by the programme this stood at 16%.

The report notes that the most significant reductions in particulate pollution in 2022 occurred in the Purulia and Bankura districts of West Bengal and the Dhanbad district of Jharkhand, with pollution levels dropping by over 20 μg/m³ in each of these areas.

Kalpana Balakrishnan, Dean (Research) at the Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, shared that the increase in life expectancy reflects the cumulative healthy years gained from reducing PM 2.5 levels. “It’s not just one number; it accounts for fewer years spent suffering from cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, child growth deficits, and pneumonia — all health outcomes linked to air pollution,” she added.

However, despite the recent improvement in air quality, South Asia continues to be the world’s most polluted region, the AQLI report notes. Of the total life years lost globally to high pollution, South Asia accounts for 45%. Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Pakistan are among the most polluted countries in the world.

What is causing the decline?

“PM 2.5 concentrations in South Asia were 18% lower in 2022 relative to 2021 – with Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan, all reporting reduced particulate concentrations. However, with just a single year of data, it’s challenging to distinguish between temporary factors, like weather, and permanent ones, like policy implementation, as the causes of this decline,” notes Tanushree Ganguly, Director of the Air Quality Life Index at EPIC in Delhi.

A recent study highlighted the possible contributions of meteorological conditions in the PM 2.5 concentrations decline. Another study noted that “unusual large-scale wind” played a significant role in “a mysterious trend reversal in PM 2.5  during the winter of 2022–23.”

“Pinpointing the specific causes behind the reduction in PM pollution in the country is complex,” shared Abinaya Sekar, Consulting Research Fellow at the Health Effects Institute. “However, the Government of India has implemented several policy measures over the last decade that likely played a role. In 2019, India launched the NCAP, allocating financial resources and personnel to improve air quality. In 2020, the country adopted Bharat Stage VI vehicle emission standards, which are expected to reduce air pollution over time. Large-scale public initiatives like the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) have also expanded access to cleaner cooking fuels.” Sekar also emphasised the significant role that meteorological conditions played in the observed changes in pollution levels.

Polash Mukerjee, independent air quality researcher and former Air Quality Lead for NRDC India , a subsidiary of the global Natural Resources Defense Council, shared that some impacts are also the result of long-term actions, like the transition to BS-VI vehicular emission standards in 2020. “Air pollution interventions tend to show results over 5–10 years, with chronic health impacts emerging over 15–20 years. Right now, the focus should be on creating a stronger structural framework to reach our goals,” he said.

Certain areas have received significant attention, while others, like building local and regional capacity to develop and implement effective interventions, have been overlooked, he explained. “The NCAP has focused heavily on vehicle electrification, fugitive dust, and landfill management. However, there are no silver bullet solutions, and I believe we’re just starting to see that,” he added.

Pollution still remains high

Despite the decline in pollution, the entire Indian population of 1.4 billion still lives in areas where the annual average particulate pollution level exceeds WHO guidelines . Additionally, 42.6% of the population lives in areas where pollution levels surpass India’s national air quality standard of 40 μg/m³.

The AQLI Report does not take into account the dust component in its PM 2.5 estimates. “Even when excluding the dust fraction, a significant portion of India’s population still fails to meet the national air quality standard. This is a major concern, indicating a critical need to control emissions. Despite the recent decline, our pollution levels remain far above the WHO target, which underscores the severity of the issue,” shares Ganguly.

The AQLI Report emphasises that since the recent PM 2.5 decline could be attributed to above-high rainfall, the decline may be temporary.  “This reinforces the need for sustained policy measures aimed at emission control across the South Asian region,” the report warns.

According to Kalpana Balakrishnan, achieving current WHO air quality guidelines, especially the target of 5 μg/m³ for PM 2.5 , is not feasible in the near term. “However, we are on track to meet the interim target (35 μg/m³) which is very close to our national standard of 40 μg/m³. All sectoral interventions are focused on getting us closer to that goal,” she shared.

Given that the decline in PM 2.5 concentrations is regionwide, policy measures in the region need to be examined. “India has its own standard, but when we look at the broader South Asian region, there is a patchwork of standards. India’s standard is 40 μg/m³, Pakistan’s annual PM 2.5 standard is 15 μg/ m³, Bangladesh’s limit is 35 μg/m³, and Nepal lacks a standard altogether. It’s crucial for us to work towards aligning these standards across the region,” Ganguly added.

Polash Mukerjee emphasised that India is currently only monitoring PM 2.5 and PM10 concentrations. “We need to go further and assess actual health outcomes, like rates of chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, asthma, and respiratory issues — known acute impacts of pollution. This data is mostly anecdotal; the government should be actively measuring these health trends,” he added.

A recent study found that around 33,000 deaths annually in India could be attributed to air quality levels exceeding WHO PM 2.5 guidelines.

Balakrishnan believes that the NCAP already outlines the steps needed to meet interim WHO standards. “Among these, reducing household air pollution by switching from biomass to clean fuels like LPG on a national scale is the lowest-hanging fruit,” she said.

Ganguly says that the NCAP serves as the overarching framework for air quality management. She says, “In the coming months, it’s crucial to ensure it is implemented as designed. Pollution levels cannot be reduced without implementing forceful policies and making deliberate efforts to enforce standards.” Fortunately, she added, there are already some promising developments. “The industrial emission trading scheme is currently being implemented in Gujarat. The Gujarat State Pollution Control Board is collaborating with researchers from EPIC and JPAL on a pioneering initiative: the world’s first particulate pollution market, aimed at tackling the dual challenges of cleaning the air while supporting robust economic growth.”

Read more: Air pollution deaths spotlight need for health-based air quality standards

Banner image: The AQLI Report highlights that the recent decline in PM2.5 levels could be temporary, as it may be linked to unusually high rainfall. Image by Emmanuelkwizera via  Wikimedia Commons ( CC BY-SA 4.0 ).

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