Famous Personalities Of India & Their Nicknames
There are a lot of eminent personalities in India out of which listed below are a few prime and significant ones:
| Name of Famous Indian Personality | Nickname | Important Contribution |
| Abdul Ghaffar Khan | Badshah Khan / Frontier Gandhi | A prominent leader in the Indian freedom struggle from NWFP. He was a follower of Mahatma Gandhi and advocated non-violent civil disobedience. |
| Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi | Bapu / Father of Nation (India) / Gandhiji / Saint of Sabarmati / Mahatma | He is one of the inspiring personalities of India. The foremost leader of the Indian independence movement. He led non-violent civil disobedience campaigns against British rule, inspiring people with his principles of truth and non-violence. |
| Vallabh Bhai Patel | Iron Man of India | He was the first Deputy Prime Minister and the first Home Minister of India. |
| Bal Gangadhar Tilak | Lokmanya | He advocated self-rule and played a crucial role in India’s struggle for independence. |
| Vinoba Bhave | Acharya | He is one of the inspiring personalities of India. A disciple of Mahatma Gandhi, he was a social reformer and freedom fighter. He was known for his Bhoodan Movement, encouraging land donations to the landless. |
| Dadabhai Naoroji | Grand Old Man of India | One of the earliest leaders of the Indian freedom struggle. He was a member of the British Parliament and worked towards Indian independence. |
| Valmiki | Adi Kavi | An ancient sage and poet, traditionally recognized as the author of the epic Ramayana. |
| Dr. Rajendra Prasad | Desh Ratna, Ajatshatru | The first President of independent India. A scholar, lawyer, and freedom fighter, he played a crucial role in shaping the nation’s early years. |
| Indira Gandhi | Iron Lady of India / Priyadarshini | He is one of the inspiring personalities of India. The first woman Prime Minister of India, serving from 1966 to 1977 and again from 1980 until her assassination in 1984. She played a significant role in Indian politics. |
| Jainul Abdin | Akbar of Kashmir | A political leader from Jammu and Kashmir, he was known for his efforts towards communal harmony and social justice in the region. |
| T Prakasam | Andhra Kesari | A freedom fighter and political leader from Andhra Pradesh. He was known for his commitment to social justice and played a vital role in the state’s politics. |
| C N Annadurai | Anna | A prominent leader in Tamil Nadu, he was a key figure in the Dravidian movement. He became the first Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu after it was formed. |
| Jagjivan Ram | Babuji | A prominent Dalit leader and freedom fighter, he was an important political figure in post-independence India. He served as a Cabinet Minister for several years. |
| Jayaprakash Narayan | J P / Loknayak | Popularly known as JP, he was a social reformer and political leader who played a significant role in India’s struggle against the Emergency in the 1970s. |
| C R Das (Chitta Ranjan Das) | Desabandhu | A freedom fighter and lawyer, he was a prominent leader in Bengal. He was one of the founders of the Swaraj Party and worked towards India’s independence. |
| Ashutosh Mukherji | Bengal Kesari | He is one of the inspiring personalities of India. A renowned educationist and political leader from Bengal. He was one of the founders of Calcutta University and a key figure in the Swadeshi Movement. |
| Bipin Chandrapal & Saurav Ganguli | Bengal Tiger | Bipin Chandra Pal and Saurav Ganguli were both prominent leaders from Bengal, known for their contributions to India’s freedom struggle and cultural development. |
| Dr. Srikrishna Singh | Bihar Kesri | A freedom fighter and political leader from Bihar, he was a key figure in the Bhoodan Movement, promoting land reforms and rural development in the state. |
| Dr. Anurag Narayan Singh | Bihar Vibhuti | A renowned educationist and social reformer from Bihar. |
| Chanakya | Indian Machiavelli / Machiavelli of India | An ancient Indian teacher, philosopher, economist, and royal advisor. He played a vital role in the establishment of the Maurya Empire and wrote the Arthashastra. |
| Rabindranath Tagore | Biswa Kavi / Gurudev / Kaviguru | A prolific poet, writer, philosopher, and the first non-European Nobel laureate. He composed the national anthems of India and Bangladesh and founded Visva-Bharati University. |
| Siddhartha Gautama | Buddha | The founder of Buddhism and a spiritual leader. He is known for his teachings on the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path, guiding followers to attain enlightenment. |
| C Rajagopalachari | Rajaji or C R | A freedom fighter, politician, and statesman. He was the last Governor-General of independent India and the first Indian to hold the position. He also served as Chief Minister of Madras. |
| Lala Lajpat Rai, Bal Ganghadhar Tilak and Bipin Chandra Pal | Lal, Bal, Pal | Known as the “Lal, Bal, Pal” trio, they were prominent leaders in the Swadeshi Movement and played a vital role in India’s freedom struggle. |
| C F Andrews | Deenabandhu | A close associate of Mahatma Gandhi and an ardent supporter of Indian independence. He was actively involved in social and humanitarian causes. |
| Lata Mangeshkar | Swar Kokila | A legendary playback singer and cultural icon in India. |
| Jawaharlal Nehru | Panditji / Chacha | The first Prime Minister of India and a central figure in the country’s struggle for independence. |
| Lala Lajpat Rai | Panjab Kesari | A prominent leader in the Indian freedom movement, especially in Punjab. He actively participated in protests against British policies and advocated for the rights of Indians. |
| Yatindra Mohan Sengupta | Deshpriya | A nationalist leader from Bengal, he played a significant role in India’s struggle for independence. He was a staunch advocate of Hindu-Muslim unity and social reform. |
| Ravi Sankar Maharaj | Father of Gujarat | A prominent freedom fighter and political leader from Gujarat. He was involved in various social and political activities to promote the welfare of the people. |
| Sarojini Naidu | Nightingale of India | A prominent poet and political activist. She was the first woman President of the Indian National Congress and the first woman to become the Governor of an Indian state. |
| Dhundiraj Govind Phalke | Grandfather of Indian Films | The pioneer of Indian cinema and popularly known as Dadasaheb Phalke. He made India’s first full-length feature film, “Raja Harishchandra,” in 1913, sparking the Indian film industry. |
| Sheikh Mujibur Rahman | Banga Bandhu | A prominent leader and the founding leader of Bangladesh. He played a crucial role in Bangladesh’s liberation from Pakistan and served as the country’s first President and later as Prime Minister. |
| M S Gohlwalkar | Guruji | A prominent leader and the second Sarsanghchalak (Supreme Leader) of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). |
| Madan Mohan Malaviya | Mahamana / Prince of Beggers | A prominent educationist, lawyer, and independence activist. |
| Lal Bahadur Shastri | Man of Peace | The second Prime Minister of India. He led the country during the Indo-Pakistan War of 1965 and coined the slogan “Jai Jawan Jai Kisan” to boost the morale of soldiers and farmers. |
| Raja Ram Mohan Roy | Morning Star of India Renaissance | A social reformer and a key figure in the Bengal Renaissance. He founded the Brahmo Samaj, advocating for social reforms like widow remarriage and women’s rights. |
| Subhash Chandra Bose | Netaji / Patriot of Patriots | A prominent freedom fighter and a leader of the Indian National Congress. He formed the Indian National Army (INA) and played a crucial role in India’s struggle for independence. |
| Karpuri Thakur | Jana Nayak | A political leader and social activist from Bihar. He worked for the upliftment of the backward classes and fought against social injustices prevalent in his time. |
| Chaudhury Devi Lal | Tau | A prominent leader from Haryana, he served as the Deputy Prime Minister of India and held various ministerial positions in the central government. |
| Sayyed Bandhu | King Maker of Indian History | A prominent Indian freedom fighter and political leader from Bihar. |
| K.V. Puttappa | Kuvempu | A renowned Kannada writer, poet, and playwright. He was the first writer to receive the Jnanpith Award for his outstanding contribution to Indian literature in the Kannada language. |
| Mother Teresa | Saint of the Gutters / Mother | A Roman Catholic nun and missionary, she founded the Missionaries of Charity to care for “the hungry, the naked, the homeless, the crippled, the blind, the lepers, all those people who feel unwanted.” |
| Sreebuddha | Light of Asia | A title given to Siddhartha Gautama, who later became known as Gautama Buddha. He was a spiritual leader and the founder of Buddhism, spreading his teachings of peace and enlightenment. |
| Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah | Lion of Kashmir | A prominent political leader and the first Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir. He played a key role in the state’s politics and advocated for its autonomy and self-governance. |
| Bhagat Singh | Sahid-e-Azam / Prince of Martyrs | A revolutionary freedom fighter known for his brave actions against British rule. |
| Kalidasa | Shakespeare of India | An ancient Indian poet, playwright, and philosopher, often regarded as one of the greatest Sanskrit poets. |
| Nagarjuna | Indian Einstein | An ancient Indian philosopher and mathematician who made significant contributions to the fields of mathematics, astronomy, and philosophy during the Gupta Empire. |
| Dr. Srikrishna Singh | Bihar Kesri | A freedom fighter and political leader from Bihar. |
| Mohammad Ali Jinnah | Qaid-i-Azam | A prominent leader and the founder of Pakistan. He was a key figure in the All-India Muslim League. |
| Samudragupta | Napoleon of India | A powerful ruler of the Gupta Empire, known for his military conquests and patronage of art and culture. |
| Babur | Prince of Autobiography | The founder of the Mughal Empire in India. He was a skilled military leader and a prolific writer, known for his autobiography, “Baburnama,” which provides insights into his life and conquests. |
| Muhammad bin Tughlaq | Wise Fool King | A ruler of the Tughlaq Dynasty in Delhi. He was known for his intelligence and administrative reforms but faced challenges due to his ambitious policies, leading to a decline in his reign. |
| Sayyed Bandhu | Kingmaker of Indian History | A prominent Indian freedom fighter and political leader from Bihar. He was actively involved in the Indian National Congress and played a significant role in Bihar politics. |
| Shah Jahan | Prince of Builders | The fifth Mughal Emperor of India, best known for commissioning the Taj Mahal, a world-renowned monument of love. |
| Purushottam Das Tandon | Rajarshee | A freedom fighter and a key figure in the Indian independence movement. |
| Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah | Sher-e-Kashmir / Lion of Kashmir | A prominent political leader and the founding leader of Jammu and Kashmir. |
| Major General Rajinder Singh | Sparrow | A prominent military leader from Punjab who served in the Indian Army during World War II and the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947. |
| Sarat Chandra Chattopadhay | Kathasilpi | A renowned Bengali novelist and a prominent figure in Indian literature. |
| Dayanand Saraswati | Martin Luther of India | An influential Hindu reformer and the founder of Arya Samaj. |
| Tipu Sultan | Tiger of Mysore / Mysore Tiger | The ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore and a valiant warrior. He fought against British forces in several wars and is remembered for his resistance against colonial rule. |
| Amir Khushro | Tota-e-Hind / Parrot of India | An iconic Sufi musician, poet, and scholar in medieval India. He is credited with the invention of the musical instrument Sitar and is regarded as the “father of Qawwali.” |
| Chandra Sekhar | Young Turk | An Indian politician and a former Prime Minister of India. |
| Sankaracharya | Sage of Kanchi | An ancient Indian philosopher and theologian who founded the Advaita Vedanta school of thought. |
| Bamkim Chandra Chattopadhay | Sahitya Samrat | A Bengali writer and novelist known for his literary works that laid the foundation for Bengali prose literature. |
| Maharaja Kumar of Vizianagara | Vizzy | A noted cricketer and the last Maharaja of Vizianagaram. He was one of India’s leading cricket players in the pre-independence era and represented the country in international matches. |
| Lord Rippon | Father of the Local Self Government | The Viceroy of India who introduced significant reforms, including local self-government, to empower Indians in managing their local affairs. |
| Salim Ali | Bird Man of India | An eminent ornithologist known for his research on Indian birds. He was also a prominent naturalist and conservationist, and his work greatly contributed to the understanding and conservation of India’s avian biodiversity. |
List of Famous Sports Personalities Of India
Here is a list of famous personalities of India related to sports:
| S. No | Name | Nick Name | Sport | Additional Information and Significant Contribution |
| 1 | Milkha Singh | Flying Sikh | Athletics (Track and Field) | Milkha Singh was an Indian sprinter and one of the country’s most celebrated athletes. He achieved numerous victories and represented India in international events. He narrowly missed an Olympic medal in the 1960 Rome Olympics. |
| 2 | Kapil Dev | Haryana Hurricane | Cricket | Kapil Dev is a legendary cricketer and a former Indian cricket team captain. He led India to its first-ever World Cup victory in 1983, where he played a crucial role as an all-rounder. |
| 3 | Dhyan Chand | Hockey Wizard / Magician of Hockey | Field Hockey | Dhyan Chand was an iconic field hockey player known for his exceptional skills and goal-scoring abilities. He won three Olympic gold medals for India in 1928, 1932, and 1936. |
| 4 | P. T. Usha | Payyoli Express / Udanpari | Athletics (Track and Field) | P. T. Usha is a former sprinter and hurdler. She won numerous medals at Asian Games and Asian Championships and represented India in multiple Olympics. |
| 5 | Saurav Ganguly | Prince of Kolkata / Dada / Bengal Tiger / God of the Off Side | Cricket | Saurav Ganguly is one of India’s most successful cricket captains. Under his leadership, the Indian cricket team achieved significant victories, and he played an instrumental role in nurturing young talent. |
| 6 | Sachin Tendulkar | Master Blaster / Bombay Bomber | Cricket | Sachin Tendulkar is widely regarded as one of the greatest cricketers of all time. He holds numerous records and has made immense contributions to Indian cricket during his illustrious career. |
| 7 | Anil Kumble | Jumbo | Cricket | Anil Kumble is a former cricketer and one of India’s most successful spin bowlers. He is known for his unwavering determination and his feat of taking all ten wickets in a Test innings against Pakistan in 1999. |
| 8 | Sunil Gavaskar | Little Master / Sunny | Cricket | Sunil Gavaska was a prolific batsman and a cricket commentator. He holds several records and played a vital role in establishing India as a strong cricketing nation. |
| 9 | Virendra Sehwag | Veeru | Cricket | Virender Sehwag was an explosive opening batsman known for his aggressive playing style. He is the only Indian cricketer to score two triple centuries in Test matches. |
| 10 | Rahul Dravid | Jamie / The Wall | Cricket | Rahul Dravid was a dependable and technically sound batsman. He was known for his patience and played a vital role in anchoring the Indian cricket team’s innings for many years. |
| 11 | Harbhajan Singh | Turbanator | Cricket | Harbhajan Singh is a renowned Indian off-spinner. He played a crucial role in India’s success in both Test and limited-overs cricket. He was part of the 2007 T20 World Cup-winning team. |
| 12 | Zaheer Khan | Baroda Express | Cricket | Zaheer Khan was a fast bowler and a key player in India’s bowling attack. He played a pivotal role in India’s victory in the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup. |
| 13 | Mahendra Singh Dhoni | Mr. Cool / Captain Cool / Mahi | Cricket | Mahendra Singh Dhoni is one of India’s most successful cricket captains. He led India to victory in the 2007 ICC T20 World Cup and the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup. |
| 14 | Javagal Srinath | Mysore Express | Cricket | Javagal Srinath, was a fast bowler who represented India in both Test and ODI formats. He was India’s leading fast bowler during the 1990s and early 2000s. |
| 15 | Gautam Gambhir | Gauti | Cricket | Gautam Gambhir was an opening batsman known for his gritty batting style. He played crucial innings in the finals of both the 2007 T20 World Cup and the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup. |
| 16 | Mary Kom | Magnificent Mary / Meethoileima | Boxing | Mary Kom is an Olympic bronze medal-winning boxer. She is a multiple-time world champion and a trailblazer for women’s boxing in India. |
| 17 | Virat Kohli | Cheeku / King Kohli | Cricket | Virat Kohli is a prolific Indian cricketer and the current captain of the Indian cricket team. He is renowned for his consistent batting and leadership. |
| 18 | Rohit Sharma | Hitman | Cricket | Rohit Sharma is an explosive opening batsman and the vice-captain of the Indian cricket team. He holds numerous records and has scored multiple double centuries in ODI cricket. |