उत्तराखण्ड - प्रसिद्ध व्यक्तित्व
Writer
Girish Tiwari 'Girda'
He was born in 1945 in village Jyoli, in the district of Almora. Girish Tiwari, popularly known as Girda, was a poet and playwright of the people. He wrote the plays Nagare Khamosh Hain and Dhanush Yagya and directed many plays. Among his published works, Kavita Ke Ankhar, Shikharaon Ke Swar and Rang Daridio Alwelin have become very popular.
Gaura Pant 'Shivani'
Gaura Pant (Shivani) holds a prominent place amongst the women writers of Uttarakhand. She was born on 17th October, 1923 in Rajkot, Gujarat to a Kumauni family. In 1935, Shivani's first story was published in the Hindi children's magazine Natkhat. Among her well known works are Vish Kanya, Kainza, Chaudah Phere and Bhairavi. She died in March, 2003 in Lucknow.
Chandra Kunwar Bartwal
He was born on 20th August, 1919 in village Malkoti of Rudraprayag district. He was a luminous star in the firmament of Hindi literature, who dazzled with the brilliance of his poetic creativity.
He died on 14th September, 1947 at the young age of 28. Chandra Kunwar, despite his short life, had a prodigious output in various genres of Hindi literature: poetry, essay, short story, one-act play, criticism and travelogue. His poetry has a distinctive lyrical quality and especially the lyric 'Kafa Paku' won lot of critical acclaim.
Shiv Prasad Dabral
The noted historian, Shiv Prasad Dabral was born on 12th November, 1912 in Pauri Garhwal district. He is the author of the monumental history of Uttarakhand in 18 volumes, 2 collections of poetry, 9 plays and several edited volumes in Hindi and Garhwali. His Uttarakhand ka Itihaas (History of Uttarakhand) is widely used by scholars a definitive reference work. His house in Dugadda was veritable treasure house of thousand of books, rare manuscripts, coins and other artifacts. He died on 24th November, 1999. Dr Dabral was honoured by several organisations and State Governments.
Dr Pitambar Dutt Barthwal
He was born on 13th December, 1901 in village Pali near Lansdowne in Pauri Garhwal district, Dr Pitambar Dutt Barthwal was an outstanding scholar and writer of Hindi.
He became the first man to have been honoured with a degree of D Litt (Doctor of Literature) in the Hindi language.
Dr Barthwal then wrote a number of books in different genres and on various subjects of literary and cultural interest, and edited several volumes, while he was still in his early forties. His chief publications are Gadya Saurabh, Goswami Tulsi Das, Gorakhbani, Haridas Ki Sakhi. He expired on 24th July, 1944 at his native village.
Sumitranandan Pant
One of the most famous modern poets of Hindi literature, Sumitranandan Pant pioneered the chhyavadi format of Hindi poetry. He was born on , 20th May1900, to Gangadatt Pant, in the town of Kausani in Bageshwar district.
His mother expired SIX hours later the boy was born and the father gave the child away to a Shiva devotee, Gusaln Baba, who named him Gusam Dutt. He was therefore known as Gusain, in Kausani.
He did not like his name, so he gave hlmself a new name 'Sumitranandan Pant'. He authored twenty eight published works Including poetry, verse plays and essays. Major works by him are Chinti, Chidambara, Veena (1927), Pallav (1926), Granthi (1929), Gunjan (1932), Lokayatan, Pallavini, Madhu Jwala, Manasi, Vaani, Yug Path, Satyakaam, Anguthita, Gramya, Tarapath, Mukti Yagnya, Yugant and Swachchand.
He is best known for his poem Chidambara for which he received the Gyanpith award. He published several collections of poetry, of which Veena IS the most popular.
Nityanand Mishra
He was born in 1904. Nityanand Mishra was a historian and researcher who carried out significant worked based in Almora and wrote many books. His main work is on Katyuri and Chand dynasties, which is very well researched and is considered authoritative. Among his well known publications are source material of history of Kumaun, Kurmachal Gauravgatha and re-issued version of Pandit Shivanand's book Kalyan Chandroda.
Manohar Shyam Joshi
He was a renowned Hindi writer, screenwriter and journalist. He was born on 9th August, 1933 in Ajmer, Rajasthan. He belongs to a Kumauni Brahman family from the town of Almora in Uttarakhand State. He is the author of the famous novel Kyap which won him the Sahitya Akademi Award. He is often called the Father of Indian Soap Operas being the writer of India's first television soap opera, Hum Log (1982), His another popular creation was Buniyaad directed by Ramesh Sippy. He wrote many more long running serials like, Mungeri Lal Ke Hasin Sapney, Kakaji Kahin, Hamrahi, Zameen Aasman and Gatha.
Cinema Theatre
Tom Alter
He is an American origin Indian actor, who was awarded with Padmashri in 2008. He was born in year 1950 in Mussoorie, Uttarakhand. He is the son of American missionaries, his father was born in Sialkot. He spent most of years between the metropolis of Mumbai and the hill station of Landour. He is most prominently known for his work in Indian cinema and is duly respected as an artist in the Indian film industry.
Himani Shivpuri
The renowned theatre artist and film star Himani Shivpuri was born on 24th October, 1957. She grew up in Dehradun where her father Hari Dutt Bhatt 'Shailesh' was a Hindi teacher and house master in the Doon School. She worked in popular films like Hum Aapke Hai Kaun, Hero No 1, Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Pardes, Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham, Koyala and Umrao Jaan.
She also worked in TV serials namely, Hamrahi, Hasratein, Ek Kahani, Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi and Kasauti Zindagi Ki. Shivpuri has received several national and international awards including the Shrikant Verma award for her excellent theatre work.
Deepak Dobriyal
He is an actor in the Indian film industry. He was born on 1st September, 1975 in Kabra village near Satpuli in Pauri Garhwal. He worked in several plays directed by Arvind Gaur namely, Tughlaq, Andha Yug, Final Solutions, Desire Under the Elms, Rakt Kalyan, Court Martial. The Caucasian Chalk Circle, the good person of Szechwan and Ek Mamooli Aadmi. His debut film was Maqbool directed by Vishal Bhardwaj (director of Kaminey and Omkara). He won special jury award for Omkara playing the role of Rajju Tiwari. His acted in films - Shaurya, Delhi-6, and Gulaal.
Adventure
Pandit Nain Singh Rawat
He was one of the first pundits who explored the Himalayas for the British. Born in 1830 in Milan, Pithoragarh, Nain Singh Rawat was called a Pandit on account of his profession of teaching. He is known for his extensive and arduous travels and survey work in Tibet and Southern parts of Russia. He wrote his memoirs on the basis of his extensive travels. For his valuable contributions of discoveries, he was awarded the prestigious Companion of Indian Empire. He received a Royal Geographical Society Gold Medal in 1876.
He mapped the trade route through Nepal to Tibet, determined for the first time the location and altitude of Lhasa, and mapped a large section of the Tsangpo, the major Tibetan river. On 27th June, 2004, Indian postage stamp featuring Nain Singh was issued commemorating his role in the Great Trigonometrical Survey.
Bachendri Pal
The first Indian woman to climb Mount Everest, she belonged to a family of very moderate means, She was born In year 1954 In a Nakun village In Garhwal.
She was selected as one of the members of the elite group of SIX Indian women and eleven men who were privileged to attempt an ascent to the Mount Everest in 1984.
On May 24, 1984, Bachendri reached the summit of Mount Everest. She remained on the summit for about 43 minutes and became the first Indian woman to scale the Mount Everest, and the fifth woman in the world.
Academics
D. D. Sharma
He was born on 23rd October, 1924 at Bhimtal in Kumaun region. He is the author of 43 books, 150 research papers and over 100 articles, which have been recognised over the entire world
He has received several national, international and institutional awards which include the International Man of the Millennium Award (2000) from the International Biographical Centre, Cambridge, UK. In all, he has received 10 awards. His most important and voluminous work is on the subject Socio-Cultural History of Uttarakhand, in Hindi which runs into nine volumes, five of which are already out. His most recent published work is Himalaya Ke Khas (2006).
Krishna Joshi
He was born on 6th June, 1935 in village Anarpa of Kumaun region. He received his Ph D In Physics from Allahabad Umversity In 1962. His broad areas of Interest are in theory of Condensed Matter and Collision Processes. Professor Joshi has supervised the Ph D theses of 20 scholars and has published more than 190 research papers. He was Professor of Physics at Indian Institute of Technology In Roorkee from 1967 to 1986.
He was the Director of National Physical Laboratory from 1986 to 1991. He was appointed as the Director General of the Indian Council of Scientific and Industrial Research in year 1991. He was awarded with Padmashri in 1991 and Padma Bhushan in 2003. He is one of the most reputed physicist of India.
Ghananand Pandey
He was born on 1st January, 1902 in Ranikhet town of Almora district. He passed his BE in Civil Engineering from Thomson College of Civil Engineering, Roorkee (now the IIT Roorkee) in year 1925. From 1954 to 1957, he was Chairman of the Railway Board and Secretary, Ministry of Railway in the Government of India.
For his scientific acumen, and contribution to academic as well as administrative institutions, he was conferred the honorary degree of Doctor of Engineering by Roorkee University, and Doctor of Science by Kumaun University.
The Government of India conferred Padma Vibhushan Award on him in 1969. Dr Pandey's name figures in some eminent India scientists published by the National Book, among the other great scientists such as CV Raman, the Novel laureate, S Chandrashekhar, JC Bose and Homi Bhabha.
Army
Havaldar Gajender Singh
He was born in 1972 and grew up in Ganeshpur Uttarakhand. He was an NSG commando who died during the tragic 2008 Mumbai attacks. He was honoured with the Ashoka Chakra Award for his bravery by the President of India on 26th January, 2009 (Republic Day), While securing the Nariman House during Operation Black Tornado, Gajender Singh was fatally wounded while storming the Jewish centre, which eventually lead to his death.
Social Activist
Radha Behn (Radha Bhatt)
She was born on 16th October 1934 in village Dhuraka, Almora. Radha Behn has made exemplary contribution in the fields of women's education and employment. She quit formal education after her Intermediate In 1951, and joined Sarla Behn at her Laxmi Ashram In Kausani, to undertake social work. From 1957 to 1961, she was active in Bhoodan Yatra and toured vanous regions of Uttarakhand. She took active part In movements against mining, alcoholism and deforestation. For her contributions to social empowerment, she was honoured With Jamnalal Bajaj Award In 1992. She has authored several books and articles.
Indramani Badoni
He was born on 24th December, 1924 in village Akhori in Tehri. He is popularly known as 'Gandhi of Uttarakhand' for leading a historical movement for the creation of Uttarakhand State. The movement remained thoroughly non-violent. He was an explorer also, it was he, who discovered the Khatling glacier, the source of river Bhilangana. On 2nd August, 1994, he started an indefinite fast upto death at Pauri, headquarters of Garhwal division, to press for the demand of a separate state. On 7th August, 1994, he was forcibly sent to the Meerut Jail and later shifted to the AllMS in New Delhi for treatment, where he was forcibly discharqed. Indramani Badoni could not see the new state as he died on 18th August, 1999.
Painting
Mola Ram
Mola Ram (1743-1833) distinguished himself as a great artist during the reigns of four rulers of Garhwal, Lalit Shah, Jaikrit Shah, Pradumn Shah and Sudershan Shah. He was an Indian painter, who originated the Garhwal branch of the Kangra School of Painting. He was also a poet, historian and diplomat.
He was born in Srinagar and worked for the Garhwal kingdom from 1777 until its annexation in 1803. He wrote the historical work Garharajavansh Ka Itihas which is the only source of information about several Garhwal rulers. He also wrote Garh Gita Sangram in 1800 and a chronicle called Garhraj Vansh.
Music
Narendra Singh Negi
Narendra Singh Negi, the voice of Uttarakhand is an eminent singer. He was born on 12th August, 1949 in Pauri. By 1970s, he established himself as a lyricist and singer of Garhwali folk songs. He has composed and sung more than 200 folk songs and has given state presentations at various functions. Besides bringing out more than 38 audio and video recordings of his songs, he has given music direction in several Garhwali films. One of his albums of folk songs, Thando Re Thando has become very popular. Among his well known collections of songs are Kuchkandi, Ganyun ki Ganga Syanyun ka Sarnodar and Muthi Boti Ki Rakh.
He has also sung sad elegies to Tehri town, recently inundated by the Tehri dam, as well as fiery protest songs during the Uttarakhand Separate State Movement. He became a controversial figure, when he released a satirical song (Nauchami Naraina) on former Chief Minister Narayan Dutt Tiwari.
Gopal Babu Goswami
He is a renowned name in the history of Kumauni and Garhwali music. He was one of the idols of Uttarakhand Music during his time and is still remembered today. He was born on 2nd February, 1941 at village Chandikot, near Chaukhutia in Almora district.
He sung his first song for Akaswani Kailey Bajey Mooruli O baina, oonchee oonchee danyu ma, which was super hit. He sang many such songs and became immensely popular. He worked as an actor and singer in the first Kumauni Film Megha Aa. He also wrote some Hindi and Kumauni books namely, Geetmala (Kumauni), Darpan, Rashtrajyoti, Jeevanjyoti, etc.