Maharishi Mahesh Yogi was a spiritual leader known for developing the Transcendental Meditation technique and spreading it all over the world. He became famous for being the spiritual guru to the Beatles.

• (1917–2008)

Indira Gandhi was India's third prime minister, serving from 1966 until 1984, when her life ended in assassination. She was the daughter of Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first prime minister.

• Prime Minister
  (1917–1984)

Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi’s father, was a leader of India’s nationalist movement and became India’s first prime minister after its independence.

• Activist, Prime Minister
  (1889–1964)

A letter written by Mahatma Gandhi, which reportedly revealed his his true feelings about christianity and his relationship with Jesus, was sold to a private buyer for $50,000. "I have not been able to move beyond the belief that Jesus was one of the great teachers of mankind," he wrote.

• Anti-War Activist
  (1869–1948)

Ravi Shankar was an Indian musician and composer best known for popularizing the sitar and Indian classical music in Western culture.

• Composer, Musician
  (1920–2012)

Indian cult leader Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh created the spiritual practice of dynamic meditation. He started the Rancho Rajneesh commune in Oregon in the 1980s.

• Religious Figure, Criminal
  (1931–1990)

Retired Indian cricket player Sachin Tendulkar is considered one of the greatest batsmen in the history of his sport.

• Athlete
  (1973–)

Priyanka Chopra is an Indian actress known for her nearly 50 films and for her breakthrough role on the American TV drama 'Quantico.'

• Actress
  (1982–)

Srinivasa Ramanujan was a mathematical genius who made numerous contributions in the field, namely in number theory. The importance of his research continues to be studied and inspires mathematicians today.

• Mathematician
  (1887–1920)

A.P.J. Abdul Kalam is an Indian scientist and politician who served his country as president from 2002 to 2007.

• Engineer, Scientist, President (non-U.S.)
  (1931–2015)

Kunal Nayyar stars as Raj Koothrappali on the hit sitcom 'Big Bang Theory.'

• Television Actor, Film Actor, Theater Actor
  (1981–)

Considered to be one of the most influential revolutionaries of the Indian independence movement, Bhagat Singh gave his life for this cause.

• Political Activist
  (1907–1931)

Narendra Modi is best known for rising from humble beginnings to become prime minister of India.

• Prime Minister, Politician
  (1950–)

Indian physicist Satyendra Nath Bose is known for working with Albert Einstein on the Bose-Einstein Condensate and as namesake of the boson, or “God particle.”

• Physicist, Scientist
  (1894–1974)

Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan is known for his roles in action movies like Zanjeer, and for hosting the Indian version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?.

• Film Actor
  (1942–)

Asra Nomani is known for her fight for women's equality in the American Islamic community.

• Blogger/Internet, Journalist, Academic, Women's Rights Activist
  (c. 1965–)

An expert in the field of mind-body healing, Deepak Chopra is a world-renowned speaker and author on the subject of alternative medicine.

• Journalist, Medical Professional, Doctor
  (1947–)

Vivekananda was a spiritual leader and activist who attempted to combine Indian spirituality with Western ideas.

• Religious Figure, Activist
  (1863–1902)

Rabindranath Tagore was a Bengali poet, novelist and painter best known for being the first non-European to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1913.

• Screenwriter, Author, Poet, Playwright, Painter

Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit was an Indian political leader and diplomat, one of the world's leading women in public life in the 20th century.

• Diplomat
  (1900–1990)

Motilal Nehru was leader of the Indian independence movement, cofounder of India's Swaraj Party, and father of its first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru.

• Activist
  (1861–1931)

Sarojini Naidu was an India political leader best known as the first female President of the India National Congress.

• Poet
  (1879–1949)

Producer Ismail Merchant ran Merchant Ivory Productions with James Ivory. Their film, A Room with a View, won three Academy Awards.

• Producer, Director
  (1936–2005)