Most popular & Best Leaders of India
Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi (Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi) , Born on 2nd October 1869 in Porbandar at Gujarat was a lawyer and leader of the Indian independence movement against British rule and became popular while fighting for the Rights of Hindu and Muslims in South Africa with his new technique of non-Violence. Later he came to India and Fought for the independence of India with his own technique of Non-Violence and satyagraha. He also worked on various social problems and believed in a simple life, Now he is known as Father of the nation(India) and United Nation Celebrates his birthday as Non-Violence Day. He is an inspiration for Millions of people all around the world. His ideology of non-Violence and truth still inspire millions of people all around the world in their struggle. He became popular for his belief in a Non-Violent struggle. He was killed on 30th Jan 1948 By Nathuram Godse.
Swami Vivekanand
Narendra Nath Datta(Swami Vivekananda) born on 12 Jan 1863. A Great Scholar, Inspiration for Millions of people, He is still a Source of inspiration for Millions of Hindus and Nationalists in India. His Birthday is celebrated as the “National Youth Day” in India, He respected each and every other religion of the world, his speech in Chicago during the world religion meet in 1893 is still one of the most popular speech in India, he is not popular only in India but worldwide.
Sardar Patel
Sardar Vallabhbhai Jhaverbhai Patel was One of the followers of Mahatma Gandhi, Born on 31 October 1875, A Freedom Fighter and the First Home minister of India, He is Popularly known as the “Iron Man” of India for his work after independence, he is the person who was responsible for the current Shape of India. He worked on merging more than 550+ Kingdoms to India after independence.
India was not inherited as a whole piece of land upon Independence. It was divided into princely states whose leaders demanded uncontrolled privileges or sought to remain as neutral territories. Dealing with each of them sternly and firmly earned Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel the sobriquet of India's Iron Man. He also established the civil services division in Indian administration.
Dr. B. R. Ambedker
Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar born on 14 April 1891. He was an Indian Leader, Lawyer, teacher. He was the Chairman of the Indian Constitution drafting committee and was the First Law Minister of India. He Born in a Family which was believed to be Untouchable. He raised his voice against untouchability and actively struggled for the equal right of Dalits and other untouchables of the country. He is Considered as the Leader of untouchables in Modern India. He is an inspiration for millions of Indians, especially people struggling for the rights of Dalits.
Lal Bahadur Vivekanand
Lal Bahadur Shastri born on 2nd October 1904. A Gandhian, a Socialist and the second Prime minister of India. He is popularly known for his simplicity, hard-Work and for his leadership in the 1965 war with Pakistan. He was one of the Popular Prime ministers of India and people still remember him for his simplicity. He gave the popular slogan of Jai Jawan.Jai Kissan!
Filling the boots of Jawaharlal Nehru was never going to be an easy task, but Lal Bahadur Shastri did just that, and with elan. He gave India a slogan ‘Jai Jawan Jai Kisaan' and worked extensively for farmer sector in India in continuation of Nehru's socialist policies. India's decisive victory in the war against Pakistan in 1965 while he was Prime Minister elevated the country's mood after its defeat to China earlier and turned him into a hero to cherish forever.
Subhash Chandra Bose
Though he served as a member of the Indian National Congress only for a small duration, he had a great impact on the country's armed forces. One of the few leaders who supported armed revolt to overthrow British rule in India, Bose even formed an army that reported to him called Indian National Army and sought the support of Japan to defeat Britishers in the country. Although his Army failed to directly drive out the British, former Britain PM Clement Atlee conceded that Bose's activities played a major role in the withdrawal of Britain from India.
Subhas Chandra Bose born on 23rd Jan 1897. Popularly known as Netaji, Was a freedom Fighter and the person behind “Azad hind Fauj”. He gave some of the Famous Slogans like “Jai hind”,” Tum Mujhe Khun do main tumhe Azadi” (Give me blood, I’ll give you Freedom) he is one of the popular freedom Fighter of India, Earlier to this he was a member of Congress party and was the president for some years later he left the party. His ideas, struggle inspire millions of Indian youth. His death is one of the most controversial incidents of the world.
Ram Manohar Lohia
Ram Manohar Lohia born on 23rd march 1910, Was an Indian freedom Fighter, a nationalist and a Socialist Leader of India. He was considered to be the Voice of poor in the Indian parliament after independence, he was one of the prominent leaders of opposition of his time. He is said to be the inspiration of socialist movement in India.
Jay Prakash Narayan
Jayaprakash Narayan born on 11 October 1902, Popularly known as JP Narayan, Jayaprakash, or Loknayak, Was a Freedom Fighter, a Gandhian and a socialist. He actively participated in freedom Fighting, And in the Sarvodaya Andolan with Vinoba Bhave. He is Popular for his Struggle during the Emergency against the Indian Prime minister of that time Indira Gandhi, He had also been awarded Bharat Ratna (The Highest Civilian Award in India).
Deen Dayal Upadhyay
Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya born on 25 September 1916 was an Indian philosopher, economist, sociologist, historian, journalist, political activist and was one of the prominent leaders of Bharat Jana Sangh, he was an ideologue and a guiding force for an alternative model of governance and politics. He was One of those Leader who built the Bhartiya Jana Sangh which is now known as Bhartiya Janata Party. He was killed in a mysterious way in Mughal Sarai railway station (Varanasi) while he was travelling in a train.
Indira Gandhi
Indira Gandhi Born 19 November 1917, Daughter of the First Indian Prime minister, and the third prime Minister of India. The First and only Woman Prime minister of India till now, She served as the Prime Minister of India Consecutively and was also elected for the fourth time after a gap. She is known as the iron Lady of India, she is Popularly known for her Bold Decision like 1971 India-Pak War which formed a new country Bangladesh. She was killed in 1984 by her bodyguards.
Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru
The first prime Minister of India ruled a chaotic newborn country right from its independence in 1947 until his death in 1964. Nehru's legacy is that of an extremely liberal, socialist and secular leader, who under the apprenticeship of Mahatma Gandhi, firmly put India on the course in which it runs today. Nehru was a man of letters and is also credited with creating the Planning Commission of India.
Atal Behari Vajpayee
The recipient of the Padma Vibhushan in 1992, he is one of the most respected political leaders in India's history. The only prime minister to serve a full term outside the Congree Party, Vajpayee was known to be a liberal within the BJP, a party with extreme right views. He fearlessly led the nuclear tests in
Dr. Rajendra Prasad
Rajendra Prasad was the first President of independent India. He is also considered to be one of the architects of India's Republic and also served as the president of India's Constituent Assembly. Prasad is credited with being bipartisan and acting on merit. He is still the only President to have been elected for the President's position twice.
APJ Abdul Kalam
Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam, better known as A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, was the 11th President of India from 2002 to 2007.
The man with the frizzy hair and India's favourite grandpa, APJ Abdul Kalam was one of the most proactive President of recent times. He is also known as People's President and India's Missile Man for advancing India's ballistic missile programs. Known for championing youth causes', Kalam also launched the What Can I Give movement in 2011 to defeat corruption and realize his life goal of turning India into a developed country by 2020.
Dadabhai Naoroji
One of the earliest political leaders of India, he was also involved in business like cotton trading. He was also one of India's early educationists and sought to clear concepts of Zoroastrianism amongst the local populace in Bombay. Naoroji was also a Member of Parliament (MP) in the House of Commons between 1892 and 1895 in the UK, becoming the first Asian to be a British MP.
Jyoti Basu
Jyoti Basu holds the record for serving as the longest chief minister of any state in India after holding that post in power from 1977 to 2000 in West Bengal as a CPI(M) politician. He was also one of India's most well-known atheists. Basu designed the land reform plan in India and initiated panchayati raj for farmers in West Bengal. Never one to follow Communism by the book, Basu made it his mission to give the lower strata of society its due and always upheld communal harmony.
E M Sankaran Namboodiripad
When he took oath as the first chief minister of Kerala, E M Sankaran Namboodiripad or EMS as he was known, also became the first Communist leader to have been elected democratically in India. EMS pioneered the land and education system in Kerala that has become a model for other states and contributed to the rise and rise of literacy in Kerala. He also played an active role within the CPI(M) party and brought it to national prominence in the 60s and 70s. Besides this, he was a well-known journalist and writer as well.
N.T.Rama Rao
N.T. Rama Rao, popularly known as NTR, served as CM of Andhra Pradesh for three terms riding on the back of his immensely successful films, in which he mostly played deities Rama and Krishna. His portrayal of mythological characters translated into record wins from audiences when he decided to turn into a politician by founding the Telugu Desam Party. NTR was known to be passionate about the Andhra cause, equal rights for women and introduced many populist schemes for his state. He was an astute politician and was also involved in forming the National Front that ruled the country from 1989 to 1991 under which the Mandal Commission's recommendation of implementing 27 per cent reservations for OBCs was implemented.
M. G. Ramachandran
M. G. Ramachandran, or MGR for his fans, was one of the most influential politicians in Tamil Nadu. MGR was a superstar actor in Tamil films and joined the Congress party after being influenced by Gandhian values. He later joined the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and became as popular in the party as he was among his film fans. In 1972 he formed his own party called Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and riding on his popularity emerged as the chief minister of Tamil Nadu in 1977 and remained so until his death in 1987. He was known for his focus on education and the earliest proponents of mid0day meals that incentivized children to attend schools. MGR was also known for his philanthropic activities. The frenzy and looting that followed his death remains unparalleled to this day and is a testament to his popularity.
P. V. Narasimha Rao
Narasimha Rao was the Prime Minister when Manmohan Singh opened up the economy in 1991, a role for which he is known as the Father of Indian Economic Reforms. He also introduced computer based trading system of the National Stock Exchange in 1994 and encouraged FDI inflows into the country to revive its flagging economy. He also took important decisions that strengthened the internal security of the country. An astute politician, he passed several important laws through a mixture of cunning and guile even though he headed a minority government.
Morarji Desai
India's first non-Congress Prime Minister, Morarji Desai was the architect of India's nuclear program. A strict follower of Gandhi's non-violence movement, his peace overtures were so successful that Desai remains the only politician to have received Pakistan's highest civilian award Nishan-e-Pakistan from President Ghulam Ishaq Khan. Desai is also credited with promoting social, health and administrative reforms in the country.
Narendra Modi
Narendra Damodardas Modi is an Indian politician who is the 14th and current Prime Minister of India, in office since May 2014. He was the Chief Minister of Gujarat from 2001 to 2014, and is the Member of Parliament for Varanasi.
Narendra Modi has the power to divide opinions into two polar opposites. If you see him as the force behind the 2002 riots in Gujarat then you will have to turn a willful blind eye to the economic prosperity and sense of pride he has infused in his community. His supporters call him a tight-fisted leader while his detractors call him a mild dictator. Whichever way you look at it, Modi's legacy in politics is undoubtable.
Yogi Adityanath
Yogi Adityanath is an Indian priest and Hindu nationalist politician who is the current Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, in office since 26 March 2017. He has an image as a Hindutva firebrand
Jayaprakash Narayan
Jayaprakash Narayan has been an important leader who first came into prominence for opposing Indira Gandhi at the height of her powers. In 1974, he called for a peaceful Total Revolution after leading a students' movement in Bihar. Although he never became a force to reckon with within politics, Narayan was the first leader who commanded huge crowds for his political stands, a position that was taken over by Anna Hazare and Arvind Kejriwal recently.
Nitish Kumar
One of the cleanest ministers to emerge out of Bihar in recent times, Nitish Kumar, a protégé of Jayaprakash Narayan, is also known as an efficient taskmaster. Under his rule, the state recovered from massive economic collapse and powerful corruption. Kumar fast tracked development projects, appointed over a lakh teachers to improve education standards and most importantly, brought crime under control in Bihar, a state long known for its lawlessness. Bihar is slowly turning a corner with migrants from the state eager to take part in the success story created under Kumar's rule.
India is a land of great political leaders who ruled the country effectively and also by protecting its national interest. It was not an easy task to accomplish, keeping in view the changes taking place in the world political scenario. Leaders like Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri and Indira Gandhi Bose played an indispensable role in changing the perspective of world towards India.
They led the country from the front, without being showing any inclination to either of the power blocs. To know more about the political leaders of India, read the brief biography of the Indian political leaders.