A Biograpgy ......A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Quick Facts

ALSO LISTED IN:-Spiritual & Religious Leaders

ALSO KNOWN AS:-      

Abhay Charanaravinda Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada,

A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, 

A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, 

Prabhupada Bhaktivedanta, 

A. Bhaktivedanta, 

Abhoy Charonarobindo 

Bhoktibedanto Swamy Probhupad,

Abhay Charan De,

Abhay Charan, 

Nandulal,

Abhay Caranaravinda

FAMOUS AS:- Founder of ISKCON

NATIONALITY:- Indian 

RELIGION :- Hinduism, International Society for Krishna Consciousness, Gaudiya Vaishnavism

BORN ON :- 01 September 1896 AD

BIRTHDAY :- 1st September Famous 1st September Birthdays Historical Events On 1st September

DIED AT AGE :- 81

SUN SIGN :- Virgo Virgo Men

BORN IN :- Kolkata

DIED ON :- 14 November 1977 AD

PLACE OF DEATH :- Vrindavan

SPOUSE/PARTNER :- Radharani Devi

EDUCATION :- University of Calcutta Scottish Church College

FOUNDER/CO-FOUNDER :- Governing Body Commission, International Society for Krishna Consciousness

Srila Prabhupada was an Indian spiritual teacher who founded the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). Also known as Abhay Charanaravinda Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, he is counted among the most prominent Vedic scholars, translators, and teachers of the modern era. Credited with translating and commenting on over 80 volumes of the Vedas' most important sacred bhakti texts, including the Bhagavad Gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam, he is regarded as the world’s most prominent contemporary authority on bhakti-yoga. Born to a family of devout Vaishnavas, he developed a deep devotion towards Lord Krishna at a young age. So strong was his love for the lord that at the age of five, he single-handedly organized a neighborhood Ratha-yatra festival to glorify Lord Jagannatha! Even while growing up, he was more interested in visiting temples than in playing with other children. He realized the true purpose of his life at the age of 26 when he first met his eternal spiritual master Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura who instructed him to go to the West and spread Krishna Consciousness in the English language. Even though it would be several years before he could finally travel to the West, once he set foot in the US, there was no looking back. He went on to found the International Society for Krishna Consciousness in New York City which is today a worldwide confederation of more than 550 centers

Childhood & Early Life :-

• He was born as Abhay Charan, on 1 September 1896, in Calcutta, India. His parents, Sriman Gour Mohan De and Srimati Rajani De, were devout Vaishnavas (devotees of Vishnu).

• He became a devotee of Lord Krishna at a young age and loved to visit temples. In fact he was so devoted that he preferred to pray to the lord instead of playing with his friends.

• He went to the Scottish Church College where he received a European led education. He was a good student and graduated in 1920 with majors in English, philosophy and economics. However, he refused to take his diploma as a protest against the British in response to the budding Indian independence movement.

• In 1922, he first met Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami, a prominent devotional scholar and the founder of sixty-four branches of Gaudiya Mathas (Vedic institutes). Gosvami took a liking towards the devout young man and asked him on their very first meeting to spread Vedic knowledge through the English language in the West.

• Abhay Charan became the great scholar’s pupil and several years later, his formally initiated disciple at Allahabad, in 1933.

Later Life:- 

• In 1944, he started the publication called ‘Back to Godhead’ from his home in Calcutta. The magazine, which aimed at spreading Krishna consciousness, was published and distributed by him single-handedly during the initial days. He was the magazine’s sole writer, designer, publisher, editor, copy editor and distributor.

• For three years he toiled to spread knowledge about the benign grace of Lord Krishna through his magazine and suffered several physical hardships in his quest to popularize the publication. His efforts were recognized by the Gaudiya Vaishnava Society in 1947 and he was awarded the title ‘Bhaktivedanta’, meaning "one who has realised that devotional service to the Supreme Lord is the end of all knowledge”.

• A married man with a family by now, Srila Prabhupada retired from married life at the age of 54 in 1950. After four years, he adopted the ‘vanaprastha’ (retired) order to devote more time to his divine purpose.

• He then travelled to the holy city of Vrindavana where he became involved in years of deep study and writing. He lived a very humble life and in 1959 he renounced all his worldly ties and took the order of ‘sannyasa’. The same year, he began working on what would become his masterpiece: a multivolume translation and commentary on the 18,000-verse Srimad-Bhagavatam (Bhagavata Purana).

• The next six years of his life were spent in intense Krishna bhakti. He took darshan of Madana Mohana, Govindaji, Gopinatha, and Radha Ramana regularly and performed intensive Krishna bhajana. During bhajana he received the blessings and guidance from Sri Rupa Gosvami.

• He finally got the chance to travel to the west in 1965 when he boarded a steamship bound from Calcutta to New York City. He was 69 at that time, but was determined to spread the Krishna consciousness to the people of the west.

• He founded the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), also known as the Hare Krishna movement, in 1966 in New York City. The founding of this organization launched one of the fastest-growing spiritual movements in the history of the world.

• Addressed as Srila Prabhupada from the late 1960s, he proceeded to inspire thousands of people, both Westerners and Indians, to devote their lives to Krishna consciousness. Once ISKCON was well established in the US, he started working towards spreading the organization’s mission to other countries.

• In spite of his advancing age he was deeply devoted to his cause and spent the 1970s travelling around the world establishing over a 100 Radha-Krishna temples in all the major cities of the Americas, Europe, Africa, India, Asia, and Australia. He also gained a huge following of disciples hailing from different countries and initiated a total of 5,000 sincere disciples.

• He was also a prolific writer who translated and authored several books. Over the last two decades of his life he translated over sixty volumes of classic Vedic scriptures into the English language. His books are popular all over the world and have been translated into several different languages.

Major Works:-

Srila Prabhupada is best remembered as the founder of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in New York City. The society which he initially struggled to establish soon became a fast-growing spiritual movement and today is a worldwide confederation of more than 550 centers, including 60 farm communities, 50 schools and 90 restaurants.

Persona Life & Legacy:-

• He was married and had a family. He later on renounced his family life in order to focus on the spiritual purpose of spreading awareness about Krishna consciousness.

• Srila Prabhupada died on 14 November 1977, at the age of 81.

• A number of memorial samadhis or shrines were constructed all over the world by the followers of ISKCON in his remembrance.

Biography....Dr.A.P.J Abdul Kalam

Biography....Dr.A.P.J Abdul Kalam

Quick Facts:-

ALSO LISTED IN : Presidents, Scientists

ALSO KNOWN AS : Missile Man

FAMOUS AS : Former President of India, Scientist

NATIONALITY : Indian Famous Indian Men

RELIGION : Islam

BORN ON : 15 October 1931 AD

BIRTHDAY : 15th October Famous 15th October Birthdays

DIED AT AGE : 83

SUN SIGN : Libra Libra Men

BORN IN : Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu

DIED ON : 27 July 2015 AD

PLACE OF DEATH : Shillong, Meghalaya, India

FATHER : Jainulabudeen

MOTHER : Ashiamma

MARRIED : No

AWARDS : Bharat Ratna (1997)

                   Padma Vibhushan (1990)

                   Padma Bhushan (1981)

                   Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration (1997)

                   Ramanujan Award (2000)

                   King Charles II Medal (2007)

                   Hoover Medal (2008)

                   International von Kármán Wings Award.

Little did Jainulabdeen and Ashiamma know that their son would grow up to be the first citizen of India. An Indian scientist and administrator, Kalam served as the 11th President of India from 2002 until 2007. One amongst the most respected people of the country, Kalam contributed immensely both as a scientist and as a president. His contribution at the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) was immense. He was responsible for numerous projects such as Project Devil and Project Valiant and launch of the Rohini-1, besides developing missiles under the missions Agni and Prithvi. For the same, he was popularly tagged as the “Missile Man of India”. Kalam was honored with great laurels and awards for his work by both the Government of India and other countries. After completing his term as President, Kalam served as a visiting professor in various esteemed institutes and universities of India.

Childhood And early Life:-

• A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was born to Jainulabdeen and Ashiamma on October 15, 1931. He came from a family whose financial conditions weren’t sound enough. As a means to support his family’s meagre income, Kalam took up odd jobs in his childhood but never gave up on his education.

• He graduated from Saint Joseph's College, Tiruchirappalli in 1954 but not satisfied with his degree, he left for Madras later next year to study aerospace engineering. He enrolled at the Madras Institute of Technology (MIT).

Career:-

• After graduating from MIT, Kalam took up the position of chief scientist at the Aeronautical Development Establishment of Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO). However, the profile didn’t appeal Kalam much who shifted to the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) where he was the project director of India's first indigenous Satellite Launch Vehicle.

• His years at the ISRO were the most crucial ones, as they left a lasting impact on him. Kalam lead many projects and turned out to be successful each time.

• In the 1970s, Kalam directed two projects, namely, Project Devil and Project Valiant, which sought to develop ballistic missiles from the technology of the successful SLV programme.

• A milestone was achieved when locally built Rohini-1 was launched into space, using the SLV rocket. Upon watching the raving success of Kalam, the government agreed for initiation of an advanced missile program under his directorship. He played a pivotal role in developing missiles under the missions Agni and Prithvi.

• Kalam was the Chief Executive of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (I.G.M.D.P) which researched in simultaneous development of a quiver of missiles instead of taking planned missiles one by one.

• From 1992 until 1999, Kalam was appointed as the Chief Scientific Adviser to the Prime Minister and the Secretary of Defence Research and Development Organisation. It was during this time that Kalam served as the Chief Project Coordinator for Pokhran II nuclear tests, after which he was fondly called the “Missile Man of India”.

• Kalam succeeded K. R. Narayan to serve as the 11th President of India from 2002 until 2007. It was a highly one-sided contest. With his appointment, Kalam became the first scientist and first ever bachelor to occupy the Rashtrapati Bhawan.

• During his tenure as a President, Kalam was both appreciated and criticised. The latter was mostly due to his inaction in deciding the fate of 20 mercy petitioners.

• In addition to all the profiles that Dr Kalam held, he authored numerous influential and inspirational books. Amongst all his books, “India 2020” was the widely read and appreciated one. It forecast an action plan which advocated India turning into a knowledge superpower and as one of the developed nations of the world by the year 2020. His other books include, “Ignited Minds”, “Mission India”, “Inspiring Thoughts” and “The Luminous Sparks”.

• In 2011, he launched his mission for the youth of the nation called the “What Can I Give Movement” with the main aim to defeat corruption in India.

• After completing his term as President, Dr Kalam served as visiting professor in various esteemed institutes and universities of India, such as Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad and Indore. He also served as Chancellor of Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology Thiruvananthapuram, Aerospace Engineering at Anna University (Chennai), JSS University (Mysore).

Personal Life and Legacy:-

• Dr A.P.J. Kalam remained unmarried throughout his life.

• Dr Abdul Kalam passed away at Bethany Hospital, Shillong, Meghalaya, due to heart failure after having collapsed during a lecture at Indian Institute of Management, Shillong.

Top 10 Facts You Did Not Know About A.P.J. Abdul Kalam:-

• A.P.J. Abdul Kalam grew up in poverty and distributed newspapers as a young boy to contribute to his father’s meager income.

• He was a protégé of the great Indian scientist Dr. Vikram Sarabhai who guided him and gave him valuable advice.

• He always faced the press following failed tests at ISRO and accepted responsibility for his mistakes but never claimed the credit for any of the massive successes achieved at the organization.

• He was the first bachelor to become the president and occupy Rashtrapati Bhawan.

• Kalam was the third President of India to have been honored with a Bharat Ratna before being elected to the office of President.

• He was known to write his own thank you cards with personalized messages in his own handwriting.

• He was a scholar of Thirukkural (a classic of couplets or Kurals) and was known to quote at least one couplet in most of his speeches.

• He had a keen interest in literature and wrote poems in his native Tamil.

• A practicing Muslim, he was also well versed with Hindu traditions and read the Bhagavad Gita.

• He had more than a million followers on Twitter but followed only 38 people.

Achievements And Awards:-

• Kalam was the proud recipient of Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan and Bharat Ratna awards from the Government of India. He received the same in the years 1981, 1990 and 1997, respectively.

• In 1997, he was honored by the Government of India with the Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration.

• Later, the next year, he was awarded the Veer Savarkar Award by the Government of India.

• The Alwars Research Centre, Chennai, bestowed Kalam with Ramanujan Award in the year 2000.

• Kalam was honored with the King Charles II Medal by the Royal Society, U.K in 2007.

• In 2008, he won the Hoover Medal given by ASME Foundation, USA.

• In 2008, he won the Hoover Medal given by ASME Foundation, USA.

• The California Institute of Technology, U.S.A, presented Kalam with the International von Karman Wings Award in the year 2009.

• The IEEE honored Kalam with IEEE Honorary Membership in 2011.

• Kalam was the proud recipient of honorary doctorates from 40 universities.

• In addition to this, Kalam's 79th birthday was recognised as World Students' Day by United Nations.

• He was nominated for the MTV Youth Icon of the Year award in 2003 and in 2006.

Timeline..............A.P.J. ABDUL KALAM 

15th Oct  1931  

A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was born to Jainulabdeen and Ashiamma on October 15, 1931. He came from a family whose financial conditions weren’t sound enough. As a means to support his family’s meagre income, Kalam took up odd jobs in his childhood but never gave up on his education.  

1954  

He graduated from Saint Joseph's College, Tiruchirappalli in 1954 but not satisfied with his degree, he left for Madras later next year to study aerospace engineering. He enrolled at the Madras Institute of Technology (MIT). 

1981 

To

1997  

Kalam was the proud recipient of Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan and Bharat Ratna awards from the Government of India. He received the same in the years 1981, 1990 and 1997, respectively. 

1992 

To

1999  

From 1992 until 1999, Kalam was appointed as the Chief Scientific Adviser to the Prime Minister and the Secretary of Defense Research and Development Organisation. It was during this time that Kalam served as the Chief Project Coordinator for Pokhran II nuclear tests, after which he was fondly called the “Missile Man of India”.  

1997  

In 1997, he was honored by the Government of India with the Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration.  

2000  

The Alwars Research Center, Chennai, bestowed Kalam with Ramanujan Award in the year 2000. 

2002 

To

2007  

Kalam succeeded K. R. Narayan to serve as the 11th President of India from 2002 until 2007. It was a highly one-sided contest. With his appointment, Kalam became the first scientist and first ever bachelor to occupy the Rastrapati Bhawan.  

2003 

To

2006  

He was nominated for the MTV Youth Icon of the Year award in 2003 and in 2006. 

2007  

Kalam was honored with the King Charles II Medal by the Royal Society, U.K in 2007. 

2008  

In 2008, he won the Hoover Medal given by ASME Foundation, USA. 

2008  

In 2008, he won the Hoover Medal given by ASME Foundation, USA. 

2009  

The California Institute of Technology, U.S.A, presented Kalam with the International von Karman Wings Award in the year 2009.  

2011  

In 2011, he launched his mission for the youth of the nation called the “What Can I Give Movement” with the main aim to defeat corruption in India. 

2011  

The IEEE honored Kalam with IEEE Honorary Membership in 2011.  

27th Jul 2015  

Dr Abdul Kalam passed away at Bethany Hospital, Shillong, Meghalaya, due to heart failure after having collapsed during a lecture at Indian Institute of Management, Shillong. 

Data source:- Thefamouspeople.com

Tribute.......to Nelson Mandela

 Biography

Rolihlahla Mandela was born into the Madiba clan in Mvezo, Transkei, on July 18, 1918, to Nonqaphi Nosekeni and Nkosi Mphakanyiswa Gadla Mandela, principal counsellor to the Acting King of the Thembu people, Jongintaba Dalindyebo.

His father died when he was a child and the young Rolihlahla became a ward of Jongintaba at the Great Place in Mqhekezweni. Hearing the elder’s stories of his ancestor’s valour during the wars of resistance, he dreamed also of making his own contribution to the freedom struggle of his people.

He attended primary school in Qunu where his teacher Miss Mdingane gave him the name Nelson, in accordance with the custom to give all school children “Christian” names.

He completed his Junior Certificate at Clarkebury Boarding Institute and went on to Healdtown, a Wesleyan secondary school of some repute, where he matriculated.

Nelson Mandela began his studies for a Bachelor of Arts Degree at the University College of Fort Hare but did not complete the degree there as he was expelled for joining in a student protest. He completed his BA through the University of South Africa and went back to Fort Hare for his graduation in 1943.

On his return to the Great Place at Mkhekezweni the King was furious and said if he didn’t return to Fort Hare he would arrange wives for him and his cousin Justice. They ran away to Johannesburg instead arriving there in 1941. There he worked as a mine security officer and after meeting Walter Sisulu, an estate agent, who introduced him to Lazar Sidelsky. He then did his articles through the firm of attorneys Witkin Eidelman and Sidelsky.

Meanwhile he began studying for an LLB at the University of the Witwatersrand. By his own admission he was a poor student and left the university in 1948 without graduating. He only started studying again through the University of London and also did not complete that degree.

In 1989, while in the last months of his imprisonment, he obtained an LLB through the University of South Africa. He graduated in absentia at a ceremony in Cape Town.

Nelson Mandela, while increasingly politically involved from 1942, only joined the African National Congress in 1944 when he helped formed the ANC Youth League.

In 1944 he married Walter Sisulu’s cousin Evelyn Mase, a nurse. They had two sons Madiba Thembekile ‘Thembi’ and Makgatho and two daughters both called Makaziwe, the first of whom died in infancy. They effectively separated in 1955 and divorced in 1958.

Nelson Mandela rose through the ranks of the ANCYL and through its work the ANC adopted in 1949 a more radical mass-based policy, the Programme of Action.

In 1952 he was chosen at the National Volunteer-in-Chief of the Defiance Campaign with Maulvi Cachalia as his Deputy. This campaign of civil disobedience against six unjust laws was a joint programme between the ANC and the South African Indian Congress. He and 19 others were charged under the Suppression of Communism Act for their part in the campaign and sentenced to nine months hard labour suspended for two years.

A two-year diploma in law on top of his BA allowed Nelson Mandela to practice law and in August 1952 he and Oliver Tambo established South Africa’s first black law firm, Mandela and Tambo.

At the end of 1952 he was banned for the first time. As a restricted person he was only able to secretly watch as the Freedom Charter was adopted at Kliptown on 26 June 1955.

Nelson Mandela was arrested in a countrywide police swoop of 156 activists on 5 December 1955, which led to the 1956 Treason Trial. Men and women of all races found themselves in the dock in the marathon trial that only ended when the last 28 accused, including Mr. Mandela were acquitted on 29 March 1961.

On 21 March 1960 police killed 69 unarmed people in a protest at Sharpeville against the pass laws. This led to the country’s first state of emergency on 31 March and the banning of the ANC and the Pan Africanist Congress on 8 April. Nelson Mandela and his colleagues in the Treason Trial were among the thousands detained during the state of emergency.

During the trial on 14 June 1958 Nelson Mandela married a social worker Winnie Madikizela. They had two daughters Zenani and Zindziswa. The couple divorced in 1996.

Days before the end of the Treason Trial Nelson Mandela travelled to Pietermaritzburg to speak at the All-in Africa Conference, which resolved he should write to Prime Minister Verwoerd requesting a non-racial national convention, and to warn that should he not agree there would be a national strike against South Africa becoming a republic. As soon as he and his colleagues were acquitted in the Treason Trial Nelson Mandela went underground and began planning a national strike for 29, 30 and 31 March. In the face of a massive mobilization of state security the strike was called off early. In June 1961 he was asked to lead the armed struggle and helped to establish Umkhonto weSizwe (Spear of the Nation).

On 11 January 1962 using the adopted name David Motsamayi, Nelson Mandela left South Africa secretly. He travelled around Africa and visited England to gain support for the armed struggle. He received military training in Morocco and Ethiopia and returned to South Africa in July 1962. He was arrested in a police roadblock outside Howick on 5 August while returning from KwaZulu-Natal where he briefed ANC President Chief Albert Luthuli about his trip.

He was charged with leaving the country illegally and inciting workers to strike. He was convicted and sentenced to five years imprisonment which he began serving in Pretoria Local Prison. On 27 May 1963 he was transferred to Robben Island and returned to Pretoria on 12 June. Within a month police raided a secret hide-out in Rivonia used by ANC and Communist Party activists and several of his comrades were arrested.

In October 1963 Nelson Mandela joined nine others on trial for sabotage in what became known as the Rivonia Trial.  Facing the death penalty his words to the court at the end of his famous ‘Speech from the Dock’ on 20 April 1964 became immortalized:

“I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.”

On 11 June 1964 Nelson Mandela and seven other accused Walter Sisulu, Ahmed Kathrada, Govan Mbeki, Raymond Mhlaba, Denis Goldberg, Elias Motsoaledi and Andrew Mlangeni were convicted and the next day were sentenced to life imprisonment. Denis Goldberg was sent to Pretoria Prison because he was white while the others went to Robben Island.

Nelson Mandela’s mother died in 1968 and his eldest son Thembi in 1969. He was not allowed to attend their funerals.

On 31 March 1982 Nelson Mandela was transferred to Pollsmoor Prison in Cape Town with Sisulu, Mhlaba and Mlangeni. Kathrada joined them in October. When he returned to the prison in November 1985 after prostate surgery Nelson Mandela was held alone. Justice Minister Kobie Coetsee had visited him in hospital. Later Nelson Mandela initiated talks about an ultimate meeting between the apartheid government and the ANC.

In 1988 he was treated for Tuberculosis and was transferred on 7 December 1988 to a house at Victor Verster Prison near Paarl. He was released from its gates on Sunday 11 February 1990, nine days after the unbanning of the ANC and the PAC and nearly four months after the release of the remaining Rivonia comrades. Throughout his imprisonment he had rejected at least three conditional offers of release.

Nelson Mandela immersed himself into official talks to end white minority rule and in 1991 was elected ANC President to replace his ailing friend Oliver Tambo. In 1993 he and President FW de Klerk jointly won the Nobel Peace Prize and on 27 April 1994 he voted for the first time in his life.

On 10 May 1994 he was inaugurated South Africa’s first democratically elected President. On his 80th birthday in 1998 he married Graça Machel, his third wife.

True to his promise Nelson Mandela stepped down in 1999 after one term as President. He continued to work with the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund he set up in 1995 and established the Nelson Mandela Foundation and The Mandela-Rhodes Foundation.

In April 2007 his grandson Mandla Mandela became head of the Mvezo Traditional Council at a ceremony at the Mvezo Great Place.

Nelson Mandela never wavered in his devotion to democracy, equality and learning. Despite terrible provocation, he never answered racism with racism. His life has been an inspiration to all who are oppressed and deprived, to all who are opposed to oppression and deprivation.