Famous Personalities
Haryana GK · प्रसिद्ध व्यक्तित्व · 18 facts
Chaudhary Devi Lal, born in Teja Khera, Sirsa (1914), was a veteran farmer leader called 'Tau'; he served as Deputy PM (1989–90) and was known as champion of rural India.
Bansi Lal, born in Garhi Sampla, Rohtak (1927), was a three-time CM of Haryana and Union Defence Minister; he was known as 'Haryana Kesari'.
Bhajan Lal, born in Adampur, Hisar (1930), was a two-time Haryana CM and Union Minister known for his political maneuvering; the Adampur constituency remains a family stronghold.
Manohar Lal Khattar, born in Nindana, Rohtak (1954), served as BJP CM of Haryana (2014–2024) and focused on digitization and anti-corruption measures.
Kapil Dev, born January 6, 1959, in Chandigarh, captained India to its first Cricket World Cup victory in 1983; he took 434 Test wickets and scored 5248 Test runs.
Sushil Kumar, wrestler from Baprola (Delhi, of Haryana heritage), won Olympic Bronze at Beijing 2008 and Silver at London 2012, becoming India's most decorated Olympic wrestler.
Neeraj Chopra, born in Khandra, Panipat district, Haryana (1997), won India's first Olympic athletics gold at Tokyo 2020 with a throw of 87.58 m in javelin.
Geeta Phogat, from Balali, Charkhi Dadri, became India's first female wrestler to qualify for Olympics (2012); her family's story inspired the Bollywood film 'Dangal'.
Harbhajan Singh (Bhajji), though from Punjab, was shaped by the Chandigarh region shared with Haryana; he took over 400 Test wickets and was India's lead spinner for a decade.
Gurubachan Singh Randhawa from Punjab-Haryana border region was a renowned decathlete who represented India in 1960 and 1964 Olympics.
Vinesh Phogat, from Balali, Haryana, became the first Indian woman wrestler to win gold medals at both Commonwealth and Asian Games (2018).
Sunil Dutt, the famous Bollywood actor and politician, was born in Khurd, Jhelum (now Pakistan) but is associated with Haryana's cultural diaspora.
Ranbir Singh Hooda, the former IPS officer and famous for his humanitarian work, is from Rohtak; Haryana has produced several noted bureaucrats and IPS officers.
Jugal Kishore Birla and the Birla family have strong ties to Haryana through their industrial establishments in Faridabad and Rewari districts.
Vishal Dadlani, a noted Bollywood music composer and singer, was born in New Delhi but is of Sindhi-Haryanvi origin and connected to the region.
Deepika Kumari (from Jharkhand, not Haryana) — Haryana's own archery star is Abhishek Verma from Narnaul, who won Bronze at Asian Games 2018 in compound archery.
Sakshi Malik, born in Mokhra Khas, Rohtak, Haryana (1992), became India's first woman Olympic wrestling medalist (Rio 2016 Bronze); she is an inspiration for female athletes nationwide.
Kiran Bedi, India's first female IPS officer (1972), though not born in Haryana, served extensively in Haryana's administration and is an honorary icon for the state.