Famous Personalities
Maharashtra GK · प्रसिद्ध व्यक्तित्व · 18 facts
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar (1891-1956): Father of Indian Constitution; first Law Minister; born Mhow MP, career in Maharashtra
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj (1630-1680): Founder of Maratha Empire; born Shivneri Fort; greatest warrior-king of Maharashtra
Bal Thackeray (1926-2012): Cartoonist-turned-politician; founded Shiv Sena in 1966; most powerful political figure in Maharashtra
Sachin Tendulkar: Born 24 April 1973 in Mumbai; 'God of Cricket'; 100 international centuries; Bharat Ratna (2014)
Lata Mangeshkar (1929-2022): 'Nightingale of India'; born Indore but raised in Sangli, Maharashtra; 36,000+ songs
Asha Bhosle (born 1933, Sangli): Lata's younger sister; most recorded singer in music history; Padma Vibhushan
Mahatma Jyotirao Phule (1827-1890): Social reformer, Pune; fought caste discrimination; Satyashodhak Samaj 1873
Savitribai Phule (1831-1897): India's first woman teacher; opened 18 schools; also a prolific Marathi poet
Sharad Pawar (born 1940, Baramati): Veteran politician; founded NCP 1999; longest-serving BCCI President; Union Agriculture Minister
Sunil Gavaskar (born 1949, Mumbai): First batsman to score 10,000 Test runs; 34 Test centuries; cricket legend
Dilip Kumar (1922-2021): 'Tragedy King' of Bollywood; born Peshawar, built career in Mumbai; Dadasaheb Phalke Award
Bal Gangadhar Tilak (1856-1920): 'Lokmanya'; born Ratnagiri; Father of Indian Unrest; author of 'Arctic Home in the Vedas'
Vinayak Damodar Savarkar (1883-1966): Born Nashik; coined term 'Hindutva'; spent 10 years in Cellular Jail Andaman
Dadasaheb Phalke (1870-1944): 'Father of Indian Cinema'; born Nashik; made India's first feature film Raja Harishchandra (1913)
Pandurang Shastri Athavale (Dada, 1920-2003): Founder of Swadhyaya Movement; Magsaysay Award; Padma Vibhushan
P.L. Deshpande (1919-2000): Beloved Marathi writer, humorist, actor; wrote Batatyachi Chaal and Vyakti ani Valli
Amitabh Bachchan: Born Allahabad, built Bollywood career in Mumbai; 'Big B' of Indian cinema; 50+ year career
Narendra Modi: Though from Gujarat, held many National Summits in Maharashtra; Mumbai is PM's key economic engagement city