Famous Personalities
Rajasthan GK · प्रसिद्ध व्यक्तित्व · 18 facts
Maharana Pratap (1540–1597): King of Mewar — never surrendered to Akbar, symbol of Rajput valor; horse Chetak is legendary
Mirabai (1498–1547): Devotee-poet of Lord Krishna, born in Merta (Nagaur) — wrote Bhajans in Rajasthani and Braj Bhasha
Prithviraj Chauhan (1149–1192): Last Hindu king of Delhi — defeated Muhammad of Ghor in first Battle of Tarain (1191), lost second (1192)
Sawai Jai Singh II (1688–1743): Founded Jaipur in 1727; built Jantar Mantar observatories in 5 cities; great astronomer
Durgadas Rathore (1638–1718): Protector of Marwar — saved Prince Ajit Singh from Aurangzeb for 27 years
Amrita Devi Bishnoi (1730): Led 363 Bishnoi martyrs who died hugging Khejri trees to stop their felling — environment martyrs
Kavi Kanhaiya Lal Sethia (1919–2008): Greatest Rajasthani poet — 'Padharo Mhare Desh' is the unofficial anthem of Rajasthan
Vijay Singh Pathik (1882–1954): Freedom fighter from Bharatpur — led Bijolia Peasant Movement against zamindari oppression
Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore: Olympic Silver medalist in Double Trap shooting at Athens 2004 — from Jaipur, Rajasthan
Rana Sanga (Sangram Singh, 1482–1527): Powerful Mewar king — united Rajputs against Mughals; died after Battle of Khanwa (1527)
Hadi Rani: Legendary Rajput queen of Salumbar (17th c) — gave her severed head to husband as 'yaad' before battle
Jaswant Singh Rathore of Jodhpur: Last major Rajput king to resist Aurangzeb — died 1678 defending Afghan frontier
Kishori Amonkar (1931–2017): Jaipur-Atrauli gharana vocalist — Padma Vibhushan recipient, one of India's greatest classical singers
Narayan Singh Mawai: Led Mataji movement and social reforms among Meena and Bhil tribes of eastern Rajasthan
Arjuna Singh Shekhawat: Famous wrestler from Rajasthan who competed at Olympic level and won national titles
Jagdish Prasad Mathur (1917–1978): Renowned Hindi playwright and scholar from Rajasthan — pioneer of modern Hindi drama
Hardayal (1884–1939): Indian revolutionary and scholar from Delhi — founded Ghadar Party (1913), educated at Rajasthan College
Rima Kallingal Vasundhara Raje: First woman CM of Rajasthan (BJP) — also served as External Affairs Minister of India