Famous personalities of Gujarat | Gujarat State PSC (GPSC) Preparation: All subjects - GPSC (Gujarat) PDF Download

Famous Personalities of Gujarat

Mahatma Gandhi

• Mahatma Gandhi, whose full name was Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, was born on October 2, 1869, in Porbandar, India. He passed away on January 30, 1948, in Delhi.
• Gandhi was not only an Indian lawyer but also a politician, social activist, and writer. He emerged as the prominent leader of the nationalist movement against British rule in India.
• Known as the "Father of the Nation," Gandhi is globally recognized for his philosophy of nonviolent resistance, which he termed as satyagraha. He implemented this as a means to achieve political and social reforms.
• Gandhi was revered by millions of Indians as the "Mahatma," meaning the "Great Soul." His influence was profound, and his methods of peaceful protest inspired similar movements worldwide.
• Despite his fame, Gandhi faced numerous challenges, including the overwhelming adoration of the masses that followed him everywhere. This adulation often hindered his work and rest.
• He wrote, "The woes of the Mahatmas are known only to the Mahatmas," highlighting the burdens that came with his revered status.
• During his lifetime, Gandhi gained worldwide acclaim, and his legacy continued to grow after his passing. Today, the name Mahatma Gandhi is synonymous with nonviolent resistance and universal recognition.

Vallabhbhai Patel

• Vallabhbhai Patel, born on October 31, 1875, and passed away on December 15, 1950, was a pivotal figure in India's independence movement. He earned the moniker "Iron Man of India" for his resolute leadership.
• Initially a successful lawyer, Patel was profoundly influenced by Mahatma Gandhi's principles, which led him to organize non-violent protests against oppressive British policies in regions like Kheda, Borsad, and Bardoli in Gujarat.
• His leadership during civil disobedience movements made him a prominent figure in Gujarat and catapulted him to the forefront of the Indian National Congress.
• Patel played a crucial role in organizing the party for elections in 1934 and 1937, as well as supporting the Quit India movement, showcasing his dedication to India's freedom struggle.

Morarji Desai

• Morarji Ranchhodji Desai (February 29, 1896 – April 10, 1995) was an Indian independence activist who served as the sixth Prime Minister of India from 1977 to 1979. He was the first Prime Minister of India who was not a member of the Indian National Congress. 
• Before India gained independence, he was the Revenue Minister of Bombay from 1937 to 1939 and again in 1946. In 1952, he was elected Chief Minister. He joined the central government in 1956, where he served as Minister for Commerce and Industry from 1956 to 1958 and as Finance Minister from 1958 to 1963.
• In 1966, Desai contested Indira Gandhi for the leadership of the Indian National Congress but lost. The following year, he accepted the position of Deputy Prime Minister in her government. 
• In 1969, he parted ways with Gandhi and went on to form the Janata Party in 1977. After winning the General Election that year, he became Prime Minister at the age of 81. Desai was a devoted follower of Mahatma Gandhi.

Narsinh Mehta

• The great Krishna devotee Bhakt Narsinh Mehta was born around 1414 into a Nagar Brahmin family in the Junagadh district of the Kathiyawad region in Gujarat. His father's name was Krishnadas, and his grandfather was Vishnudatt Mehta. After his father's early death, Narsinh was raised by his grandmother Jaykumari, along with his brother Bansidhar.
• Jaykumari was a devout Vaishnavite, and her faith greatly influenced Narsinh Mehta. It is said that during his childhood, Narsinh was unable to speak, which caused his grandmother great concern about whether he would ever be able to speak. 
• One day, after attending a Bhagwat Katha at a Shiva temple, Jaykumari encountered a saint on her way back. She shared Narsinh's condition with the saint, who smiled, sprinkled water from his Kamandalu on Narsinh, and whispered, "Bolo Radhakrishna" (speak Radhakrishna). To everyone's amazement, Narsinh immediately responded with, "Radhakrishna."

Narendra Modi

• Narendra Damodardas Modi, an Indian politician and the current 14th Prime Minister of India since 2014, previously served as the Chief Minister of Gujarat from 2001 to 2014. He represents Varanasi in the Parliament as a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a Hindu nationalist organization.
• Modi holds the distinction of being the first non-Indian National Congress Prime Minister to secure back-to-back terms with a clear majority. Following Atal Bihari Vajpayee, he is the second Prime Minister to complete a full five-year term in office.

Dhirubhai Ambani

• Dhirubhai Ambani, a co-founder of Reliance Industries in Bombay, began his journey in Aden, Yemen at the age of 16 as a dispatch clerk at A. Besse & Co. Subsequently, he ventured to Dubai before returning to India to establish the Reliance Commercial Corporation with an initial investment of Rs. 15,000. 
• Initially partnering with Champaklal Damani, Dhirubhai later parted ways in 1965. His business acumen and success were acknowledged when he was recognized by The Sunday Times as one of the top 50 businessmen in Asia.

Dadabhai Naoroji

• Dadabhai Naoroji, a name synonymous with India's struggle for independence, was famously known as "The Grand Old Man of India." Born on September 4, 1825, into a Parsi family in Bombay, he was among the founding pioneers of political and social leadership who recognized the injustices of colonial rule and advocated for India's freedom from British domination. An intellectual, academician, economist, staunch nationalist, social reformer, and educator, Naoroji played a pivotal role in the formation of the Indian National Congress alongside leaders like Dinshaw Edulji Wacha and A. O. Hume. He also established key organizations such as the Royal Asiatic Society of Bombay and the East Indian Association in London.
• Naoroji's distinguished career led him to become the first Indian Member of Parliament in the United Kingdom's House of Commons, representing the Liberal Party. His remarkable expertise in economics culminated in his seminal work, Poverty and Un-British Rule in India, where he introduced the renowned "Theory of Drain of Wealth." This theory offered groundbreaking insights into the various forms of exploitation by the British, which resulted in the continuous impoverishment of India.
• A progressive thinker and advocate for equality, Naoroji championed the cause of women's education and spoke out against all forms of caste discrimination and oppression. As a member of the Moderates, he strongly believed in constitutional procedures and upheld the importance of equal treatment for both men and women.

Kalyanji-Anandji

• Kalyanji-Anandji, a renowned composer duo hailing from Gujarat, consisted of Kalyanji Virji Shah (1928–2000) and Anandji Virji Shah (born 1933).
• They were prominent for their contributions to Hindi film soundtracks, crafting numerous timeless melodies.

Ajay Jadeja

• Ajay Jadeja, a former Indian cricketer, notably served in the national team from 1992 to 2000, participating in 15 Test matches and 196 One Day Internationals.
• Despite his cricketing prowess, Jadeja faced a six-year ban for involvement in match-fixing, which was eventually overturned by the Delhi High Court in 2003.
• He was particularly remembered for his aggressive batting style and adeptness in finishing overs swiftly during the late 1990s.