Famous Personalities of Uttarakhand

When it comes to the famous personalities of a state or a region, there are many aspects and fields that can be discussed. The several fields in which these famous personalities have made their contributions directly or indirectly help in the upliftment of society. 

The famous personalities of Uttarakhand have emerged from various sectors of society like sports, politics, defence, literature, art and culture and education. In this article, we will try to focus on: 

• Contributions of Uttarakhand’s notable and famous personalities from each of these fields
• What they all have achieved
• How they have contributed to their states and the country as a whole. 

Let us look at all the famous personalities of Uttarakhand from each field. 

1.Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi

Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi was born on  5th January 1934 in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand. He is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party of the state. Joshi was among the politicians arrested during the emergency of 1975-1977 and was imprisoned for almost two years. Dr Murli Manohar Joshi completed his doctorate in spectroscopy from Allahabad University and published a first-of-its-kind physics research paper in Hindi, which earned him the title of doctorate. 

Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi worked as a physics professor before joining politics and becoming the Union Human Resources Development minister in the NDA (National Democratic Alliance) government. He is among the key leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party. Murli Manohar Joshi had been interested in politics from a young age and took part in political processions in Delhi by joining RSS and participating in the Cow Protection Movement of 1953-1954 in northern India. 

2.Surendra Pal Joshi

Surendra Pal Joshi was born on 23rd July 1955 in Dehradun. He is known for his unique painting and sculpting techniques, which are now part of a collection in Uttara Museum of Contemporary Art located in Dehradun. He joined Lucknow College of Arts and Crafts in Uttar Pradesh and later moved to Jaipur, where he worked as an Assistant Professor. He later opted for voluntary retirement to focus on his paintings and several murals, for which he put up at least 22 solo exhibitions. He died of cancer in 2018 in a hospital in Jaipur. 

3.Abhinav Bindra

Born on 28th September 1982, Abhinav Bindra is a businessman who won the Olympic Gold medal for Shooting in 2008 in Beijing. He received the Padma Bhushan and is considered among the top influencers in sports from all over the country. He founded the Abhinav Bindra Foundation, a non-profit organisation that aims to improve facilities in the field of sports in the country by bringing together the elements of science and technology to generate high-performing and skilled sportspeople. Abhinav is currently a member of the IOC Athletes’ Commission and was bestowed with the Blue Cross in 2018, which is considered the highest honour in the ISSF. 

4.Brigadier Surendra Singh Panwar

Born on 19th October 1919, Brigadier Surendra Singh Panwar served in the Indian Army as an artillery officer and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Royal Regiment in the same post. He created the Air Defence Brigade in 1964, during the Indo-China and Indo-Pak war and represented India as a chairman of the International Control Commission in the years between 1968 and 1969. Brigadier Panwar was also the Chief Instructor at the School of Artillery at the Army Headquarters. Later, in 1973, he retired as a Brigadier after a long-standing career in defence. He died on 29th April 2002 in his hometown of Dehradun. 

5.Govind Ballabh Pant

Born on 10th September 1887, Govind Ballav Pant was among the most famous freedom fighters of India and served as the first chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, despite belonging to Uttarakhand. He fought for the country’s freedom alongside Vallabh Bhai Patel, Jawaharlal Nehru, and many others to help form an independent government in the country. He was among the first leaders in politics from Uttarakhand who contributed to the unsuccessful attempt to make Hindi the national language. He suffered a heart attack and died on 7th March in 1961 and is still remembered today as a prominent figure of Uttarakhand. 

6.Mohan Chand Sharma

Born on 23rd September 1965, Mohan Chand Sharma was an officer in the Indian Police who was awarded the Gallantry Medal Ashoka Chakra Award in 2009 after his death. He was born in Chaukhutia Masi in Uttarakhand. He joined the Delhi Police and continued to serve for 19 years until his encounter in the Batla House against the Indian Mujahideen’s terrorists in the year 2008, which ended up with him sustaining severe injuries leading to his death. 

Conclusion

The famous personalities of Uttarakhand contributed to various aspects of the society not only in Uttarakhand but also the country as a whole. Famous personalities like Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi had not only contributed to the field of education but also to politics as one of the first politicians and freedom fighters of India. Each of the above-mentioned personalities had something to offer in each field that led to the development of the country we know today. Be it in politics, education, defence or any other field, the well-known public figures have played a major role in shaping the various aspects of society.