Ronaldo

Ronaldo

Ronaldo Luiz Nazário de Lima (b. September 22, 1976), simply known as Ronaldo, is a Brazilian footballer who is widely considered to be one of the best strikers of all time.

Ronaldo celebratingIn 1993, aged 16, Ronaldo had already scored 59 goals in 57 matches for Brazil's under 17 squad. By 1994 he had joined the squad of the national team, but didn't get to play a single minute on the pitch of the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the USA.

In 1996–1997, Ronaldo played arguably his best season, scoring numerous spectacular goals for FC Barcelona. One of them, a solo goal against Compostela, is considered one of the most amazing goals in football. Ronaldo celebrating

Chosen the World's best player in 1996 and 1997, he had a disappointing performance during the 1998 World Cup, scoring only 4 goals, and losing the final to host team France after suffering a mysterious fit in the night before. The fit's circumstances still remain unclear and a source of speculation.

He then moved to a club he considered more promising and more respected: Inter Milan. Fans all over the world jumped the bandwagon and supported the world's most glamorous footballer, receiving praise from the Italians all over. Ronaldo's fame grew as he was contantly in the action for the Italian juggernauts.

In April 1999, Ronaldo married Milene Domingues. The marriage lasted 4 years and ended in a divorce.

A year later, he severely injured his right knee and was out of the game for several months. During his first comeback in 2000, he managed to play a few minutes during a league game against Lazio before injuring his knee for a second time.

After 2 operations and 20 months of rehabilitation, Ronaldo managed a comeback during the 2002 FIFA World Cup. He claimed the Golden Boot by scoring 8 goals during the tournament (and tied with Pelé for a Brazilian record 12 total World Cup goals), leading Brazil to win an unprecedented fifth World Championship. In 2002, he was awarded the title of the World's best soccer player for the third time, and transferred from Inter Milan to Real Madrid after frequent disputes with current Inter Milan coach Hector Cuper.

On June 2, 2004, Ronaldo scored an unusual hat-trick for Brazil against archrivals Argentina in a CONMEBOL qualifier for the 2006 World Cup. He scored all of Brazil's goals in a 3-1 win via penalty kicks.

As of 2004, Ronaldo is still playing football, and is still considered one of the world's best strikers.

Teams and clubs

Brazil national football team

March 1994 -

Debut against Argentina

Social Ramos Club 1990/91

Sao Cristovao 1991-1993

Cruzeiro Belo Horizonte 1993/94

PSV Eindhoven 1994-1996

FC Barcelona 1996/97

Inter Milan 1997-2002

Real Madrid 2002-

Honors and awards

FIFA World Player of the Year: 1996, 1997, 2002

European Footballer of the Year: 1997, 2002

FIFA World Cup

2002 Golden Boot - 8 goals

2002 - Winner

1994 - Winner

UEFA Cup: 1998

Cup Winners' Cup: 1997

Dutch Cup: 1996

La Liga - Primera División champions: 2003

David Akers

David Roy Akers (born September 12, 1974, in
Lexington, Kentucky) is an American football
placekicker who currently plays for the
Philadelphia Eagles.  

He is considered one of the premium kickers in the
National Football League.  He attended college at
the University of Louisville, but was not selected
by any team in the NFL Draft.  Between 1997 and
1998 he spent time trying to make the team with
the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers and the
Washington Redskins.  He was signed by the
Redskins in 1998 and played in one game for them,
making two extra point|extra points but missing
two field goal attempts.  He was later released by
Washington, and was claimed from waivers by the
Philadelphia Eagles in 1999. He was then allocated
to NFL Europe, where he played one season for the
Berlin Thunder.  He impressed scouts with his
power and accuracy, and earned the permanent
kicker spot for the Eagles in 2000.

He made the longest field goal in Philadelphia on
September 11th, 2003: a 57 yarder against the New
England Patriots. He owns the team record for most
points scored in one season (133, in 2002). He has
also earned three Pro Bowl selections (2001, 2002,
2004), and he scored the second most points ever
in a playoff game in NFL history (15, in 2001
against the Chicago Bears).

He practices martial arts like Jiu-Jitsu and
Shaolin Kempo, and it helps him to focus when he
attempts a kick.

Chidi Ahanotu

Chidi Ahanotu (born October 11, 1970 in Modesto,
California) is an American football defensive end
for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the NFL.  He was
originally selected with the fifth pick of the
sixth round of the 1993 NFL Draft by Tampa Bay out
of University of California, Berkeley|California. 
He has also played for St. Louis Rams, Buffalo
Bills, San Francisco 49ers, and Miami Dolphins
before returning to the Bucs

Herb Adderly

Herbert A. Adderly (born June 8, 1939,
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is a former American
football cornerback who played for the Green Bay
Packers and the Dallas Cowboys.

He played college football at Michigan State
University and was an All-Big Ten offensive star.

Adderley was drafted by the Packers in the first
round in 1961, and was projected to be a halfback
or flanker, but soon saw that his playing
opportunities would be limited on offense behind
veteran Packer stars Paul Hornung and Jim Taylor.
He was first moved to cornerback to replace an
injured teammate. In 1962 the move became
permanent and he went on to be an all-NFL
selection 5 times in the 1960s.

He was a star for the Packers through 1969, then
played three seasons (1970-1972) with the Dallas
Cowboys.

He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in
1980.

Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi

Full Name: Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi
Born: January 5, 1941, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
Major teams: India, Delhi, Hyderabad, Oxford University, Sussex
Batting style: Right-hand bat
Bowling style: Right-arm medium

Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, fondly called Tiger has been an Indian Cricket player and the Captain of the Indian Cricket team. He has to his credit the honor of having been the 9th and last Nawab of Pataudi, a small Princely State which presently is a part of the Haryana state of India.

Early Life
He was born on the 5th of January 1941 in Bhopal to the 8th Nawab of Patuadi, Iftikhar Ali Khan. Having studied at Dehradun, Hertfordshire and Oxford, he became the 9th Nawab of Patuaudi after his father died in the year 1952.

Test Cricket Debut
Mansur made is Test Cricket debut in the year 1961 with a Test match played against England at Delhi. He scored 13 runs in the match. Very soon after beginning his Test Cricket career, he lost the vision in his right eye due to a car accident.

Captaincy
In the year 1962, he was named the Captain of the Indian Cricket team. Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, also known as Nawab Pataudi Jr., is considered to be one of the most successful Captains that the Indian Cricket team has ever got in its history. He led the Indian team in 40 Test matches, out of which 12 had been won by the team. Although the winning percentage was not very high, he is best known for instilling the winning confidence into the members of hitherto low-down Indian team, and boosting their morale that led them to further victories.

Mansur is credited as the first Indian Cricket captain that got the team its much needed first Test victory at an overseas ground. This victory was achieved in a Test match played against New Zealand in the year 1968. He is also known for recognizing the fact that Spin Bowling was the forte of the Indian Cricket team, hence he utilized more of spinners against other strong teams to get the Indian team the maximum benefit in the Cricket ground. Apart from being a good Captain, Nawab Patudi Jr. is also known very well for being a good fielder too. Although his Batting Average was only 34 runs, he must have yielded way too far better results had he not been visually impaired with one eye.

Overall Performance
In his Test Cricket career, Mansur Ali Khan played 46 Test matches in which he scored a total of 2793 runs with 6 centuries and 16 half-centuries. His Batting Average was 34.91 runs and Highest Score was 203 runs not-out. He played his last Test match against West Indies at Mumbai in the year 1975, and scored 18 runs in the match.

He also served as an ICC Match Referee for a period of 3 years between 1993 and 1996. For his extra-ordinary performance as a Cricket player for India, Mansur Ali Khan had been conferred upon the Arjuna Award in the year 1964, and was named the Wisden Cricketer of the Year in the year 1968.

Sunil Gavaskar

Full Name: Sunil Manohar Gavaskar

Born: July 10, 1949, Mumbai, Maharashtra

Major teams: India, Mumbai, Somerset

Batting style: Right-hand bat

Bowling style: Right-arm medium

Achievements:

• First player to score more than 10,000 runs in Tests
• One of the only two players to score centuries in each innings, three times
• Highest number of runs in a debut series by an Indian (774 against West Indies)
• Wisden Cricketer of the Year 1980
• Awarded Padma Bhushan

Sunil Manohar Gavaskar, popularly known as Sunil Gavaskar has been an Indian Cricket player and considered to be one of the all time best opening batsmen in the history of Test Cricket. Sunil is known for having set many batting records that lied unbroken for long years after some other batsman. He was the biggest Test scorer with the biggest number of centuries to his credit during his times. His record of scoring 34 Test centuries took 20 years to be broken when Sachin Tendulkar outclassed it in the year 2005. 

Gavaskar was especially quite good against the fast bowlers, and maintained a decent average of 65.45 runs against the super-fast West Indian bowlers. He also served as the Captain of the Indian Cricket team, although the team couldn’t fare much better under his leadership. In fact, during his Captaincy, the Indian Cricket team one played 31 Test matches without a single victory. 

Early Life 

Sunil Gavaskar was born on the 10th of July 1949 at Mumbai, and started playing Cricket right since his school days. In the year 1966 he was declared the Best Schoolboy Cricket of the year in India. He had scored 246*, 222 and 85 runs in School Cricket. He made his debut in Ranji Trophy in the year 1968/69 with a match against Karnataka although he scored a duck in the match and was out for a 0 score. But in the next match against Rajasthan he scored 114 runs and hit 3 consecutive centuries in the tournament. 

Test Debut 

The Test Cricket debut of Sunil Gavaskar was made in a Test match against West Indies played at Port of Spain on 6th of March 1971. He scored 132 runs in this match, getting India its first over Test victory over West Indies. In the 5th Test match between India and West Indies, he scored 124 and 220 runs in both the innings, helping India to score its first Test Series victory over West Indies, which was not repeated for a period of 35 years to come till the year 2006. 

One Day International (ODI) Debut 

Gavaskar made his One Day International (ODI) Cricket debut in an ODI match against England played at the Leeds ground on 13th of July 1974, where he scored 28 runs off 35 balls. 

Captaincy 

Sunil Gavaskar also stayed the Captain of the Indian Cricket team for some time, but his record as the Captain has not been much impressive, as a bigger number of matches he led the team into turned out to be drawn. He led the team to 47 Test matches, out of which 9 were won, 8 were lost and 30 were drawn. Under his Captaincy, the Indian Cricket team played 37 ODI matches, out of which 14 were won, 21 were lost and 2 went without any result. 

Sunil Gavaskar’s last Test match was against Pakistan played at Bangalore on 13th of March 1987, and he scored 117 runs in the match. His last ODI match was against England played at Mumbai on 5th of November 1987, and he scored just 4 runs in the match. 

Overall Performance 

In his overall Test Cricket career, Sunil Gavaskar played 125 Test matches and scored 10122 runs including 34 centuries and 45 half-centuries, with an average of 51.12 runs and a highest score of 236 Not Out. Regarding his ODI Cricket career, he played 108 matches. He scored 3092 in them including 1 century and 27 half-centuries, with an average score of 35.13 runs and a highest score of 103 runs. 

Other Achievements 

Sunil Gavaskar has been conferred upon Padma Bhushan, and had been appointed the honorary Sheriff of Mumbai in the year 1994. Having written 4 books upon Cricket, he has also been named the advisor of the Indian Cricket team, and the Chairman of the ICC Cricket Committee. In his honor, a Test Cricket Series between India and Australia has been named jointly after him and the Australian Cricketer Allan Border, as Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Anil Kumble

Full Name: Anil Kumble
Born: October 17, 1970, Bangalore, Karnataka
Major teams: India, Karnataka, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Surrey
Batting style: Right-hand bat
Bowling style: Legbreak

Achievements: Highest wicket-taker for India in ODIs and Tests; best bowling figure by an Indian in a ODI (6-12 against West Indies); one of only two bowlers ever to have taken all 10 wickets in a Test innings; only the second player (after Shane Warne) to score 2000 runs and take over 500 Test wickets; Wisden Cricketer of the Year 1996

Anil Kumble has been an Indian Cricket player and Captain of the Indian Test Cricket team. A right handed batsman, Kumble specialized in Right Arm Leg Spin (Legbreak Googly) bowling. He has taken the third biggest number of wickets in the history of Test Cricket, having taken more than 300 wickets in Test matches.

Early Life
Anil was born on 17th of October 1970 at Bangalore, Karnataka. Fondly known as Jumbo, as a kid he joined a Cricket Club named Young Cricketers. He was a very brilliant student and finished his Bachelor in Mechanical Engineering from Rashtreeya Vidyalaya College of Engineering, Bangalore in the year 1991-92.

He started playing First Class Cricket for Karnataka team with a match against Hyderabad in the year 1989, and managed to grab 4 wickets in the match.

Debut in Cricket
Anil made his debut in the One Day International (ODI) Cricket with the Australasia Cup tournament at Sharjah in the year 1989-90, in a match against Sri Lanka. He took 1 wicket in this match, and gave 42 runs.

His Test Cricket career began with a Test Series against England played at Manchester in August 1990. Anil took 3 wickets and gave 105 runs in 43 overs out of which 7 were maiden ones.

The 10-wickets Charisma
Anil Kumble has to his credit the fame of having taken all the 10 wickets in a single Test innings. He achieved this rare feat in February 1999 in a Test match played against Pakistan in Delhi. Apart from Jim Laker, he has been the only bowler in the world to have done so till date.

Days of Captaincy
He also represented the Test Cricket team of India in the year 2007 when the reigning Captain Rahul Dravid resigned from the post. He led India to Test Series against Pakistan and Australia, in which the National team won by 1-0 and lost by 1-2 respectively.

Vital Statistics
Throughout his Test Cricket career, Anil Kumble played 132 Test matches in which he managed to grab 619 wickets at the loss of 18355 runs, with an average of 29.65 runs. During his Test career he scored 2506 runs with an average of 17.77 runs. His highest score in Test Cricket was 110 not out.

As far as One Day International (ODI) Cricket is concerned, Anil played 271 ODI matches throughout his career in which he took 337 wickets giving away 10412 runs with an average of 30.80 runs. He scored 938 runs with an average of 10.53 runs in the ODI matches he played, his highest score being 26.

The Last Moments
Anil Kumble played his last ODI match against Bermuda at Port of Spain on 19th of March, 2007. In this match, he took 3 wickets and gave away 38 runs. His last Test Cricket match was against Australia during the Border Gavaskar Trophy, played in October 2008 at Delhi. In this match, Anil took 3 wickets, and gave away 126 runs combining both the innings.

Anil retired from his Cricket career gracefully on the 2nd of November 2008. He was conferred with the Padma Shri award by the Government of India in the year 2005.

Lala Amarnath

Full Name: Nanik Amarnath Bharadwaj
Born: September 11, 1911, Kapurthala, Punjab
Died: August 5, 2000, New Delhi
Major teams: India, Gujarat, Hindus, Maharajah of Patiala's XI, Railways, Uttar Pradesh
Batting style: Right-hand bat
Bowling style: Right-arm medium

Achievements:

• First Indian cricketer to score a Test century (In his debut Test match itself)
• Independent India's first Test captain
• Captained India to its first Test series win against Pakistan in 1952

Nanik Amarnath Bharadwaj, generally known as Lala Amarnath was a Test Cricket player of India. He was the first Indian Cricket player to score a Century in a Test match, and also the first Captain of the Indian Test Cricket team after the nation got its independence.

Early Life
Amarnath was born on 11th of September 1911 at Kapurthala (Punjab), and moved along with his family later to Lahore (now in Pakistan). He didn’t have a very affluent background from his family, and created stirs when he scored 109 runs while playing for Southern Punjab against MCC in the year 1933-34. As a matter of fact, the Cricket magazine Wisden quoted his performance in this match as “A Brilliant Display”.

Debut in Test Cricket
He made his debut in Test Cricket with a Test Series that was played against England at Gymkhana Ground, Bombay (now Mumbai) in December 1933. Eventually, it was the first Test match that the Indian Test team was playing at a home-ground. Amarnath scored a staggering 156 runs making him the first Indian Cricket player to score a century in a Test match. He reached the score pretty fast, finishing 83 runs in just 78 minutes, and reached the century within a span of 117 minutes.

The Controversy at the Indian Tour of 1936
Amarnath was a part of the Indian squad that went upon the Indian tour in the year 1936. Maharaj Kumar of Vizianagaram (also known as Vizzy) was the sponsor and Captain of the team. At the tour Amarnath supposedly had some problems with the team management and was sent back home in the middle on charges of indisciplinary behavior.

The Dark Phase
After his 3rd Test match against England played at Chennai in February 1934, Amarnath had to sit for a period of 12 years before he could play his 4th Test match. He was one of the few Cricket players who raised a voice against the dominance of Royal figures and their supporters prevailing in the Cricket scenario of India those days, and consequently had to pay the price by suffering the damage to his career.

First Captain of Independent India’s Test Cricket team
In November 1947, he was made the Captain of the Indian Test Cricket team which visited Australia on a Test Series, hence, making him the first Captain of the Test Cricket team of Independent India. Australia won 4 out of 5 Test matches played in the Series, while the 5th one was a draw.

Vital Statistics
Throughout his Test Cricket career, Lala Amarnath played 24 Test matches and managed to score a total of 878 runs in them including 1 century and 4 half-centuries with a Batting Average of 24.38 runs and a highest score of 118 runs. In these 24 matches, he grabbed 45 wickets giving away 1481 runs, with a Bowling Average of 32.91 runs. He also played 186 First Class Cricket matches throughout his Cricket career in which he scored 10426 runs with a Batting Average of 41.37 runs, and a highest score of 262 runs. He took 463 wickets in the First Class Cricket matches and gave away 10644 runs, with a Bowling Average of 22.98 runs.

He played his last Test match against Pakistan at Kolkata in December 1952, in which he scored 11 runs and took 1 wicket giving away 32 runs.

Ghanshyam Das Birla

Born: April 10, 1894

Achievement: Laid the foundations of the Birla Empire; founder of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). 

Ghanshyam Das Birla is considered as a doyen of Indian Industry. He was the man who laid the foundations of the Birla Empire. G.D. Birla was a multi-faceted personality. He was a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi and advised Gandhiji on economic policies. He was the most important pre-Independence contributor to the Indian National Congress. Ghanshyam Das Birla was the founder of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). He is also popularly known as the builder of Birla Mandirs.

Born on April 10, 1894, G.D. Birla, was a native of Pilani. His grandfather Shiv Narayan Birla was a traditional marwari moneylender. Ghanshyam Das Birla entered the business arena during the time of First World War. He established a cotton mill in Sabzi Mandi, and later on established Keshoram Cotton Mills. Along with cotton mills he diversified to jute business and shifted his base to Calcutta city in Bengal, the world's largest jute producing region. He established Birla Jute Mills in Bengal, much to the consternation of established European merchants.

In 1919, with an investment of Rs. 50 lakhs, the Birla Brothers Limited was formed and a mill was set up in Gwalior. In 1930s, G.D. Birla set up Sugar and Paper mills. In 1940s, he ventured into the territory of cars and established Hindustan Motors. After independence, Ghanshyam Das Birla invested in tea and textiles through a series of acquisitions of erstwhile European companies. He also expanded and diversified into cement, chemicals, rayon and steel tubes.

Ghanshyam Das Birla also founded several educational institutions. Birla Institute of Technology and Sciences (BITS) Pilani has today evolved into one of India's best engineering schools. He also established many temples, planetariums, and hospitals. Ghanshyam Das Birla died in 1983 at the age of 90. In his honour, G.D. Birla award for scientific Research has been established to encourage scientists for their contribution in the various fields of scientific Research.

Ekta Kapoor

Born: June 7, 1975

Achievement: Creative Director of Balaji Telefilms; Awarded with Ernst & Young (E&Y) Startup Entrepreneur Of The Year award in 2001. 

Ekta Kapoor can be aptly called as the reigning queen of Indian television industry. The serials produced by her company Balaji Telefilms are a great hit with the masses and are dominating all the major T.V. channels in India.

Born on June 7, 1975, Ekta Kapoor is daughter of former Bollywood superstar Jeetendra and sister of current Bollywood hero Tusshar Kapoor. Ekta Kapoor did her schooling from Bombay Scottish School and later on joined Mithibai College. She was not interested in academics and on the advice of her father ventured into TV-serial production at the age of 19. And soon she changed the face of Indian television industry and completely dominated it. 

Today, Ekta Kapoor is the creative director of Balaji Telefilms. Her company has produced more than 25 serials and each one is being shown, on an average, four times a week on different television channels. Ekta Kapoor's serials have captured the imagination of masses. She broken all previous records of TV serial production and popularity in India. Her most famous television venture has been "Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi" which began in 2000 and is still leading the TRP ratings in India. Her other famous serials include "Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki", "Kahiin To Hoga", "Kavyanjali", "Kyaa Hoga Nimmo Kaa", "Kasamh Se", "Kahin Kisii Roz", "Kasautii Zindagi Kay", "Kkusum", "Kutumb", "Kalash", and "Kundali".

For her entrepreneurial skills and achievements Ekta Kapoor was awarded with Ernst & Young (E&Y) Startup Entrepreneur Of The Year award in 2001.

Anil Ambani

Born: June 4, 1959
Achievement: Chairman of Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group; Chosen as the 'CEO of the Year 2004' in the Platts Global Energy Awards and MTV Youth Icon of the Year' in September 2003

Anil Ambani is one of the foremost entrepreneurs of Independent India. He is the Chairman of Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group. Earlier, before the split in the Reliance Group, Anil Ambani held the post of Vice Chairman and Managing Director in Reliance Industries Limited (RIL).

Born on June 4, 1959, Anil Ambani did his Bachelors in Science from the University of Bombay and Masters in Business Administration The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Anil Ambani joined Reliance in 1983 as Co-Chief Executive Officer. He pioneered India Inc's forays into overseas capital markets with international public offerings of global depository receipts, convertibles and bonds. Starting from 1991, he led Reliance in its efforts to raise, around US$2 billion from overseas financial markets. In January 1997, the 100-year Yankee bond issue was launched under his stewardship.

After the split in Reliance Group, Anil Ambani founded Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group. He is the Chairman of all listed Group companies, which include: Reliance Communications, Reliance Capital, Reliance Energy and Reliance Natural Resources Limited.

Anil Ambai was elected as an independent member Rajya Sabha MP in June 2004. But he resigned voluntarily on March 25, 2006.

Anil Ambani has won several awards and honours. Major among these include: 'CEO of the Year 2004' in the Platts Global Energy Awards, 'MTV Youth Icon of the Year' in September 2003, 'The Entrepreneur of the Decade Award' by the Bombay Management Association, and 'Businessman of the Year Award' by leading Business Magazine, Business India in 1997.

Adi Godrej

Achievements: Chairman of Godrej Group

Adi Godrej is one of the icons of Indian Industry. He is the chairman of Godrej Group. .Adi Godrej was born in a business family. His father's name was Burjorji Godrej and his mother's name was Jai Godrej. More than a century age, the Godrej's were into manufacturing locks and vegetable-based soaps. The Godrej products were among the first indigenously manufactured products to displace entrenched foreign brands.

Adi Godrej left India at the age of 17 to enroll at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Though he planned to study mechanical engineering but he later on switched to management. After his return to India, Adi Godrej joined the family business. He modernized and systematized management structures and implemented process improvements. Adi Godrej took the Godrej Group to great height during controlled economy era.

After the liberalization process, Adi Godrej restructured company's policies to meet the challenges of globalisation. In the early 2000s, the Group completed a 10-year restructuring process through which each business became a stand-alone company with a CEO/COO from outside the Godrej family.

Under Adi Godrej's leadership, the group is also involved in philanthropic activities. Godrej is major supporter of the World Wildlife Fund in India, it has developed a green business campus in the Vikhroli township of Mumbai, which includes a 150-acre mangrove forest and a school for the children of company employees.

JRD Tata

Born: July 29, 1904
Died: on November 29, 1993
Achievements: He had the honor of being India's first pilot; was Chairman of Tata & Sons for 50 years; launched Air India International as India's first international airline; received Bharat Ratna in 1992.

JRD Tata was one of the most enterprising Indian entrepreneurs. He was a pioneer aviator and built one of the largest industrial houses of India.

JRD Tata was born on July 29, 1904 in Paris. His mother was a French, while his father was Parsi. JRD's full name was Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata and he was popularly known as Jeh to his friends. JRD's father Ratanji Dadabhoy Tata and Sri Jamsetji Tata shared their greatness from the same great-great-grandfather, Ervad Jamsheed Tata, a priest of Navsari.

JRD Tata was the second of four children. He was educated in France, Japan and England before being drafted into the French army for a mandatory one-year period. JRD wanted to extend his service in the forces but destiny had something else in store for him. By leaving the French army JRD's life was saved because shortly thereafter, the regiment in which he served was totally wiped out during an expedition in Morocco.

JRD Tata joined Tata & Sons as an unpaid apprentice in 1925. He has great interest in flying. On February 10, 1929, JRD became the first Indian to pass the pilot's examination. With this distinctive honor of being India's first pilot, he was instrumental in giving wings to India by building Tata Airlines, which ultimately became Air India. His passion for flying was fulfilled with the formation of the Tata Aviation Service in 1932.

In 1938, at the age of 34, JRD was elected Chairman of Tata & Sons making him the head of the largest industrial group in India. He started with 14 enterprises under his leadership and half a century later on July 26, 1988, when he left , Tata & Sons was a conglomerate of 95 enterprises which they either started or in which they had controlling interest.

JRD was the trustee of Sir Dorabji Tata Trust from its inception in 1932, which remained under his wings for over half a century. Under his guidance, this Trust established Asia's first cancer hospital, the Tata Memorial Center for Cancer, Research and Treatment, Bombay, 1941. It also founded the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, 1936 (TISS), the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, 1945 (TIFR), and the National Center for Performing Arts.

In 1948, JRD Tata launched Air India International as India's first international airline. In 1953, the Indian Government appointed JRD as Chairman of Air-India and a director on the Board of Indian Airlines-a position JRD retained for 25-years. For his crowning achievements in Aviation, JRD was bestowed with the title of Honorary Air Commodore of India.

In 1956, JRD Tata initiated a program of closer "employee association with management" to give workers a stronger voice in the affairs of the company. He firmly believed in employee welfare and espoused the principles of an eight-hour working day, free medical aid, workers' provident scheme, and workmen's accident compensation schemes, which were later, adopted as statutory requirements in India.

JRD Tata cared greatly for his workers. In 1979, Tata Steel instituted a new practice; a worker is deemed to be "at work" from the moment he leaves home for work till he returns home from work. The company is financially liable to the worker if any mishap takes place on the way to and from work. Tata Steel Township was also selected as a UN Global Compact City because of the quality of life, conditions of sanitation, roads and welfare that were offered by Tata Steel.

JRD Tata received a number of awards. He received the Padma Vibhushan in 1957 on the eve of silver jubilee of Air India. He also received the Guggenheim Medal for aviation in 1988. In 1992, because of his selfless humanitarian endeavors, JRD Tata was awarded India's highest civilian honor, the Bharat Ratna-one of the rarest instances in which this award was granted during a person's lifetime. In the same year, JRD Tata was also bestowed with the United Nations Population Award for his crusading endeavors towards initiating and successfully implementing the family planning movement in India, much before it became an official government policy.

JRD Tata died in Geneva, Switzerland on November 29, 1993 at the age of 89. On his death, the Indian Parliament was adjourned in his memory-an honor not usually given to persons who are not Members of Parliament.

Dhirubhai Ambani

Born: December 28, 1932
Died: July 6, 2002
Achievements: Dhiru Bhai Ambani built India's largest private sector company. Created an equity cult in the Indian capital market. Reliance is the first Indian company to feature in Forbes 500 list

Dhirubhai Ambani was the most enterprising Indian entrepreneur. His life journey is reminiscent of the rags to riches story. He is remembered as the one who rewrote Indian corporate history and built a truly global corporate group.

Dhirubhai Ambani alias Dhirajlal Hirachand Ambani was born on December 28, 1932, at Chorwad, Gujarat, into a Modh family. His father was a school teacher. Dhirubhai Ambani started his entrepreneurial career by selling "bhajias" to pilgrims in Mount Girnar over the weekends.

After doing his matriculation at the age of 16, Dhirubhai moved to Aden, Yemen. He worked there as a gas-station attendant, and as a clerk in an oil company. He returned to India in 1958 with Rs 50,000 and set up a textile trading company.

Assisted by his two sons, Mukesh and Anil, Dhiru Bhai Ambani built India's largest private sector company, Reliance India Limited, from a scratch. Over time his business has diversified into a core specialisation in petrochemicals with additional interests in telecommunications, information technology, energy, power, retail, textiles, infrastructure services, capital markets, and logistics.

Dhirubhai Ambani is credited with shaping India's equity culture, attracting millions of retail investors in a market till then dominated by financial institutions. Dhirubhai revolutionised capital markets. From nothing, he generated billions of rupees in wealth for those who put their trust in his companies. His efforts helped create an 'equity cult' in the Indian capital market. With innovative instruments like the convertible debenture, Reliance quickly became a favorite of the stock market in the 1980s.

In 1992, Reliance became the first Indian company to raise money in global markets, its high credit-taking in international markets limited only by India's sovereign rating. Reliance also became the first Indian company to feature in Forbes 500 list.

Dhirubhai Ambani was named the Indian Entrepreneur of the 20th Century by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). A poll conducted by The Times of India in 2000 voted him "greatest creator of wealth in the century".

Dhirubhai Ambani died on July 6, 2002, at Mumbai.

Zakir Hussain

Born: March 9, 1951

Achievement: Considered as the chief architect of the contemporary world music movement; youngest percussionist to ever be awarded the title of Padma Shri 

Zakir Hussain is a classical tabla virtuoso and the most famous tabla player in India today. His contribution in the field of percussion and in the music world at large is highly appreciated. 

Ustad Zakir Hussain was born on March 9, 1951. His father Ustad Allarakha was himself an established tabla player. Zakir Hussain did his schooling from St. Michael's High School in Mahim and completed his graduation from St Xaviers, Mumbai. Zakir Hussain was a child prodigy and started touring by the age of twelve. He came to the United States in 1970 and started his international career. 

Zakir Hussain is widely considered as the chief architect of the contemporary world music movement. He founded much historic collaboration. These include: Shakti, which he founded with John McLaughlin and L. Shankar, the Diga Rhythm Band, Making Music, Planet Drum with Mickey Hart, and recordings and performances with a number of artists such as George Harrison, Joe Henderson, Van Morrison, Jack Bruce, Tito Puente, Pharoah Sanders, Billy Cobham, the Hong Kong Symphony and the New Orleans Symphony. 

In 1987, Zakir Hussain's first solo release, "Making Music," was acclaimed as "one of the most inspired East-West fusion albums ever recorded." In 1988, Zakir Hussain became the youngest percussionist to ever be awarded the title of "Padma Shri" by the Indian government. In 1990, he was awarded the Indo-American Award in recognition for his outstanding cultural contribution to relations between the United States and India. In April, 1991, Zakir Hussain was presented with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award by the President of India. Zakir Hussain is also the recipient of the 1999 National Heritage Fellowship, the United States' most prestigious honor for a master in the traditional arts.

Zakir Hussain has composed soundtracks for several movies, notable among them are "In Custody" and "The Mystic Masseur" by Ismail Merchant. Zakir Hussain has also played tabla on the soundtracks of Francis Coppola's "Apocalypse Now", Bernardo Bertolucci's "Little Buddha".

Ravi Shankar

Born: April 7, 1920

Achievement: Made a major contribution in popularizing Indian classical music in the West; Recipient of Padma Vibhushan, Magsaysay Award, AND two Grammy Awards. 

Ravi Shankar is a legendary sitar player and one of India's most esteemed classical musicians. Pandit Ravi Shankar has made a major contribution in popularizing Indian classical music in the West through his association with The Beatles (especially George Harrison). 

Pandit Ravi Shankar was born on April 7, 1920 at Varanasi, India. His elder brother Uday Shankar was a famous Indian classical dancer. In his early years Ravi Shankar joined his elder brother, Uday Shankar and his troupe and went to Paris in 1930 to experiment with the stage by playing small roles in ballets for the next three years. 

In 1938, Ravi Shankar gave up a possible dance career and started learning sitar under Allauddin Khan, founder of the Maihar Gharana of Indian classical music. Ravi Shankar's formal training ended in 1944. Thereafter, Pandit Ravi Shankar joined the IPTA and composed music for several ballets, started Renaissance artistes in 1947 and was in charge of Vadya Vrinda at the All India Radio in 1949. Ravi Shankar first performed outside India in the Soviet Union in 1954. He also performed at major events such as the Edinburgh Festival as well as major venues such as Royal Festival Hall. In 1960s, Ravi Shankar's fusion with George Harrison, a member of The Beatles became very popular in the US and helped in popularizing Indian classical music in the West.

Pandit Ravi Shankar has won several honours and awards. These include: Padma Vibhushan, Magsaysay Award, two Grammy Awards, Fukuoka Grand Prize from Japan, and the Crystal Award from Davos. In 1999, Ravi Shankar was awarded with Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour. He was also a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha, India's upper house of Parliament, from 1986 to 1992.