Aurangzeb (November 3, 1618 – March 3, 1707), born Muhi-ud-Din Muhammad, was the sixth Mughal emperor, ruling from 1658 to 1707. The third son of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal, he ascended after a fratricidal war of succession, expanding the empire to its greatest territorial extent while enforcing orthodox Islamic policies. His reign saw military successes but also rebellions and economic strain, leaving a complex legacy of administration and religious conservatism.
Akbar the Great (October 15, 1542 – October 27, 1605), born Jalal-ud-Din Muhammad Akbar, was the third Mughal emperor who ruled from 1556 to 1605. Son of Humayun and Hamida Banu Begum, he ascended the throne at age 13 and expanded the Mughal Empire across most of the Indian subcontinent through military conquests, administrative reforms, and religious tolerance policies like Sulh-i-Kul. His reign marked a golden age of art, culture, and economic prosperity, earning him the title "the Great."
Robert LeRoy Ripley (February 22, 1890 – May 27, 1949) was an American cartoonist, entrepreneur, and amateur anthropologist, best known for creating the "Ripley's Believe It or Not!" newspaper panel series, which featured bizarre facts, oddities, and human achievements.
Born in Santa Rosa, California, he started as a sports illustrator and became a global sensation, spawning books, radio shows, and museums. His work emphasized the extraordinary in everyday life, though he often exaggerated his own backstory.
Guru Nanak (April 15, 1469 – September 22, 1539) was the founder of Sikhism and the first of ten Sikh Gurus. Born in Talwandi (now Nankana Sahib, Pakistan) to a Hindu family, he rejected religious orthodoxy, advocating equality, devotion, and unity with one God. His extensive travels, teachings, and composition of hymns (later compiled in the Guru Granth Sahib) shaped a new spiritual tradition.
Swamy Vidyaranya (c. 1296–1391 CE), also identified as Madhavacharya, was a pivotal figure in Indian philosophy and history, serving as the 12th Jagadguru of the Sringeri Sharada Peetham (c. 1380–1386 CE).
Born in Ekasila Nagari (modern Warangal), Andhra Pradesh, to a learned Brahmin family, he authored works like Sarvadarśanasaṅgraha and Pañcadaśī, advancing Advaita Vedanta. Traditionally credited with aiding the founding of the Vijayanagara Empire, his life blends spiritual and political influence.
