Tipu Sultan (December 1, 1751 – May 4, 1799), known as the Tiger of Mysore, was the ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore from 1782 until his death.
Born in Devanahalli, Karnataka, to Hyder Ali and Fatima Fakhr-un-Nisa, he fiercely resisted British colonial expansion during the Anglo-Mysore Wars, pioneering rocket warfare. His reign featured economic innovations and French alliances, ending with his heroic defense of Seringapatam.
Shivaji Bhonsle, known as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj (April 19, 1630 – April 3, 1680), was the founder of the Maratha Empire and a legendary warrior-king in Indian history. Born at Shivneri Fort to Shahaji Bhonsle and Jijabai, he resisted Mughal and Bijapur rule, establishing Swarajya (self-rule) through guerrilla warfare and strategic fortresses. Crowned Chhatrapati in 1674, his legacy of valor, administration, and Hindu resurgence endures.
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.
