Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 4, 1861, until his assassination.
Born in a log cabin in Hardin County, Kentucky, to Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks, he rose from humble beginnings to lead the nation through the Civil War, abolishing slavery with the Emancipation Proclamation. His leadership and the Gettysburg Address remain iconic, though his life ended tragically by John Wilkes Booth’s bullet.
Sri Thyagaraja (May 4, 1767 – January 6, 1847), also known as Tyagaraja or Kakarla Tyagabrahmam, was a legendary Indian composer and saint of Carnatic music.
Born in Tiruvarur, Tamil Nadu, to a Telugu Brahmin family, he is one of the Trinity of Carnatic music (with Shyama Shastri and Muthuswami Dikshitar). A devotee of Lord Rama, he composed over 700 kritis (devotional songs), including the Pancharatna Kritis, emphasizing bhakti (devotion) through music. He lived simply, rejecting royal patronage, and his works remain central to Carnatic performances.
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.
