17 Famous People From Uttarakhand You Should Know About!

For the most part, Uttarakhand is known for its hilly picturesque views, its weather and its beauty, its tightly knit local communities with a rich culture, and most recently, landslides. But what Utarakhand doesn’t get enough credit for is producing some of the most famous Indian talents of all time. Here are 17 famous people from Uttarakhand you should know about!

Also read: 15 Famous People From Bihar Everyone Should Know About

1. Havaldar Gajender Singh

Born & raised in Ganeshpur, Uttarakhand, Havaldar Gajendar Singh was an NSG commando who died during the tragic 2008 Mumbai attacks while securing the Nariman House during Operation Black Tornado. He was posthumously honoured with Ashoka Chakra for his bravery on 26th January, 2009 on Republic Day. 

Source: Honourpoint

2. Murli Manohar Joshi

Hailing from the Kumaon Hills region of Nainital, Uttarakhand, Murli Manohar Joshi is an Indian politician & leading member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He served as the President of BJP between 1991 & 1993 and is best known for his views on Hindutva and his affiliation with the RSS. 

Source: Wikimedia Commons

3. Tom Alter

An Indian actor of American origin born in Mussoorie, Uttarakhand, Tom Alter is a popular Bollywood character actor who won the Padma Shri in 2008. He is a life member of International Film And Television Club & International Film And Television Research Centre. He has written books like The Longest Race, Rerun at Rialto and The Best in the World.

Source: Wikimedia Commons

4. Himani Shivpuri

Himani Shivpuri is a renowned theatre artist and film star from Dehradun. She has worked in popular films like Hum Aapke Hain Kaun, Hero No 1, Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Pardes, Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham among several others. She has received the Shrikant Verma award & the 19th JAI National Award 2011 under the flagship of Journalist Federation of India. 

Source: Wikimedia Commons

5. Bachendri Pal

Born in Uttarkashi, Bachendri Pal is the first Indian woman & the fifth woman in the world to climb Mount Everest. She received the Padma Shri in 1984, the Arjuna Award in 1986 & a Gold Medal for Excellence in Mountaineering by the Indian Mountaineering Foundation (1984). She was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records (1990) for being the first Indian woman to climb Mount Everest. 

Source: Wikimedia Commons

6. Krishna Joshi

Born in village Anarpa of Kumaon region, Krishna Joshi was one of the most reputed physicists of India. He was the Director of National Physical Laboratory from 1986 to 1991 & Director General of the Indian Council of Scientific and Industrial Research in 1991. He won the Padma Shri in 1991 & the Padma Bhushan in 2003. 

Source: National Physical Laboratory

7. Ekta Bisht

Hailing from Almor, Ekta Bisht is a member of Indian Women’s cricket team & is the first International female cricketer from Uttarakhand. She took a hat-trick in the last over in the ICC World Women’s Twenty20. She played in Sri Lanka, restricting Sri Lanka to 100 for eight.

Source: Wikimedia Commons

8. Jaspal Rana – Shooter

Jaspal Rana is an Indian shooter from Uttarkashi. He won the Gold medal in Asian Games in 1994 & 2006 & in Commonwealth Games in 1998,2002 & 2006. He currently coaches at the Jaspal Rana Institute of Education and Technology in Dehradun. He received the Arjuna Award in 1994 at the age of 18 & the Padma Shri at the age of 21. 

Source: Wikimedia Commons 

9. Girish Tiwari (Girda)

Born in the village of Jyoli near Hawalbag in Almora District of Uttarakhand, Girish Tiwari was a scriptwriter, director, lyricist, singer, poet, organic culturist, literary writer, and social activist who was largely associated with the famed “Chipko Movement and later with the Uttarakhand Andolan. He directed famous plays like “Andha Yug”, “Andher Nagri” and “Thank you Mr. Glad” among others. 

Source: Youtube

10. Gaura Devi

Born in a village named Lata, Gaura Devi was an Indian activist who is famously known to have participated in the Chipko movement. Because of the participation of Gaura Devi and other women from her community, the Chipko movement is one of the most successful ecofeminist movements in India. 

Source: Wikimedia Commons 

11. Raghav Juyal 

Born in Dehradun, Raghav Juyal rose to fame  in his slow-motion dancing style in popular dance reality TV show, Dance India Dance. Raghav has since gone on to participate in various other dance shows, and has also hosted a bevy of dance reality shows. He has also appeared in a number of movies, most notably in Remo D’Souza’s ABCD 2.

Source: Wikimedia Commons 

12. G.B. Panth 

Born in Khoont village in Almora, G.B Panth was an Indian freedom fighter. He studied at Allahabad University and was a lawyer by occupation. As a lawyer, he represented several key revolutionaries like Ramprasad Bismill and Ashfaqulla Khan in court. In 1921, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh. He also served as the Chief Minister of the United Provinces from 1937 to 1939. He became the Union Home Minister of India after independence and served from 1955 to 1961. He is largely remembered for his ginormous albeit unsuccessful efforts towards making Hindi the national language of India. He received the Bharat Ratna in 1957. 

Source: Wikimedia Commons

13. Jim Corbett

Born in Nainital into a British family, Jim Corbett was one of sixteen children. He left school midway to work in the Bengal and North Western Railway. He had always had keen interest in all things nature, and had become adept at understanding noises associated with birds and animals. Corbett became well-known for his hunting, especially for hunting and shooting man-eating tigers and leopards. According to his book, Man-Eaters of Kumaon, these big cats had cumulatively eaten more than 1200 humans. Corbett also wrote extensively about disappearing wild cats in the jungles, and was concerned about their decreasing numbers. In 1957, the Hailey National Park in Uttarakhand was renamed to Jim Corbett National Park in his honour. 

Source: Wikimedia Commons

14. Sumitranandan Pant 

Born in a well-off landowning family in Kausani, Sumitranandan Pant was an Indian poet who primarily wrote in Hindi. He was drawn towards nature from a very young age, and his unique observations of nature found their place in his work. He was greatly inspired by the likes of Sarojini Naidu and Rabindranath Tagore, and was considered one of the most major chhayavaadi poets. He received the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1960, the Jnanpith Award in 1969, and the Padma Bhushan in 1961. 

Source: Wikimedia Commons 

15. Prasoon Joshi 

Born in Almora, Prasoon Joshi is an Indian lyricist, poet, writer and screenwriter who spent his initial years in Uttarakhand. He is the current Chairperson of Central Board of Film Certification. He has received Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist thrice, most notably for the 2007 movie, Taare Zameen Par. He has also won the National Award for Best Lyrics twice, and was awarded the Padma Shri in 2015. 

16. General Bipin Rawat

Born in Pauri in Uttarakhand, Bipin Rawat is a four star general in the Indian army and is the first and current Chief of Defence Staff since 2020. As a young man, General Bipin Rawat joined the National Defence Academy in Khadakwasla and the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun where he was awarded the Sword of Honour.

Source: Wikimedia Commons 

17. Rishabh Pant 

Rishabh Pant is a cricketer who plays for the Indian national team and was born in Roorkee, Uttarakhand. He is a middle order wicket-keeper batsman for India and plays for the Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League. In January 2019, Pant was honoured with the title of ICC Emerging Player of the Year at the 2018 ICC Awards. 

Source: Instagram

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