One app for all your study abroad needs
Uttar Pradesh (UP) also known as the “Heartland of India,” The state is situated in the northern part of the country. It is not only India’s most populous state but also known because of the famous personalities of Uttar Pradesh along with being one of the most influential states of India. From the banks of the sacred Ganges to the architectural magic of the Taj Mahal, it is the birthplace of ancient civilisations, home to iconic freedom fighters like Rani Lakshmi Bai and the land where personalities from literature, cinema-like Amitabh Bachchan and music have blossomed. Whether it is Varanasi’s spiritual serenity, Lucknow’s royal grandeur, or Ayodhya’s traditions and values, Uttar Pradesh is a place of India’s past, present, and future. Let us discuss some of the famous personalities in detail in this blog and get to know about Uttar Pradesh and its traditions.
Table of Contents
List of Most Famous Personalities of Uttar Pradesh
From India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru to Bollywood Megastar Amitabh Bachchan to legendary poet Mirza Ghalib, the list is everlasting when it comes to knowing the famous personalities of Uttar Pradesh. However, we have tried to discuss some of these personalities of different fields in detail –
| Name of Famous Personalities of UP | Field | Birthplace | Famous for |
| Pandit Govind Ballabh Pant | Politics | Almora, Uttarakhand | Freedom fighter, first Chief Minister of UP, Bharat Ratna recipient |
| Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru | Politics | Allahabad | First Prime Minister of India |
| Lal Bahadur Shastri | Politics | Mughalsarai | Second Prime Minister of India, Indo-Pak war leader |
| V.P Singh | Politics | Allahabad | 7th Prime Minister of India, Mandal Commission reform |
| Amitabh Bachchan | Cinema | Allahabad | Iconic Bollywood actor, Padma Vibhushan recipient |
| Nawazuddin Siddiqui | Cinema | Budhana | Acclaimed Bollywood actor |
| Ismat Chughtai | Literature | Budaun | Urdu writer, feminist, Padma Shri recipient |
| Mirza Ghalib | Literature | Agra | Legendary Urdu and Persian poet |
| Majrooh Sultanpuri | Literature | Sultanpur | Urdu poet and Bollywood lyricist, Dadasaheb Phalke Award recipient |
| Pandit Ravi Shankar | Music | Varanasi | Sitar maestro, global ambassador of Indian classical music |
| Ustad Bismillah Khan | Music | Dumraon | Shehnai maestro, Bharat Ratna recipient |
| Major Dhyan Chand | Sports (Hockey) | Allahabad | Legendary hockey player, with three Olympic gold medals |
Also Read – Famous Personalities of India: Know All About Them!
Famous Personalities of Uttar Pradesh In Politics
Some of the great names associated with Uttar Pradesh who took an active part in the political scenario of the country and contributed were –
Pandit Govind Ballabh Pant
Pandit Govind Ballabh Pant was a freedom fighter and the former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. He was also involved in the drafting of the Constitution of India. Pant was famous as he always advocated for women’s rights, and was an ardent supporter of the Hindu Code Bill, which granted Hindu women the right to divorce and inherit ancestral property.
| Aspect | Detail |
| Name | Pandit Govind Ballabh Pant |
| Contribution | CM of UP, Freedom Fighter |
| Award | Bharat Ratna in 1957 |
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was born on 14th November 1889 in Allahabad. Nehru enrolled at Trinity College, Cambridge, in October 1907 and successfully completed his studies with an honours degree in natural science in 1910. By profession, he was an author, barrister and statesperson but took an active part in the Indian independence movement. He was also a member of the Constitution drafting committee and went on to become India’s first Prime Minister. In remembrance of his love towards children, his birthday is celebrated as Children’s Day.
Source: iStampGallery
| Aspect | Detail |
| Name | Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Chacha Nehru |
| Contribution | First PM of Independent India, gave the concept of the Non-Alignment Movement (NAM) |
| Legacy | Known as the Architect of Modern India |
Lal Bahadur Shastri
Lal Bahadur Shastri was born on 2 October 1904 in Mughalsarai, UP. He was the second Prime Minister of India and became famous because of his slogan “Jai Kisan, Jai Jawan” to build and take the nation towards the path of development. He took the role of a leader during the Indo-Pak War of 1965 and also was a disciple of Mahatma Gandhi and followed his philosophy of “Ahimsa Parmo Dharma”, i.e. of non-violence. To commemorate him the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), the training academy for all new civil servants was established in Mussorie.
| Aspect | Detail |
| Name | Lal Bahadur Shastri |
| Contribution | Ex-PM of Independent India, leader in the Indo-Pak war of 1965 |
| Award | Bharat Ratna (Posthumously) |
Also Read – Famous Personalities from India Who Studied Abroad
Famous Personalities of Uttar Pradesh In Literature
- Mirza Ghalib – Mirza Ghalib was born in Agra and was one of the most famous Urdu and Persian poets during the Mughal Period. His poetry was mainly based on love, mysticism and philosophy. His famous works were Dewan-e-Ghalib and Ghalib Ke Khutoot.
- Ismat Chugtai – Ismat Chugtai was an Urdu writer from Budaun, known for addressing topics like female sexuality and class conflict. She was awarded the Padma Shri in 1976 for her contribution to Urdu literature.
- Majrooh Sultanpuri – Majrooh Sultanpuri was born in Sultanpur, UP. He is also an Urdu poet and a famous lyricist in Bollywood. He became the first lyricist to receive the Dadasaheb Phalke Award during 1950s to 1960s.
Also Read – Amrita Pritam: Life, Poems & Awards
Famous Personalities of Uttar Pradesh In Music
Some of the famous musicians who earned applauses and clappings because of their lyrical performances from Uttar Pradesh were –
Pandit Ravi Shankar
Pandit Ravi Shankar’s full name was Ravindra Sankar Chowdhury. He was born on 7th April 1920, in Varanasi. Panditji was an internationally renowned Sitar maestro, who through his creativity and musical knowledge popularised Indian classical music worldwide. He has also composed music for iconic films like Pather Panchali and Gandhi. Pandit Ravi Shankar was also a member of the Rajya Sabha from 1986-1992. He has won numerous awards during his lifetime.
Source: Medindia
| Aspect | Detail |
| Name | Pandit Ravi Shankar |
| Awards | Bharat Ratna (Posthumously) |
| Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan | |
| Sangeet Natak Akademi Award | |
| Ramon Magsaysay Award | |
| Four Grammy Awards |
Ustad Bismillah Khan
Ustad Bismillah Khan moved to Varanasi at the age of three and since then, made Uttar Pradesh his “Karmabhumi”. He is credited for popularising the instrument of Shehnai on the concert stage. He played on various occasions, including at the Red Fort, during the unfurling of the National flag on 15th August 1947, the day of India’s independence.
| Aspect | Detail |
| Name | Ustad Bismillah Khan |
| Famous Work | Played shehnai for the films Sanaadi Appanna and Goonj Uthi Shehnai, and also acted in the film Jalsagar |
| Awards | Bharat Ratna |
| Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri | |
| Sangeet Natak Akademi Award |
Also Read – Famous Personalities from Bangladesh
Famous Personalities of Uttar Pradesh in Cinema and Sports
In Cinema
When it comes to Cinema, who can forget the great and legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan? Amitabh Bachchan was born on 11th October 1942 in Allahabad(presently- Prayagraj), UP. He is India’s one of the most famous iconic film stars, who has written history through his acting style in the film industry. Also known as “Big B or Sahenshah of Bollywood”, he gained fame for his role in films like Sholay, Deewar, Zanjeer, etc. Because of his contribution, he has won many international and national awards such as Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan and Dadasaheb Phalke Award.
In Sports
One name that comes to mind when discussing sports is Major Dhyan Chand. He was born on 29th August 1905 in Allahabad (presently Prayagraj). Also known as “The Wizard or The Magician”, Dhyan Singh was an Indian field hockey player. Because of his exceptional goal-scoring ability, he led the Indian hockey team to three Olympic gold medals and has nearly scored 1000 goals in his career. The award Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna in sports is named after him. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India.
FAQs
Some of the famous personalities of Uttar Pradesh are – Amitabh Bachchan, Jawaharlal Nehru, Pandit Govind Ballabh Pant, etc
The legend of Uttar Pradesh revolves around the historical epic of Ramayana, where Lord Rama, ruled over Ayodhya along with his brother.
Some of the famous freedom fighters of Uttar Pradesh are – Rani Lakshmi Bai, Mangal Pandey, Begum Hazrat Mahal, etc.
Find other relevant blogs here!
This was all about the famous personalities of Uttar Pradesh. If you want to know more about other Famous Personalities then visit our General Knowledge page!