1. A stalwart in cricket

Vijay Hazare is remembered in history as the man who led India to her first Test win in cricket.  He left his mark on Indian cricket when he scored an unbeaten 316 for Maharashtra against Pune in 1939–40.⁠⁠

2. A ray of hope for cancer patients

Cancer crusader Dr V Shanta was inspired by Dr Muthulakshmi Reddy, one of the first women medical graduates in the country.

She cared for patients at the Adyar Cancer Institute in Chennai and in 2006, she was awarded the prestigious Padma Bhushan for her exemplary work.

3. A beacon of women’s empowerment

Justice Fathima Beevi’s life was a list of firsts — the first woman to be appointed an SC Justice of India, the first Muslim woman in Higher Judiciary and the first woman to become a Supreme Court Justice in an Asian country.

“I have opened the door,” she would often say, referring to the path she had paved for women to shine in male-dominated fields.

4. The first female engineer

Following the death of her husband four months after she gave birth to a little girl, Ayyalasomayajula Lalitha pursued engineering, becoming the first female electrical engineer in the country.

During her career, she was elected as a full member of the Council of the Institution of Electrical Engineers. She was also the only female engineer attendee of the First International Conference of Women Engineers and Scientists (ICWES) held in New York.

5. A compassionate king

Jayachamaraja Wadiyar, also the last Maharaja of the Mysuru kingdom, ascended the throne in 1990. Among the many reforms he brought about, there were educational institutions, the Philharmonia Orchestra, and grants for various irrigation and power projects.

6. An athlete with a grit of steel

Mary D’souza Sequeira was one of India’s first female Olympians at the 1952 Olympics.  She was often quoted saying, “Sports is not just about medals and winning. It teaches you how to win and lose in the game of life.”

But aside from her prowess in sports, Mary was applauded for her perseverance. When the government couldn't fund her trip to Helsinki, where the Olympics were being held, she raised funds by organising a dance competition and went on to participate in the tournament.

7. A linguistic marvel

Toru Dutt was a linguist and an author considered to be the first Indian poetess to write in English and French.

Her works included: – the novel Le Journal de Mademoiselle d’Arvers (published posthumously in 1879) – Bianca  – and an unfinished volume of original poems in English and Sanskrit translations.

8. The beacon of the Tata family

From the year 1880 to his death in 1904, Jamsetji Tata was consumed by three ideas — setting up an iron and steel company, generating hydroelectric power, and creating a world-class educational institution. To date, he is regarded as a visionary and founder of India’s biggest conglomerate.

9. A star on and off screen

J Jayalalithaa went on to be a megastar in Southern cinema with a career spanning three decades. It all started with her first movie Chinnada Gombe in 1964, which was a hit. From then on, it was a series of highs for the prodigy.

While off-screen, she would fascinate onlookers with her Bharatnatyam, Kathak and Manipuri dance along with renditions of western classical piano.

10. Penning excellence

Contemporary writer and novelist, Vinod Kumar Shukla, has given the world some memorable works, including novels such as ‘Deewar Mein Ek Khidki Rehti Thi’ and ‘Naukar Ki Kameez’. Celebrated for his style, which is usually focused on magic realism, Shukla went on to win the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award in 1999.