Babar, Zahirud-din Mohammed (1453-1530): Founder of the Mughal dynasty which ruled northern Indian for nearly three centuries.

Babbage, Charles (1792-1871): English mathemarician. His primitive –calculating machines’ were precursors of the modern comuper.

Bachchan, Amitabh (b.1942): India’s most popular film star ever. Over 100 movies. M.P. for a short while. Zanjeer, sholay, Diwar, black. National award for best actor, 2005. Son of poet Harivansh Rai Bachan (1907-2003), known for his work Madhushala and autobiography in 4 volumes Kya Bhoolun, Kya Yad Karoon. Amitabh’s son Abhishek, leading film star.


Bacon, Francis (1561-1626): English philosopher and essayist. Novum Organum.

Bacon, Roger (c.1214-92): English philosopher and scientist, called ‘Doctor Mirabilis’. First European to describe the process for making gunpowder.

Baden Powell, Robert (1857-1941): Founder of boy scouts (1908). His sister Agnes founder girl guides (1910).

Bahadur Shah II (1775-1862): The last king of Mughal empire. Took part in the 1857 war of independence in exile.

Bahuguna, Sundarlal (b.1927): environmentalist. Known for the Chipko movement and fight against the building of the Tehri Dam.

Bajaj, Jamnalal (1886-1942): Mahatma Gandhi’s associate, founded Satyagraha Ashram at Wardha; gifted segaon village to Gandhi who named it Sevagram.

Baker, Laurie (1917-2007): British born Indian architect who has pioneered innovative low-cost, environment-friendly housing.