Goldberg, Whoopie (b.1956): Actress comedienne. The colour purple.

Golding, Sir William (1911-’93): English novelist. First novel The Lord of the file. Booker Prize, Nobel Prize.

Goldsmith, Oliver (1728-’74): Irish poet, dramatist and novelist, The Vicar of Wakefield.

Gombu, Nawang (b. 1936): Mountaineer who climbed Everest twice, Padma Shri, Padma Bushan.

Goodyear, Charles (1800-’60): American inventor who discovered the art of vulcanizing rubber.

Gopalakrishnan, Adoor (b.1941): Outstanding Indian script writer and film director. Four times winner of national award for best director. Phalke award 2004, Padma Vibhushan, Swayamvaram, Mathilu-kal, Kathapurushan, Nizhal Kuthu.

Gorbachev, Mikhail (b.1931): Soviet leader largely responsible for the political transformation in eastern Europe in ’89. Policy of ‘glasnost’ and ‘perestroika’. The Soviet Union broke up and Gorbachev resigned (91). Nobel Prize for peace, ’90.

Gorky, Maxim, (1868-1936): Russian writer. Mother.

Grace, William Gilbert (1848-1915): Cricketer who captained England 13 times. Scores over 54,000 runs including 126 centuries. Over 2800 wickets.

Graf, Steffi (.1969): German tennis legend. The third woman in tennis history to win all four major world tournaments- the Australian open, French open, Wimbledon and the US open – in a single calendar year (19988). She also won the Olympic gold medal that year. Won 22 Grand Slam titles and 107 WTA titles. Retired Aug. 99. Wife of Andre Agassi.

Graham, Billy (b.1918): Most celebrated U.S. Evangelist of the 1960’s and 1970’s.