A.P.J. Abdul Kalam :
Dr. Kalam, known as the ‘Missile Man of India’ was a scientist and the former President of India. His contribution in the development of ballistic missile and launching vehicle technology was significant. His other areas of activity were education, writing and public service. In his book ‘India 2020’, Kalam advocated an action plan to develop India into a ‘Knowledge Super Power’ and a developed nation by the year 2020. He travelled through the length and breadth of the country, giving lectures and orations, to’instill scientific awareness and civic consciousness in the youth of India.
Mother Teresa:
Mother Teresa was a humanitarian who dedicated her life for the poor, destitutes, orphans, lepers and the crippled. She is known as the ‘Saint of Gutters’ for her acts of service to the poor of Calcutta. Mother Teresa founded the ‘Missionaries of Charity’, a Roman Catholic religious congregation which is active in 133 countries, running hospitals, homes for people with AIDS, leprosy, etc. The world honoured her humanitarian acts by bestowing the Nobel Prize for Peace on her in 1979.
Mayilamma:
The tribal woman from Perumatty Panchayat who compaigned against the Coca – Cola company at Plachiniada in Palakkad district for water shortage and pollution. Due to the over-exploitation of water by Coca – Cola company in Plachimada, the people of Perumatty Panchayat in Palakkad district had to face water shortage. The agitation against the company under the leadership of Mayilamma began in 2002 and the Coca – Cola company was forced to close down.
Dashrath Manjhi :
Also known as ‘Mountain Man’. Manjhi was bom in Atri block of Gaya in Bihar. Death due to lack of treatment facility in his village was common in the absence of transport facility. His wife also became a victim of this. So he tried to bring transport facility in his village through a hillock. He carved a path 110 m long and 9.1 m wide through a hillock-using only hammer and chisel. After 22 years of work, Dashrath shortened travel between Atri and Wazirganji blocks of Gaya town from 55 km to 15 km.
