Leaders & Statesmen
Rulers, presidents, and reformers who steered nations.
records written
Modern era
Husain Ahmad Madani
October 6, 1879 – 1957
Indian freedom struggle leader and scholar
Modern era
Abul A'la Maududi
September 25, 1903 – September 22, 1979
South Asian Islamic scholar, Founder of Jamaat-e-Islami (1903–1979)
Modern era
Wahiduddin Khan
January 1, 1925 – April 21, 2021
Islamic Scholar (1925–2021)
Modern era
Shah Ahmad Noorani
April 1, 1926 – December 11, 2003
Spiritual and political leader (1926–2003)
Early Modern era
Syed Ahmad Barelvi
November 28, 1786 – May 6, 1831
Muslim activist
Early Modern era
Raja Ram Mohan Roy
May 22, 1772 – September 27, 1833
Indian religious, social, and educational reformer, and humanitarian
Modern era
Jyotirao Phule
April 11, 1827 – November 28, 1890
Indian social reformer (1827-1890)
Modern era
Savitribai Phule
January 3, 1831 – March 10, 1897
Indian social reformer (1831-1897)
Modern era
Periyar E. V. Ramasamy
September 17, 1879 – December 24, 1973
Indian social reformer (1879-1973)
Modern era
Amrita Pritam
August 31, 1919 – October 31, 2005
Indian novelist, poet, and essayist (in Hindi and Punjabi languages) (1919–2005)
Modern era
Harivansh Rai Bachchan
November 27, 1907 – January 18, 2003
Indian Hindi poet, Father of Amitabh Bachchan (1907-2003)
Modern era
Ramdhari Singh Dinkar
September 23, 1908 – April 24, 1974
Indian Hindi poet, essayist (1908-1974)
Modern era
Subhadra Kumari Chauhan
August 16, 1904 – February 15, 1948
Indian Hindi poet, short-story writer and freedom fighter (1904–1948); wrote 'Jhansi Ki Rani'
Modern era
Patras Bokhari
October 1, 1898 – December 5, 1958
Pakistani diplomat
Modern era
Nargis
June 1, 1929 – May 3, 1981
Indian actress (1929–1981)
Contemporary era
Rekha
b. October 10, 1954
Indian actress
Modern era
Rajesh Khanna
December 29, 1942 – July 18, 2012
Indian actor and film producer (1942–2012)
Contemporary era
Muhammad Mahfuz
b. May 7, 1975
Indonesian politician (born 1975 in Kotawaringin Timur)
Contemporary era
Asma Jahangir
January 27, 1952 – February 11, 2018
Pakistani human rights activist and lawyer (1952–2018)
Modern era
Hemu Kalani
March 23, 1923 – January 21, 1943
Revolutionary of British India (1923–1943)
Modern era
Dyal Singh Majithia
1848 – 1898
Indian banker and activist (1848-1898)
Modern era
Hakim Mohammed Said
January 20, 1920 – October 17, 1998
Pakistani medical researcher, scholar, philanthropist, and governor of Sindh Province (1920–1998)
Contemporary era
Ansar Burney
b. August 14, 1956
Pakistani human and civil rights activist
Modern era
Rana Bhagwandas
December 20, 1942 – February 23, 2015
Pakistani judge
Modern era
Adamjee Haji Dawood
June 30, 1880 – January 27, 1948
Renowned businessman and philanthropist of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh (1880–1948)
Modern era
Dina Wadia
August 15, 1919 – November 2, 2017
Daughter of the founding father of Pakistan (1919-2017)
Contemporary era
Shahbaz Ahmed (hockey)
b. September 1, 1968
Pakistani field hockey player and politician
Contemporary era
Sarfraz Nawaz
b. December 1, 1966
Pakistani cricketer
Modern era
Abdul Qadir (cricketer)
March 15, 1872 – February 9, 1950
Anjuman-i-Himayat-i-Islam Leader
Modern era
Ziaur Rahman
January 19, 1936 – May 30, 1981
Chief of Army Staff and President of Bangladesh (1936-1981)
Contemporary era
Khaleda Zia
August 15, 1946 – December 30, 2025
Prime Minister of Bangladesh (1991–1996, 2001–2006)
Modern era
Tajuddin Ahmad
July 23, 1925 – November 3, 1975
Bangladeshi politician and first Prime Minister of Bangladesh (1925-1975)
Modern era
M. A. G. Osmani
September 1, 1918 – February 16, 1984
Commander in Chief of Bangladesh Army (1918–1984)
Modern era
Begum Rokeya
December 9, 1880 – December 9, 1932
Bengali feminist writer and social reformer (1880-1932)
Modern era
D. S. Senanayake
October 20, 1884 – March 22, 1952
Prime Minister of Sri Lanka (1884-1952)
Modern era
S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike
January 8, 1899 – September 26, 1959
4th Prime Minister of the Dominion of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) from 1956-59
Modern era
Sirimavo Bandaranaike
April 17, 1916 – October 10, 2000
Prime Minister of Ceylon (later Sri Lanka) from 1960–65, 1970–77, 1994–2000
Contemporary era
Sanath Jayasuriya
b. June 30, 1969
Cricketer
Contemporary era
Arjuna Ranatunga
b. December 1, 1963
Sri Lankan cricketer
Early Modern era
Prithvi Narayan Shah
January 7, 1723 – January 11, 1775
King of Nepal
Contemporary era
Birendra of Nepal
December 28, 1945 – June 1, 2001
King of Nepal (1945–2001)
Early Modern era
Ahmad Shah Durrani
1722 – 1772
Founder of the Afghan Durrani Empire (r. 1747–1772)
Early Modern era
Mirwais Hotak
1673 – November 1, 1715
Afghan ruler and founder of the Hotak dynasty (1673–1715)
Contemporary era
Ahmad Shah Massoud
September 2, 1953 – September 9, 2001
Tajik military leader (1953–2001)
Medieval era
Wen Tianxiang
June 6, 1236 – January 9, 1283
Chinese politician of the Song Dynasty
Ancient era
Wang Xizhi
321 CE – 361 CE
Chinese calligrapher (c. 321 – c. 361)
Early Modern era
Lin Tse-hsu
August 30, 1785 – November 22, 1850
Chinese scholar and politician (1785-1850)
Early Modern era
Koxinga
August 28, 1624 – June 23, 1662
17th-century Chinese military leader and first King of Tungning
Himiko
d. 248 CE
3rd century queen of Yamataikoku
Medieval era
Prince Shotoku
February 7, 574 CE – April 8, 622 CE
Semi-legendary Japanese prince (574–622)
Modern era
Sakamoto Ryoma
January 3, 1836 – December 10, 1867
Japanese samurai and politician (1836–1867)
Modern era
Saigo Takamori
January 23, 1828 – September 24, 1877
Samurai of the Satsuma domain, supreme commander of Japanese army, one of the three great nobles who led the Meiji Restoration (1828-1877)
Modern era
Ito Hirobumi
October 16, 1841 – October 26, 1909
1st, 5th, 7th and 10th Prime Minister of Japan (1841–1909)
Ancient era
Gwanggaeto the Great
374 CE – 413 CE
King of the Goguryeo dynasty of Korea (374–413) (r. 391–413)
Medieval era
Taejo of Joseon
October 11, 1335 – May 24, 1408
The first king of Joseon Dynasty in Korean history
Early Modern era
Jeong Yak-yong
1762 – 1836
Korean scholar and philosopher (1762 - 1836)
Modern era
Ahn Jung-geun
September 2, 1879 – March 26, 1910
Korean independence activist (1879–1910)
Modern era
Yu Gwan-sun
December 17, 1902 – September 28, 1920
Korean independence activist (1902-1920)
Modern era
Kim Gu
August 29, 1876 – June 26, 1949
Korean politician (1876–1949)
Medieval era
Sorghaghtani Beki
February 2, 1190 – March 1, 1252
Mongol empress (1190-1252)