callings of the archive
Activist Biographies
Every archived life recorded as activist, ordered by their place in the ledger.
Contemporary era
John Gilmore
b. 1955
Cypherpunk co-founder and internet activist
Contemporary era
Nikol Pashinyan
b. June 1, 1975
Prime Minister of Armenia since 2018
Contemporary era
Nicușor Dan
b. December 20, 1969
President of Romania since 2025
Contemporary era
Joyce Banda
b. April 12, 1950
4th President of Malawi
Modern era
Jane Goodall
April 3, 1934 – October 1, 2025
English primatologist and anthropologist (1934–2025)
Contemporary era
Ruby Bridges
b. September 8, 1954
American civil rights activist
Modern era
Dolores Huerta
b. April 10, 1930
American labor leader
Modern era
Aretha Franklin
March 25, 1942 – August 16, 2018
American singer, songwriter, and pianist (1942–2018)
Contemporary era
Lady Gaga
b. March 20, 1986
American singer-songwriter and actress (born 1986)
Contemporary era
Muhammad Ali
January 17, 1942 – June 3, 2016
Three-time heavyweight champion and conscience of his era
Modern era
Mahmud Hasan Deobandi
1851 – November 30, 1920
Indian Muslim scholar and independence activist (1851–1920)
Modern era
Rani Lakshmibai
November 19, 1828 – June 17, 1858
Queen of a princely state in India
Modern era
Begum Hazrat Mahal
1820 – April 7, 1879
Empress of Awadh
Modern era
Ashfaqulla Khan
October 22, 1900 – December 19, 1927
Indian poet and fighter for independence (1900-1927)
Modern era
Eddie Mabo
June 29, 1936 – January 21, 1992
Indigenous Australian activist (1936–1992)
Modern era
Kalpana Datta
July 27, 1913 – February 8, 1995
Indian revolutionary and politician (1913-1995)
Modern era
Matangini Hazra
October 19, 1870 – September 29, 1942
Martyr of India's Independence Movement
Modern era
Kanaklata Barua
December 22, 1924 – September 20, 1942
Indian freedom fighter from Assam (1924-1942)
Modern era
Usha Mehta
March 25, 1920 – August 11, 2000
Indian freedom fighter (1920–2000)
Modern era
Komaram Bheem
October 22, 1901 – October 19, 1940
Indian tribal leader (1901-1940)
Modern era
Avantibai
1831 – March 20, 1858
Indian Freedom Fighter
Modern era
V. O. Chidambaram Pillai
September 5, 1872 – November 18, 1936
Indian freedom fighter, lawyer, entrepreneur and writer (1872–1936)
Modern era
Rani Gaidinliu
January 26, 1915 – February 17, 1993
Indian independence activist (1915–1993)
Modern era
Ravishankar Maharaj
February 25, 1884 – July 1, 1984
Indian independence activist and social activist
Contemporary era
Taramon Bibi
c. 1956 – December 1, 2018
Bangladeshi freedom fighter
Modern era
Hansa Mehta
July 3, 1897 – April 4, 1995
Reformist, social activist, freedom-fighter and educator and writer of India
Modern era
Rajkumari Amrit Kaur
February 2, 1889 – February 6, 1964
Indian politician (1889–1964)
Modern era
Mridula Sarabhai
1911 – October 26, 1974
Indian independence activist and politician
Modern era
Accamma Cherian
February 14, 1909 – May 5, 1982
Indian independence activist (1909-1989)
Early Modern era
Rani Rashmoni
September 28, 1793 – February 19, 1861
19th century Indian philanthropist
Modern era
Mai Bakhtawar
1880 – June 22, 1947
Indian farm worker (1880-1947) whose murder prompted legal reform
Contemporary era
Shahla Zia
February 12, 1947 – March 10, 2005
Pakistani lawyer and activist
Contemporary era
Nigar Ahmed
1945 – February 24, 2017
Pakistani women’s rights activist
Modern era
Godavari Parulekar
August 14, 1907 – October 8, 1996
Indian independence activist, writer, and social activist
Modern era
Yogmaya Neupane
1860 – 1941
One Nepali poet
Contemporary era
Temple Grandin
b. August 29, 1947
American doctor of animal science, author, and autism activist
Early Modern era
Dred Scott
1799 – September 17, 1858
African-American plaintiff in freedom suit (c.1799–1858)
Modern era
Gloria Steinem
March 25, 1934 – September 2, 2026
American feminist activist and journalist (1934–2026)
Modern era
Coretta Scott King
April 27, 1927 – January 30, 2006
American author, activist, and civil rights leader; wife of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Modern era
Ken Saro-Wiwa
October 10, 1941 – November 10, 1995
Nigerian social rights activist (1941–1995)
Contemporary era
Alexei Navalny
June 4, 1976 – February 16, 2024
Russian jurist and opposition leader (1976-2024)