Himachal Pradesh, a northern region state located in the lap of the Western Himalayas, is home to numerous snow-clad mountains, lush green valleys, thick forests, terraced fields, numerous rivers, rivulets, and lakes. Himachal Pradesh is well-known as the ‘Dev Bhoomi’ (Land of Gods and Goddesses). The name Himachal is derived from ‘HIM” and ‘achal’ meaning ‘mountain of snow.’ Himachal Pradesh, with a population of about 68, 56,509 and an area of about 55,673 sq. km, shares its borders with Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh to the north, Haryana to the southwest, Uttarakhand to the southeast, Punjab to the west, and China to the east. Shimla is the capital of Himachal Pradesh with 12 districts.
Himachal Pradesh attracts a large number of tourists throughout the year and is often referred to as ‘A Destination for All Seasons and All Reasons.’ The primary languages spoken in the state are Pahari, Hindi, and English. The economy of the state is largely dependent on tourism and agriculture.
Apart from the majestic mountains, rivers, lush green forests, valleys, and hot springs, the state has given birth to many personalities who have become famous both nationally and internationally.
Some of the famous personalities of Himachal Pradesh are mentioned below:
- Captain Vikram Batra: Captain Vikram Batra was born on September 9th, 1974, in the small village of Bandla, which falls under Palampur Tehsil. In July 1999, Pakistani soldiers infiltrated the Line of Control (LOC) at Kargil. Captain Batra, along with his team of 25 men, decided to climb the hill and strategize to destroy the enemies. During the fight, one of his men was seriously injured. As Captain Batra tried to take the injured soldier to a safer place, a Pakistani sniper hit him in the chest, and he fell down. The last words uttered by Batra were “Durga Mata ki Jai.” Captain Vikram Batra was posthumously awarded the highest gallantry award, the Param Vir Chakra.
Image Source – starsunfolded - Captain Saurabh Kalia: Captain Saurabh Kalia was born on June 29th, 1976, to a Punjabi family from Amritsar who later moved to Palampur Tehsil. He was the first martyr of the Kargil War. On May 15th, 1999, Pakistani soldiers started infiltrating the LOC (Line of Control). While fighting with the infiltrators, Captain Saurabh Kalia and his five men exhausted their ammunition. Before reinforcements could arrive, they were captured alive. They were then brutally tortured by Pakistani soldiers for about 22 days. The results of the post-mortem examinations were horrific. To make matters worse, before handing their bodies over to the Indian officials, they were shot dead in the head. This inhumane act was a horrible violation of the Geneva Convention. A memorial park in Palampur has been constructed in his name called ‘Saurabh Van Vihar‘.
- Major Somnath Sharma: Major Somnath Sharma was born on January 31st, 1923, to a military family in the Kangra district, which was then part of the province of Punjab. Major Sharma fought in World War II in Burma against the Japanese, where he carried his badly wounded officer to safety on his shoulder. He also actively participated in the Indo-Pakistan war of 1947, where he and his company prevented Pakistani soldiers from capturing Srinagar as they marched towards the airport. During the fight, a mortar shell exploded in front of him, and he was martyred. Major Somnath Sharma was the first soldier to be posthumously awarded the highest gallantry award, the ‘Param Vir Chakra’.
- Shyam Saran Negi: Shyam Saran Negi was born on 1st July 1917 in a small village called Kalpa in the Kinnaur district. He was a teacher by occupation. He was the first voter to cast his vote in the 1951 general elections after India became independent. He never missed casting his vote throughout his life. He died on 2nd November 2022 after casting his last 34th vote two days earlier. In 2014, he became the brand ambassador for the Electoral Commission and also featured in a Google video to encourage people to vote.
- Anupam Kher: Anupam Kher is a versatile actor, producer, and well-known celebrity born on March 7th, 1955, in the hill station of Shimla. He has made Himachal proud globally with his performances in almost 500 films, soap operas, and plays. His first successful film was ‘Saransh’ in 1984, and he has since starred in many hit movies. In addition, he has acted in several Hollywood and regional films. Anupam Kher was awarded the ‘Padma Shri’ in 2004 and the ‘Padma Bhushan’ in 2016 by the Government of India. He has also received numerous Filmfare awards and was a part of the Oscar-winning movie ‘Silver Linings Playbook’ in 2013. He served as the Chairman of the Central Board of Film Certification and the National School of Drama.
- Preity Zinta: Preity Zinta is a talented and bubbly actress who was born on January 31st, 1975 in the small town of Rohru in the Shimla district. She has played lead roles in many Bollywood movies and made her debut in the film ‘Dil Se’ opposite Shah Rukh Khan, for which she received the award for ‘Best Actor in Debut.’ She has received numerous awards for her work in the entertainment industry and has also worked in Hollywood and several regional movies. Preity Zinta was recognized at the Chicago International Film Festival, where she received the ‘Silver Hugo Award’ for ‘Best Actress’ for her role in the movie ‘Heaven on Earth.’ Additionally, she is the owner of the cricket IPL team ‘Punjab Kings‘ who play for Punjab.
Preity G Zinta – Image Source – Instagram (realpz) - Yami Gautam: Yami Gautam is a prominent face in the Bollywood industry. She was born on November 28th, 1988 in the Bilaspur district. Yami Gautam has acted in many movies and soap operas, and she is a successful model in numerous advertisements. Her debut movie was ‘Vicky Donor,’ and her performance led her to win the ‘Zee Cine Award’ for Best Actress. She has also starred in many regional movies and continues to give her best performances in Bollywood movies. Yami Gautam has received many awards such as Filmfare, Zee Cine, and IIFA.
View this post on Instagram - Ruhani Sharma: Ruhani Sharma is an Indian actress and model who primarily works in the Telugu film industry. She was born and brought up in Solan, Himachal Pradesh, and graduated from Punjab University, Chandigarh. Ruhani Sharma has acted in numerous Telugu, Tamil, and Malayalam movies, including notable ones such as “Chi La Sow,” “Kamala,” “Kadaisi Bench Karthi,” “HIT: The First Case,” “Nootokka Jillala Andagadu,” and “Dirty Hari. She first appeared in a Punjabi music videos “classroom” and “Kudi Tu Pataka” in 2013.
View this post on Instagram - Varun Grover: Born on 26th January 1980 in a small town, Sundernagar, at Mandi district, Varun Grover is a famous writer, filmmaker, and poet. His big hit show was ‘The Great Indian Comedy Show’ in 2005. Since then, his journey as a writer and comedian has continued and is still ongoing. He received the best ‘Lyrics’ award for the song ‘Moh Moh ke Dhaage’ at the 63rd National Film Awards, as well as many other awards.
- Kangna Ranaut: Born on March 23rd, 1987 in the Mandi district, Kangna Ranaut is a successful and talented actress and producer. She has played lead roles in many movies, including Queen, Tanu Weds Manu, Fashion, Gangster, and many more. Before coming to Bollywood, she was a model. Her debut movie was Gangster, which was released in 2006, for which she received the Filmfare award for Best Actress. She has been awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India and has won four National Film Awards.
View this post on Instagram - Mohit Chauhan: Mohit Chauhan, a soulful singer, was born on 11th March 1966 in the small town of Nahan in the Sirmaur district. He is well-known for his melodious voice and has lent it to many popular singles and movie songs. Some of his popular songs are from movies like ‘Rockstar’, ‘Rang de Basanti’, ‘Jab We Met’, and many more. He is widely recognized as a pop star and has received several awards, such as Filmfare, IIFA, Zee Cine, Screen Awards, and more. He was also listed as a Forbes Celebrity in 2012.
View this post on Instagram - The Great Khali: Dalip Singh Rana, who is worldwide known by his ring name The Great Khali, was born on August 27th, 1972, in a small village in the Sirmaur district called Dhiraina. He is a retired Indian professional wrestler who stands about 7 feet 3 inches tall and weighs around 196 kg. He learned professional wrestling in California and even defeated the great contender ‘Undertaker’ while winning many wrestling events. He had an amazing career in WWE and became the World Heavy Champion in 2007. This success led him to appear in four Hollywood movies and two Bollywood movies.
- Charanjit Singh: Charanjit Singh was a hockey legend, born on February 3rd, 1931, in a small village in the Una district of Himachal Pradesh, which was then part of Punjab. He was the captain and midfielder of the Indian Hockey Team, which won a gold medal in the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. He and his team also won a silver medal in the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome and the Asian Games of 1962 in Jakarta. In 1963, he was honored with the ‘Arjuna Award,’ and in 1964, he received the ‘Padma Shri’ from the Government. He passed away on January 27th, 2022.
- Ajay Thakur: Ajay Thakur is an Indian national Kabaddi player who was born on May 1, 1986 in the village of Dabhota in the Nalagarh district. He is well-known as the captain and best raider of the Indian team, which won the gold medal in the 2016 Kabaddi World Cup. He is also the captain of the Tamil Thalaivas in the Pro Kabaddi League. Ajay Thakur has won a gold medal at the 2014 Asian Games, the 2017 Asian Kabaddi Championship, and a bronze medal at the 2018 Asian Games. He was awarded the Padma Shri and Arjuna Award by the Indian Government in 2019. Additionally, he holds the position of Deputy Superintendent of Himachal Pradesh. Overall, the grammar and punctuation in the text are correct.
View this post on Instagram - Rohit Rana: Rohit Rana was born on March 30, 1988, in Kangra district. He is an amazing “Left Corner Defender” in Kabaddi and is popularly known for his dashes and blocks. He plays for the U Mumba team in the Pro Kabaddi League.
View this post on Instagram - Sushma Verma: Sushma Verma, the first cricketer from Himachal Pradesh (either male or female), was born on 3rd November 1992 in Shimla. She represents the Women’s Indian Cricket Team and was a part of the team in the Women’s Indian Cricket World Cup of 2017, where they reached the finals but were unable to win. Sushma is a wicket-keeper and a right-hand batter, and she currently plays for the “Gujarat Giants” in WPL 2023.
View this post on InstagramShe has played many other sports such as volleyball, badminton, and handball, but ultimately chose cricket as her career. In addition to being a cricketer, Sushma Verma is also a Deputy Superintendent of the Himachal Police, a post that was offered to her by former Chief Minister, the late Sh. Virbhadra Singh.
- Renuka Singh: Renuka Singh is an outstanding wicket-taker in cricket, born on 2nd January 1996 in Shimla. She plays for the Himachal cricket team and made her debut in the Indian national team for the Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022. In the 2019-20 Senior Women’s One Day League, she became the leading wicket-taker of the Indian cricket team, taking 23 wickets against the opponents. She also plays for RCB in the WPL 2023.
View this post on Instagram - Rishi Dhawan: Rishi Dhawan, an all rounder cricketer, born on 19th February 1990, in Mandi district. He plays for Himachal Cricket Team and is a second highest run scorer as well as wicket-taker. He played for Punjab Kings in IPL 2022.
View this post on Instagram - Rubina Dilaik: Born on August 26, 1987, in the scenic hill station of Shimla, India. She studied at Shimla Public School and St. Bede’s College, Shimla. She won two local beauty pageants and was crowned Miss Shimla in 2006, In 2008, she won the Miss North India Pageant held at Chandigarh. Rubina Dilaik’s journey from beauty queen to television powerhouse is inspiring. Her acting debut in 2008 with “Choti Bahu” brought instant recognition, but it was her portrayal of Soumya Singh, a transgender woman in “Shakti – Astitva Ke Ehsaas Ki,” that truly cemented her place as a versatile and impactful actor. This nuanced performance earned her critical acclaim and numerous awards, including the prestigious ITA Award for Best Actress (Drama). She played role of Sita in Life OK’s mythological show Devon Ke Dev…Mahadev. Rubina has also conquered the reality show realm. In 2020, she emerged victorious in the popular “Bigg Boss 14,” showcasing her strategic gameplay, strong personality, and genuine nature to millions of viewers. This win solidified her position as a top contender in the Indian entertainment industry. Throughout her career, Rubina has embraced diverse roles, leaving her mark on shows like “Jeannie Aur Juju,” and “Boss Baap.” Beyond acting, Rubina is a fashion icon, fitness enthusiast, and animal lover. Her social media presence reflects her vibrant personality and down-to-earth nature. Married to fellow actor Abhinav Shukla, their relationship is admired by fans across the country.
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20. Shipra Khanna: Born on November 17, 1981, in Shimla, India, Shipra Khanna is a well-known Indian chef celebrated for her culinary skills. She attended Loreto Convent School and St. Bede’s College. Shipra gained fame by winning the second season of “MasterChef India” in 2011, showcasing her outstanding cooking talents and creativity. Since then, she has become a prominent figure in the culinary world, earning praise for her contributions.
Shipra Khanna is not just a chef but also an accomplished author with her cookbook “The Spice Route,” which shares her culinary journey and features her favorite recipes. She ventured into television as a celebrity chef on Food Food, and later starred in various other televised cooking shows. Additionally, she owns two restaurants, “H.O.T – House of Taste” in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, and “The Darzi Bar & Kitchen” in New Delhi, India.
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Honors and Awards:
- ‘Cultural Ambassador of India in 2022’ and ‘The Culinary Ambassador to Spain’ in 2017 by the Spanish Ambassador to India.
- ‘WE WOMEN WANT SHAKTI AWARDS’ 2023 for her contribution in the culinary field.
- ‘CHEF OF THE YEAR’ 2023 by Industry Live and FHRAI.
- ‘Culinary Connoisseur’ title in 2014 for Tourism Australia and Cox & Kings.
- Honored by Le Cordon Bleu, Paris.
- “Women Chef taking taste beyond borders” by SAARC Chamber Women Entrepreneurs Council (SCWEC).
- “Best Television Chef Book Outside Europe” by Gourmand World Cookbook Awards 2017.
