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  • Rabindranath Tagore was a poet, writer, composer, philosopher, social reformer and painter.

    Early Life and Education: Tagore was born on May 7, 1861, in Calcutta (now Kolkata), India, into a prominent Bengali family. He was homeschooled and began writing poetry at an early age. Tagore's education included both traditional Indian subjects and Western literature and science.

    Literary Achievements: Tagore is best known for his poetry, songs, novels and short stories. His most famous work is "Gitanjali," a collection of poems for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913. It was in July 1930 when Einstein hosted Tagore at his home in Berlin. He wrote in Bengali and was a pioneer of Bengali literature's modern era. Some of his other notable works include "The Home and the World," "Chokher Bali," and "Kabuliwala.". Rabindranath Tagore is widely believed to have given Mahatma Gandhi the title "Mahatma," which means "Great Soul," recognizing Gandhi's profound spiritual and moral influence.

    Music and Art: Tagore was a composer and musician and he created numerous songs known as "Rabindra Sangeet." He established Visva-Bharati University in Santiniketan, which emphasized the study of humanities, arts, music and dance. Tagore was also a prolific painter. His compositions were chosen by two nations as national anthems: India's "Jana Gana Mana" and Bangladesh's "Amar Shonar Bangla".

    Social Reform and Philosophy: Tagore was deeply involved in social and political issues, advocating for Indian independence and international cooperation. He traveled to various countries, including the United States, Mexico, Peru, Argentina, France, Switzerland and Egypt. Tagore had travelled to more than 30 countries in his lifetime.

    Legacy: Tagore's influence extends beyond literature and art. His birthday is celebrated as Rabindra Jayanti in Bangladesh and India.

    “The true goal of education is to awaken a person's ability to imagine and create.” - Rabindranath Tagore, Poet, social reformer

    See Also: Home | India

  • Rafael Nadal is widely regarded as one of the greatest tennis players of all time.

    Early Life: He was born on June 3, 1986, in Manacor, a small town on the island of Mallorca, Spain. Nadal is the son of Sebastián Nadal, a businessman who runs several companies, and Ana María Parera, a homemaker. He grew up in a close-knit family with his younger sister, María Isabel, and their grandparents played a significant role in nurturing family values.

    Personal life: Nadal married his longtime girlfriend, Maria Francisca (Xisca) Perelló, in October 2019. Xisca, who also hails from Mallorca, has been a constant source of support throughout his career. Together, they maintain a low-profile life despite Nadal’s global fame.

    Career: From a young age, Rafael showed an incredible talent for sports. While attending school in Mallorca, he was introduced to tennis by his uncle Toni Nadal, who would go on to become his lifelong coach and mentor. Toni’s guidance and strict training methods shaped Nadal into the disciplined and resilient player he is today. Another uncle, Miguel Ángel Nadal, a former professional footballer for FC Barcelona, inspired Rafael’s love for football. Nadal himself played football as a child before choosing to focus on tennis.

    Rafael won numerous Grand Slam titles, including 14 victories at the French Open, two Wimbledon titles, four US Open triumphs, and two Australian Open championships, totalling an impressive 22 men's singles Grand Slam titles. Representing Spain, he won two Olympic gold medals, and led the nation to five Davis Cup titles.

    Hobbies: Outside tennis, Nadal has a variety of interests and hobbies. He is an avid fan of football and supports Real Madrid. He also enjoys fishing, a relaxing activity that allows him to connect with nature and unwind from the pressures of professional sports. Spending time with friends and family in Mallorca remains his favorite pastime.

    Role Model: Nadal’s determination and sportsmanship have made him a role model for aspiring athletes. He looks up to legends like Roger Federer and Tiger Woods for inspiration, yet his own career has inspired countless individuals. In August 2023, Nadal signed up as the brand ambassador for the Indian IT major Infosys. Nadal’s ambition is to leave a lasting legacy in tennis while continuing to support charitable initiatives through the Rafa Nadal Foundation.

    For nearly two decades, Nadal was a prominent figure in men's tennis, alongside Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. On November 19, 2024, Rafael Nadal's incredible tennis career came to an end after Spain lost its Davis Cup quarterfinal against the Netherlands.

  • He was a mathematician and scientist.

    Lord Rayleigh was a scientist who made significant contributions to physics, including the discovery of Rayleigh scattering.

    Rayleigh scattering is a phenomenon in physics that occurs when sunlight passes through the Earth's atmosphere. As it travels, it interacts with air molecules, dust particles, and other small particles present in the atmosphere. This interaction causes the light to scatter in all directions—but not all colors of light scatter in the same way.

    Shorter wavelengths of light (blue and violet) scatter more than longer wavelengths (red and orange). Since our eyes are more sensitive to blue light than violet, we perceive the sky as blue.

    During sunrise and sunset, sunlight travels a longer distance through the atmosphere, scattering away most of the blue light and leaving red and orange light. This explains why the sky appears blue during the day and why sunrises and sunsets appear red.

    His scientific contributions extended to various fields, including acoustics, optics, and electromagnetism. Nobel Laureate Lord Rayleigh conducted research with Jagadish Chandra Bose at the University of Cambridge.

  • Rohan Bopanna is a tennis player.

    Rohan Bopanna is an Indian professional tennis player who specialises in doubles. Bopanna and Ebden won the Australian Open 2024 men's doubles in straight sets in defeating the Italian duo of Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori 7-6 (7-0), 7-5. Bopanna has had a successful career partnering with various players in men's doubles and mixed doubles events. He has won several ATP Tour titles and reached Grand Slam finals, showcasing his skill and versatility on the court.

    Rohan Bopanna was born in Bangalore, Karnataka. Bopanna’s father is a coffee planter by profession and owns a coffee estate in their hometown of Coorg, which is the primary source of income for them. His mother is a homemaker. Bopanna’s father and mother live in their coffee estate in Coorg. Bopanna himself had his primary education from there. Later on, he shifted to Bangalore to complete his higher education at the Jain University in Bangalore. Rohan is married to Supriya Annaiah, where he is also the part owner of a very popular restaurant. Rohan Bopanna is a coffee connoisseur too.

    See also: Home | Tennis | India