Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma
Bhopal is the hometown of Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma where he was born on August 19, 1918. Dr. Sharma assumed the highest office of the land when he became the President of India in 1992. Earlier he was Vice-President of India and Chairman of the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) from September 3, 1987 . Before this he had been the Governor of three States: Andhra Pradesh, Punjab and Maharashtra. Dr. Sharma was also Chief Minister of the erstwhile Bhopal State (1952-1956), Cabinet Minister, Government of Madhya Pradesh, holding the portfolios of Education, Law, Public Works, Industry and Commerce, National Resources and Separate Revenue (1956-1967) and was thereafter Union Minister for Communications (1974-1977). Dr. Sharma participated in the historic Quit India Movement during the national struggle for freedom, and in the merger Movement in Bhopal, and underwent imprisonments.
Aslam Sher Khan
Aslam Sher Khan , born on 15 July 1953 in Bhopal was prominent hockey player of India. He won the gold medal with the Indian Hockey Team at the 1975 World Cup held at Kuala Lumpur. He also participated in Munich Olympics held in 1972. Aslam Sher Khan has also been a Congress Member of Parliament and a Union Minister as well. He wrote his autobiography -To Hell with Hockey.
Abdul Hafiz Mohamed Barakatullah
Abdul Hafiz Mohamed Barakatullah, known as Maulana Barkatullah (7 July 1854 – 20 September 1927) was an revolutionary of the freedom movement.He was born at Itwra Mohalla at Bhopal. He was one of the founders of the "Ghadar" (Rebellion) Party in 1913 at San Francisco. Later he became the first prime minister of the Provisional Government of India established on 1 December 1915 in Kabul with Raja Mahendra Pratap as its President Barkatullah went to several countries of the world with a mission to rouse politically the Indian community and to seek support for the freedom of India from the famous leaders of the time in those countries In 1988, Bhopal University was renamed Barkatullah University in his honor.Javed Akhtar
Javed Akhtar is a name that has become synonomous with beautiful Urdu poetry of the hindi films. He is a famous scriptwriter, a lyricist, and a poet .He formed a part of the legendary Salim-Javed duo that scripted many super hits of its era. Javed Akhtar is the son of renowned Urdu Poet and film lyricist Jaan-Nisar Akhtar and Safia Akhtar, a writer and a teacher. His parents were professors at the Hamidia College in Bhopal. Javed Akhtar did his schooling at the Cambridge School at Bhopal, Calvin Talukadar College at Lucknow, Minto Circle at Aligarh, and graduated from Safiya College-Bhopal in 1964.
Habib Tanvir
Habib Tanvir (1 September 1923 - 8 June 2009) was a brilliant playwright, theatre director, poet and actor who gave birth to a new wave of thought which inspired the new generation. He founded a new school of theatre when he opened his theatre company called Naya Theatre in Bhopal. With this started a lifelong association with the city which ended only with his death. His milestone works include as Charandas Chor, Agra Bazaar,Gaon ka Naam Sasural, Mor Naam Damad and Kamdeo ka Apna Basant Ritu ka Sapna. He produced a play based on Mrichakatika ,an ancient Sanskrit masterpiece by Sudraka. He will specially be remembered for his work with Chhatisgarh tribals at Naya Theatre.