Satyananda Stokes

Born as Samuel Evans Stokes Jr, in an affluent family in America, he made Shimla his home , where he came to work for the needy in a leper colony. He holds the unique distinction of being the only American to become a member of the All India Congress Committee (AICC). He is said to be person who introduced and popularized the "Shimla Apple" which is still renowned all over the world. Thus, although born as an American , he lived and dedicated his entire life in the service of Shimla and the country.

Amrita Shergill

Amrita Shergill is one of the most highly acclaimed women painters of India.Her high quality work as well her personal life make her a unique personality.She was born to a Sikh father and Hungarian mother. In 1921 her family moved to Summer Hill, Shimla. The house where they lived was called The Holme.Sadly though it has been sold and divided. She soon began learning piano and violin, and by age in nine she along with her younger sister Indira were giving concerts and acting in plays at Shimla's Gaiety Theatre at Mall Road, Shimla. Though she was already painting since the age of five she formally started learning painting at age eight. She went to train as a painter at Paris. She was a passionate painter whose work drew inspiration from Hungarian painters, especially the Nagybanya school of painting of Hungary and the Bengal school of art. She inspired a generation of painters after her before she died mysteriously at age of 28.