Bharat Gaurav Major Munish Chauhan - British Army
Major Munish Chauhan MBBS, MRCS, DMCC, PGDip, RAMS is an award-winning General Surgery Registrar in the British Army, the only Indian-born surgeon currently serving in the UK Armed Forces. He is also a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Army Leadership and an Executive Coach committed to nurturing self-aware, resilient leaders who lead with purpose and compassion.
His leadership and service have earned widespread recognition. Munish is a recipient of the CGS Commendation in the British Army’s 2025 New Year’s Honours, the Dr B.R. Ambedkar Achievement Award, the Leadership BeyondBorders Award presented by a Government Minister of India, the Extra Ordinary Achievers Charity Award, and the Clinical Excellence Award from the NHS. He holds a rare Fellowship in Leadership from the British Army—a distinction awarded to only a few. But behind every award lies a story of struggle, strength, and service.
Born into poverty in a small Indian village, Munish’s childhood was marked by financial hardship. He worked as a child labourer, often barefoot and without a school uniform, yet he never lost sight of a better future. At just 17, he moved to the UK alone, with little more than a dream and a student loan. He endured homelessness, hunger, and deep self-doubt. At one point, he was told by a senior officer that he wasn’t “academically robust enough” to become even a nurse in the Army. He proved every doubter wrong.
Today, Munish blends surgical precision with leadership grounded in emotional intelligence and psychological safety. At the Centre for Army Leadership, he presents his work on resilience, self-leadership, and metacognition—research shaped as much by life experience as by academic rigour. His coaching approach is deeply reflective, focused on unlocking the potential in others through self-awareness and mental agility.
A passionate advocate for remembrance, Munish led a 100km team march—3.5 million steps—to honour Commonwealth soldiers. Currently, he is taking on a 1,000km challenge: 50 half-marathons while carrying a 15kg bergen, raising awareness of the British Indian Army’s contributions in the world wars. For him, these are not just endurance feats—they are acts of service and storytelling, ensuring forgotten voices are heard.
His community work speaks volumes of his character. Every Christmas, Munishand his friends serve over 200 homeless people on the streets of London, giving not just food, but dignity and warmth. For him, leadership means stepping up—when it’s tough, when no one’s watching, and always with heart.
Munish Chauhan’s journey is not simply one of achievement—it is a living example of courage, compassion, and commitment. From rural India to the halls of the House of Lords, from a park bench to the operating theatre, he continues to rise—lifting others with him.
He is not just a surgeon or a soldier. He is a servant-leader, proving that greatness begins with grit, and true honour lies in humble service.
Bharat Gaurav Mr. Manish Tripathi - Fashion Designer
In the vibrant cultural mosaic of India, Manish Tripathi’s journey unfolds as a testament to the transformative power of design. Born and raised amidst the rich tapestry of tradition, Manish’s early fascination with the colors and patterns of his surroundings laid the foundation for a lifelong passion for fashion and creativity.
After graduating from the esteemed National Institute of Fashion Technology in New Delhi in 2009, Manish embarked on a professional journey fueled by purpose and determination. His innate talent and innovative approach to design quickly garnered attention, propelling him into the spotlight of India’s fashion landscape.
A pivotal moment in Manish’s career came when he and his team were entrusted with the sacred task of designing the attire for Shri Ramlala Sarkar during his consecration in Ayodhya. Drawing inspiration from his deep-rooted faith and reverence for tradition, Manish approached the project with humility and reverence, creating garments that bridged the gap between the spiritual and the sartorial.
Driven by a desire to give back to his community, Manish spearheaded initiatives aimed at empowering marginalized groups, particularly rural women. In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, he led campaigns to ensure their self-reliance through design and skill training programs, providing them with the tools and resources needed to rebuild their lives.
Throughout his career, Manish has collaborated with a diverse array of institutions and organizations, from The National Institute of Fashion Technology to the Indian Olympic Association. His work has been showcased on prestigious stages worldwide, earning him recognition and acclaim for his creative vision and commitment to excellence.
Today, Manish serves as an advisor in the Sector Skill Council of the National Skill Development Corporation, where he continues to champion the cause of design education and women’s empowerment. Inspired by the transformative vision of leaders like Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Shri Yogi Adityanath, Manish remains committed to creating a more inclusive and sustainable future through the power of design.
As we reflect on the remarkable journey of Manish Tripathi, we are reminded of the enduring impact of creativity, compassion, and social responsibility. Through his unwavering commitment to empowering others and his relentless pursuit of excellence, Manish has left an indelible mark on the world of fashion and design, proving that when passion and purpose collide, anything is possible.
Bharat Gaurav Mr. Ankit Jalan - CMD Jet Airways
Ankit Jalan is a second-generation entrepreneur based in India. Ankit brings extensive global expertise and is committed to transforming mid to long-term business ventures into profit-making enterprises/Multinational institutions. Having worked on diverse portfolios from manufacturing, distribution, healthcare, real estate, and sports across geographies worldwide, Ankit is now committed to making India’s aviation sector proud through a historic revival of India’s legacy carrier – Jet Airways.
Another prestigious feat, Ankit emerged as the entrepreneur of the year in the aviation category at the global leaders’ summit in Dubai on January 29, 2023. The Global Leaders Awards - Enterprise Edition 2022 award those who promote entrepreneurship and small business at the International, National & Regional levels. The awards aim to recognize and reward business excellence across all sectors, private, public, and charity. The Global Leaders Awards - Enterprise Edition 2022 honors outstanding performance in a wide range of categories.
Bharat Gaurav Mr V.A. Shiva Ayyadurai - The Inventor of Email
V.A. Shiva Ayyadurai, the inventor of email and other revolutionary innovations, has been passionately interested in science and technology throughout his life. This passion has been earned. Shiva has high honors in the academic and corporate worlds.
It has also given him an opportunity to confront the financial and power dynamics that affect scientific innovation, especially when innovation arises from sources considered outside the mainstream as Shiva, in fact, proudly considers himself to be.
When Shiva’s family immigrated to the United States, those early experiences inspired him to pursue the study of modern systems science and information technology. He has never lost touch with India’s healing traditions, and much of his work has been directed toward integrating the tools and techniques of East and West.
At the age of 14, after completing a special program in computer science at New York University’s Courant Institute of Mathematical Science, Shiva was recruited by the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey as a Research Fellow. His mentor at UMDNJ soon presented Shiva with a difficult but irresistible challenge. Shiva was asked to create an electronic equivalent of the interoffice mail system, in which hard copies of documents were circulated throughout an office environment.
The interoffice mail system was a standard operating procedure in literally millions of companies, hospitals, schools, and other institutions around the world. It was literally everywhere, and in practice, preparing interoffice mail was virtually always tasked to female secretaries or assistants in service of their male bosses and managers.
After writing 50,000 lines of computer code, Shiva introduced the world’s first true email system, incorporating Inbox and Outbox, Folders, Address Book, Memo, and other now-familiar features of every email system. He named the system “EMAIL,” and was awarded the first United States Copyright for “Email, Computer Program for Electronic Mail System.” This legally recognized Shiva as the inventor of email, at a time when Copyright was the only protection for software inventions.
While at MIT, Shiva developed Systems Visualization, a pioneering course integrating systems theory, data, metaphor, and narrative storytelling to enable the visualization of complex systems. After winning a White House competition to automatically analyze and sort President Clinton’s email, Shiva started EchoMail, Inc. which grew to nearly $200 million in market valuation.
He serves as a consultant to CEOs and Executive Management at Fortune 1000 companies, as well as government organizations such as the United States Postal Service, and Office of Inspector General.
Shiva serves as Executive Director of the International Center for Integrative Systems, a nonprofit research and education foundation dedicated to the application of systems thinking across a range of disciplines. Research on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) is a specific and urgent focus of this foundation. Along these lines, Shiva has met with world leaders including former President Bill Clinton, Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, and French President Francois Holland, who have sought his advice on innovative technologies and their applications to food and healthcare systems.
Bharat Gaurav Late Ms Neerja Bhanot - The braveheart flight attendant was never one to run away from a crisis
Do your duty, come what may. Never tolerate injustice or compromise on your self-respect.
These are the two guiding principles that 22-year Neerja Bhanot left for the world while smilingly embracing death to ensure that others lived. She defied the face of tyranny and terrorism and refused to be cowed down, opting instead to sacrifice her life for the benefit of humanity and mankind. She gave up her own life while saving the lives of hundreds of others during a Pan Am plane hijack in September 1986.
Sound upbringing,
Neerja was born in Chandigarh on September. 7, 1963 at the General Hospital, Sector 16. Her father, late Mr. Harish Bhanot was a reputed journalist while her mother Mrs. Rama Bhanot is a famous theatre and radio artist. She had two elder brothers, Akhil and Aneesh Bhanot.
Neerja did her early schooling at Sacred Heart School, Sector 26. She then shifted to Mumbai in 1974, as her father was transferred from Chandigarh to Mumbai. She completed her schooling at Bombay Scottish School, Mahim, and her graduation from St. Xaviers College, Mahapalika Marg, Mumbai.
While in college, a leading magazine in Mumbai featured her as one of the prettiest faces of Mumbai and this brought in modeling offers for her. She went on to become a celebrated model for an array of products like Charmis, Bajaj Scooters, Amul, Chiragh Din, Paville, Modella… and many more. Life was full of success and sunshine for her.
The only dark patch in Neerja’s life was her marriage. Following an advertisement-based arranged marriage in 1985, she joined her husband in the Gulf. However, his family and he started pressurizing her to get money from her parents. Neerja was a woman of dignity and strength and refused to bend to the dowry demands. She returned home within two months. Her husband set humiliating conditions for her return to him which Neerja and her family refused to comply with. She decided to move on in life and joined ‘Pan Am' World Airways as a Flight Attendant.
Courage. Compassion. Commitment.
Immensely dedicated, Neerja made a responsible and committed flight attendant. During the initial training itself, Pan Am promoted her to the position of Flight Purser.
Neerja was the Senior Flight Purser on Pan Am 73 which took off from Bombay on September 5, 1986, to New York via Karachi and Frankfurt. The plane landed at Karachi airport at around 5 am.
A little later, a van drove up to the plane and 4 persons wearing Pakistan Police uniforms and armed with assault rifles, pistols, grenades, and plastic explosive belts jumped out of the van and ran up the step ladder while firing in the air. Neerja was at the plane door waiting to welcome the passengers who were to board the aircraft from Karachi. Once the realization came to her that this was a hijack, she was able to pass on an emergency code to the pilot through the intercom. Through a hatch in the cockpit, the American flight crew — pilot, co-pilot, and flight engineer- fled from the aircraft, leaving over 375 passengers and the Indian cabin crew at the mercy of the heavily armed terrorists. Setting aside all concern for her personal safety, Neerja identified herself to the terrorists as the crew member in charge.
A long, tension-filled ordeal started. Yet, Neerja was a perfect picture of calm, confident leadership. She comforted the passengers, especially the elderly and small children. In an amazing act of courage and compassion for her fellow human beings, she hid the passports of the Americans, as the hijackers wanted to execute Americans.
After 17 hours, the hijackers opened fire and set off explosives. Acting quickly, Neerja opened the emergency door. If she wanted, she could have been the first to jump out, but she opted to stay back and helped many of the passengers escape. She gave her own life while shielding 3 American children from a hail of bullets from the terrorists.
The heroine of the hijack
Neerja was recognized internationally as ‘the heroine of the hijack’ and is the youngest recipient of the Ashoka Chakra, India’s highest civilian award for bravery. She was also awarded the Tamga-E-Insaniyat (Pakistan), Flight Safety Foundation Award (USA), and Justice for Crimes Award (USA), among others.
Two chowks are named after her in Mumbai — one at Ghatkopar and the other at Mahim — and called the Neerja Bhanot Chowks. The Ghatkopar Chowk was inaugurated by Amitabh Bachchan. India Posts released a Postage Stamp on her, while the Indian Civil Aviation Ministry conferred honor on her on February 18, 2010, on the occasion of the celebrations of the centenary of Indian Aviation.
A feature film –Neerja- was made about her. The biopic was produced by Bling (Atul Kasbekar and Shanti Sivaram) and Fox Star. The film starred Sonam Kapoor as Neerja and Shabana Azmi as Rama Bhanot, Neerjas's mother.
Bharat Gaurav Dalbir Kaur - A brave, steely-eyed sister
For two decades, Dalbir Kaur woke up every day with renewed determination to combat the adversity that hit her family on August 28, 1990. Her younger brother, Sarabjit Singh, a farmer, accidentally crossed over to Pakistan and got accused of being a spy by Pakistani authorities.
Singh’s family went through a tumultuous period, trying to secure his release. He was sentenced to death in 1991 but wasn’t hanged. An agonizing waiting period began — 23 years to be precise. He was held captive in Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat Jail.
Ms. Kaur didn’t give up. For her, Sarabjit was more like a son and she was fiercely protective of him. She fought valiantly, casting her net far and wide in a bid to get her brother back home. In 2011, she managed to get permission to visit her brother in jail, securing a rare visit.
I promised him that we will get him out soon,” she said then in an interview with the BBC. She described how her brother couldn’t hold back his tears in his tiny cell in jail as his sister tied a rakhi to his wrist, reassuring him in every way she could.
The family hails from a tiny village near Amritsar, Bhikhiwind. When a pandit announced that they should consider a vaastu-correct in the family home to get Sarabjit to come back, Dalbir complied. She wanted to pull out all stops to get her brother back, and left no stone unturned.
Dalbir Kaur was a brave, steely-eyed sister. As children, they had clear, well-defined roles — Kaur’s was to be the older protective sister, Sarabjit’s constant source of support, almost like a guardian angel.
Former Prime Minister Narasimha Rao got an excess of calls from the older sister : almost a hundred. She stopped only after he agreed to have a one-on-one meeting with her. Rao had told her in 1991, “Chinta nahi karo, hum tumhare bhai ko le aayenge.” (Don’t worry; we’ll get your brother home)
Kaur was a fiery personality who didn’t stay still after receiving just words of assurance. She needed action, and she was unafraid to work for tangible results. She did it all — gatecrashing to reach influential people, directly approaching almost 170 politicians in both India and Pakistan.
It felt like she’d almost succeeded in March 2008 when Pervez Musharraf relented and agreed to stay the execution that was scheduled for April 1. This was a result of the then Prime Minister’s Manmohan Singh’s direct involvement, who it is believed, faced heavy pressure after Kaur led a massive public campaign alone for Sarabjit.
Former cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu also vouched for her. “Every man should have a sister like her. She soaks the unimaginable pressures on her entire family like a sponge and comes out a winner,” he said.
More than 10 lakh kilometers, two decades and a wide array of candlelight vigils and public rallies — Kaur pushed her boundaries relentlessly, refusing to take no for an answer.
She once expressed her desire to be a bird near the border close to Khalra village, explaining wistfully that she could then go to her brother easily, without the need for a visa.
Sarabjit Singh was killed by fellow inmates on April 26, 2013. His body was returned to his family in Bhikhiwind, and there was a tearful, heartbreaking reunion. Dalbir Kaur chose to rise up to the occasion when she was forced to confront a grim situation, opting to stay on the battlefield with her head held high, refusing to fade into the growing darkness of the night.
Her story is being told on celluloid this year in “Sarbjit,” with Aishwarya Rai essaying the role of Dalbir. She serves as a reminder to the rest of us — to fight, to hold on and never give up.
Bharat Gaurav Kautilya - The Google Boy
A veritable encyclopedia of general Knowledge nuggets, Kautilya at a tender age of 5 years 8 months went on to create history by bagging the title of “Google Boy” after flooring millions across the globe
With his impeccable knowledge & alacrity in answering diverse questions related to geographical field general Knowledge & awareness. He has been widely acclaimed & his genius proclaimed by intelligentsia all over the world. This list of achievement is unending & unparalleled out of which a few are Topmost in the list of 9 wonder kids of south Asia by Decan Chronicle Magazine published at International Level.
Hailed as the most memorable kid of KBC by Amitabh Bacchan the Bollywood Superstar has been awarded by the EX-Chief Minister Haryana Sh. Bhupinder Singh Hooda with 10 Lakh Rupees & this Award ceremony was telecast in all Asian countries
First Child to be honoured in Vidhan Sabha Haryana
Honoured by Ex-Governor of Haryana Sh. Jaganath Pahariya.
Honoured by Kaptan Singh Solanki Governor of Haryana Punjab.
Honoured by Rajasthan Government in Jodhpur, India.
Assam’s Super Kids anchored this Program with complete confidence & elan.
Brand Ambassador of ACB group of Comp.
Honoured by the “Who’s Who “ of India Home Minister–Sh. Rajnath Singh. External Affairs Minister Mrs Sushma Swaraj, Well Known industrialist Sh. Naveen Jindal, Road & Transport Minister Sh. Oscar Fernandes & other major politicians.
Hailed by numerous Spiritual Leaders like Shankracharya, Sh. Swarupanand ji Saraswati, Swami Ji, Didi Maa Sdhvi Ritamb Haraji, Baba Ramdevji, Brahmkumari Clan Dadi Janki Ji & many more.
The title of ‘Bal Manishi’ was Awarded by Kashi Vidvat Parishad.
Awarded the title of “Bal Bhaskar” by the Magazine Brahm Ganga.
Brahma Ratna’ title by, Haryana Brahman Sabha & Akhil Brahman Sabha.
“Pride of India” Award by, Pratibha Raksha Summan Samiti and S.B.I. Most sought after Personality of 2013 (five) by Dainik Bhaskar Speakers.
Honoured by Harayana & Madhya Pardesh Vidhan Sabha.
Honoured by EDu. Minister, Haryana Prof. Ram Vilas Sharma, Finance Minister Captain Abhimany. Agriculture Minister Sh. Om Prakash Dhankhad & Women Child Welfare Minister Smt. Kavita Jain.
Brand Ambassador for Haryana Women & Child Welfare Ministry
Title of Indians youngest Anchor by ZEE NEWS.
Honoured by the ever-popular young writer Chetan Bhagat.
In addition, this child prodigy with his vast & impeccable has Knowledge impressed many famous personalities from different areas like Bollywood Superstars Govinda, Amir Khan, Farah Khan, Music Director Smt. Heerabhai, his brothers Sambhai Modi & Pankaj Modi, Famous Shooter Sh. Jaspal Rana, Sh. Narayan Singh Rana. Olympic medalists Sh. Yogeshwar Datt & Wrestler Sh. Sushil Kumar.
As he expressed his desire to have an interaction with our Past President& ‘ Missile Man’ Sh. Abdul Kalam Azad, was invited by the Great Scientific who indulged in the hour-long meaningful interaction with him and was left completely mesmerized.
He has created waves of awe & cheer on different TV channels when he visited the sets of “Entertainment Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega” &’ comedy nights with Kapil.
He has had the chance of indulging in a tete-a-tete with personalities like Hani Singh- Hasi Singh, Deepak Ahlawat, Memory King Himmat Bhardwaj, and Jhanavi, to name just a few.
Attracted a large gathering of audience as he defeated adults in the game of chess during Haryana State Chess Championship.
The list is emending but this child prodigy is an excellent dancer who with his flexible & graceful moves has won the appreciation of many.
His confidence & oratory skills are something to watch out for as lately he has been seen anchoring various shows & mesmerizing the audience.
“FOCUS TV” selected “ ELEVEN FOCUS STARS” out of which Kautilya Pandit held a prominent position & was honored by Haryana Chief Minister Sh. Manohar Lal Khattar and M.P. Deepender Singh Hooda.
Bharat Gaurav Kalpana Chawla - First women aeronautical engineer to travel into space
Kalpana Chawla was India’s first women aeronautical engineer to travel into space. She has been a role model to several women in terms of achievement and contributions to the field of aeronautics. Growing up in a male dominant society, Kalpana never let her dreams of flying be affected in any way. In fact, she was the first woman to study aeronautical engineering in her batch.
Kalpana Chawla was born on the 1st of July, 1961 in a small town in Karnal located in the state of Haryana. Her parents, Banarasi Lal Chawla and Sanjyothi had two other daughters named Sunita and Deepa and a son named Sanjay. Kalpana was the youngest in her family and hence, she was the most pampered too.
She got educated at the Tagore Public School and later enrolled at Punjab Engineering College to complete her Aeronautical Engineering Degree in 1982.
She knew early on in her life that she wanted to be an aerospace engineer. “Every once in a while,” Chawla said to NASA, “we’d ask my dad if we could get a ride in one of these planes (planes from local flying clubs). And, he did take us to the flying club and get us a ride in the Pushpak and a glider that the flying club had,” she was quoted as saying. Kalpana had been inspired by JRD Tata’s work in aviation.
Bharat Gaurav - Asha Devi (Nirbhaya's Mother) - The Warrior
Nirbhaya’s mother Asha Devi recounted her over seven years of struggle in contesting the legal battle, which finally concluded with the execution of four convicts Mukesh Singh, Akshay Singh Thakur, Vinay Sharma and Pawan Gupta — on March 20. One of them, Ram Singh, allegedly committed suicide in the Tihar Jail days after the trial began in the case and another, a juvenile, was released in 2015 after spending three years in a correctional home.
The case pertains to the brutal gang rape and killing of a 23-year-old paramedical student in a moving bus on the night of December 16, 2012, by six people including a juvenile in the national capital. The woman had died at a Singapore hospital a few days later.
Our wait for justice was painful and agonising but we finally got it, Asha Devi, the mother of Nirbhaya said minutes after four of her daughter’s rapists and killers were hanged at Delhi’s Tihar Jail this morning, over seven years after the young medical student was gang-raped and tortured on a moving bus in the capital.
“We will continue our fight for justice for India’s daughters. Our wait for justice was painful and agonising. We finally got justice,” she told reporters.
Nevertheless, there was a delay but finally, it concluded with what the convicts really deserved, the bereaved mother Asha Devi mentioned, “This was the first time in the Indian history that four rapists were hanged to death, which sent a strong message to the society that no mercy will be shown to brutal criminals existing in the society.”
“Nirbhaya has got justice. This is the first December 16 after the four rape convicts have been hanged to death,” Asha expressed her satisfaction with the legal systems. It has also reimposed faith in the legal system among those rape survivors, who were fighting for justice.“Eight years ago, I committed myself to raise my voice against the rape incident. Now my pledge to fight for justice for rape victims will continue in the future,” she said. The bereaved mother also suggested: “to change the mindset of men, which will work in containing such an incident”.
The case had created an uproar across the country, where a large number of people came out on the streets, demanding justice for the victim, who was renamed ‘Nirbhaya’ or the fearless. She said that it might be that Nirbhaya was served justice but the pain would remain with us forever.
