Influential People of Haryana

• Haryana has been the birthplace and working ground of numerous influential personalities who have left their mark in various fields.
• These personalities have contributed significantly to areas like politics, sports, arts, literature, and social reform.
• Understanding the contributions of these individuals provides insight into Haryana's cultural and historical landscape.

Politics and Governance

• Sir Chhotu Ram: A prominent politician and social reformer who fought for the rights of farmers and rural communities in undivided Punjab.
• Bansi Lal: Former Chief Minister of Haryana, known for his contributions to infrastructure development and rural electrification in the state.
• Devi Lal: An influential political figure and former Deputy Prime Minister of India, remembered for championing the cause of farmers and backward classes.
• Manohar Lal Khattar: The current Chief Minister of Haryana, known for initiatives focused on transparency, e-governance, and balanced regional development.
• Sushma Swaraj: A prominent national politician and former Minister of External Affairs, she hailed from Haryana and made significant contributions to Indian foreign policy.

Sports

• Kapil Dev: A legendary cricketer and former captain of the Indian cricket team that won the 1983 Cricket World Cup.
• Hawa Singh: A renowned boxer, multiple-time national champion, and coach who made significant contributions to Indian boxing.
• Geeta Phogat: A wrestler who won India's first gold medal in wrestling at the Commonwealth Games, inspiring many women in sports.
• Babita Phogat: An accomplished wrestler and politician, known for her achievements in wrestling at the Commonwealth Games and other international events.
• Yogeshwar Dutt: An Olympic medalist in wrestling and a prominent figure in Indian wrestling for over a decade.
• Sakshi Malik: An Olympic medalist in wrestling and the first Indian woman wrestler to win a medal at the Olympics.
• Neeraj Chopra: A Javelin thrower who won a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics, becoming the first Indian to win a gold medal in athletics at the Olympics.

Arts and Literature

• Pandit Lakhmi Chand: A legendary Haryanvi poet and folk artist, known for his contributions to Haryanvi Ragini and Saang traditions.
• Deepchand Bahman: A prominent Haryanvi poet and Saangi, contributed significantly to Haryanvi folk theatre and literature.
• Daya Chand Mayna: A renowned Haryanvi poet and folk singer, known for his patriotic and socially relevant compositions.
• Gajendra Verma: A popular singer, composer, and songwriter, known for his contributions to contemporary Indian music.
• Yashpal Sharma: A Bollywood actor known for his roles in films like "Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi" and "Gangaajal".
• Om Puri: An acclaimed actor known for his work in Indian and international cinema, contributed significantly to the film industry.
• Satish Kaushik: An actor, director, and producer in the Hindi film industry, known for his comic roles and contributions to Bollywood.

Social Reform and Activism

• Swami Dayanand Saraswati: A prominent social reformer and founder of Arya Samaj, contributed to social and religious reforms in Haryana and India.
• Bhai Dayala: A Sikh martyr who stood against religious persecution, remembered for his courage and sacrifice.
• Chandravati: The first woman MLA of Haryana and a prominent political and social figure who fought for women's rights and empowerment.

Science and Technology

• Dr. Om Prakash Chautala: Known for his contributions to agricultural development and rural education in Haryana; although primarily a politician, his initiatives significantly impacted science and technology in agriculture.
• Dr. Jai Rup Singh: A distinguished scientist and academician known for his work in genetics and biotechnology, contributing significantly to research and education in the field of life sciences in Haryana.