Famous Personalities
Vinayak Damodar Savarkar
Vinayak Damodar Savarkar (1883–1966) was a freedom fighter, revolutionary, writer, and the architect of Hindutva. Born in Bhagur, Near Nashik, Maharashtra, he played a pivotal role in India’s independence movement, inspiring youth through his radical ideologies and revolutionary activities. While studying in England, he founded organizations like Abhinav Bharat Society and the Free India Society, advocating complete independence.
Savarkar’s book, The Indian War of Independence, challenged British narratives and became a manifesto for revolutionaries. Arrested and sentenced to two life terms in the Andaman Cellular Jail, he authored Hindutva, defining Hindu cultural unity beyond religion, encompassing Buddhists, Jains, and Sikhs.
As president of the Hindu Mahasabha, Savarkar championed Hindu unity, opposed the Quit India Movement, and criticized the partition of India. A staunch rationalist, he advocated testing religious beliefs through science. Acquitted in the Gandhi assassination case, Savarkar remains a controversial yet influential figure.
Today, Port Blair’s airport honors him as Veer Savarkar International Airport, cementing his legacy as a symbol of resilience and vision for Bharat.
Vishnu Vaman Shirwadkar (Kusumagraj)
Vishnu Vaman Shirwadkar, better known as Kusumagraj (1912–1999), was a celebrated Marathi poet, playwright, novelist, and humanist. Over a five-decade career beginning in the pre-independence era, he authored 16 poetry collections, 18 plays, and numerous short stories, essays, and novels. His iconic works, like Vishakha (1942) and Natsamrat, resonate deeply in Indian literature and freedom movement history. Honored with the Jnanpith Award (1987), Padma Bhushan (1991), and the Sahitya Akademi Award (1974), Kusumagraj remains a timeless voice of justice, freedom, and artistic brilliance.
Vasant Kanetkar
Born in 1920 at Rahimutpur, Satara district, Sri Vasant Kanetkar was educated in Pune and Sangli. His father was the famous S. K. Kanetkar popularly known as Kavi Girish, scholar poet and founder member of the Ravi Kiran Mandal that devoted itself to serving the cause of the poetic muse. Sri Vasant Kanetkar’s career presents a striking parallel to that of his illustrious father. Soon after his M.A. which he obtained at Sangli in 1948, he joined as a lecturer in Nashik. In 1950, he became a life member of Gokhale Education Society with which he was associated till 1972. Sri Kanketkar was fortunate to have been guided initially in the literary endeavours of his youth by the famous Marathi novelist V.V.Khandekar to whom he was related and by the well-known educationist and literature V.K. Gokak who had taught him at Sangli. While the former taught him to savour the classics, the latter gave him a through insight into Shakespearean drama. In 1950 Kanetkar published his first major work, Ghar, an experimental novel combining the stream of consciousness technique and free verse, which registered notable success. This was followed by two more novels.
Anant Kanhere
Born in 1891 in a small village in Ratnagiri, Maharashtra, Anant Laxman Kanhere grew up during an era charged with anti-British sentiments. He completed his education in Nizamabad and Aurangabad, where he came into contact with revolutionary groups inspired by the Savarkar brothers and the Abhinav Bharat Society.
At just 18, Anant became a central figure in India’s struggle for freedom. On December 21, 1909, during a farewell event at Nashik’s Vijayanand Theatre, he assassinated British officer A.M.T. Jackson, who had played a role in prosecuting freedom fighters. Though Anant planned to take his own life to protect his comrades, he was captured and later hanged in Thane Prison on April 19, 1910, alongside his fellow revolutionaries Krishnaji Karve and Vinayak Deshpande.
Their sacrifice ignited the spirit of resistance across India. A Marathi film, 1909, was released in 2014, commemorating Anant’s courage and the pivotal event at Vijayanand Theatre, Nashik.
Dhundiraj Govind Phalke
Dhundiraj Govind Phalke, popularly known as Dadasaheb Phalke (1870–1944), pioneered Indian cinema. His debut film, Raja Harishchandra (1913), marked India’s first full-length feature. Over a 19-year career, he directed 95 movies and 26 short films, including classics like Mohini Bhasmasur (1913), Lanka Dahan (1917), and Kaliya Mardan (1919).
To honor his monumental contribution, the Government of India instituted the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1969, the highest recognition in Indian cinema. His legacy is celebrated through awards and a 1971 postage stamp in his name. Born in Trimbak, Maharashtra, Phalke’s journey from a Sanskrit scholar’s family to a cinematic visionary inspires generations.
Tantiya Tope (Tatya Tope)
Tatya Tope was born in Yeola in Nashik district in 1814. Tatya is the second child of Pandurang Tope s. His original name is Raghunath. His name was also kept as Ram Chandra. Not much is known about Tantia Tope s personal life except for short accounts in Hindi and Marathi. The ones in English are mostly historical accounts of the Indian Rebellion of 1857. Tantia Tope was born as Ramachandra Panduranga and took on the title Tope, meaning commanding officer, probably derived from Tope, Hindi for cannon or artillery. According to an official statement, Tantia Tope s father was Panduranga, an inhabitant of Jola Pargannah, Patoda Zilla Nagar, in present-day Maharashtra. Tope was a Mara?ha Vashista Brahman by birth. In a government letter, he was said to be the minister of Baroda, while he was held identical to Nana Sahib in another communication. A witness at his trial described Tantia Tope as a man of middling stature, with a wheat complexion and always wearing a white chukri-dar turban.
Pandit Vishnu Digambar Paluskar
Pandit Vishnu Digambar Paluskar (August 18, 1872 – August 21, 1931) was a Hindustani musician. He sang the original version of the bhajan Raghupati Raghava Raja Ram, and founded the Gandharva Mahavidyalaya in 1901. He is also credited with arranging “Vandematharam” as we hear today. His original surname was Gadgil, but as they hailed from the village Palus (near Sangli), they came to be known as the “Paluskar” family. Vishnu Digambar Paluskar was born in a Marathi family of Kurundwad, a small town named bellgaon falling under the Deccan division of Bombay Presidency during British rule, presently in Maharashtra. His father, Digambar Gopal Paluskar, was a singer of Kirtan (a religious song).
Vamandada Kardak
Vamandada Kardak (15 August 1922 – 15 May, 2004, popularly known as Vamanadada, was a activist of Marathi Shahir, Poet and Ambedkar movement) during his lifetime his four poetry collections were published. Kardak More than 10,000 songs have been composed by Dr. Ambedkar. The idea of Bharat Ratna Doctor Babasaheb Ambedkar was done through the powerful voice of Abhijidhari movement, Lokshahir Vaman Kardak, in his hometown of the Maharashtra through the writings of the Ambedkar movement. The thoughts of Buddha, Phule and Ambedkar were the breath of Vamanaad, the energy center. Vandanada continued to move towards the end of life by spreading this thought effectively. This has kept the society awake.
Lalita Pawar
Lalita Pawar (18 April 1916 – 24 February 1998) was a prolific Indian actress, who later became famous as a character actress, appearing in over 700 films in Hindi, Marathi and Gujarati cinema, where she gave hits such as Netaji Palkar (1938), made by Bhalji Pendharkar, New Hana Pictures’ Sant Damaji, Navyug Chitrapat’s Amrit, written by VS Khandekar, and Chhaya Films’ Gora Kumbhar. Her other memorable roles were in the films Anari (1959), Shri 420 and Mr & Mrs 55, and the role of Manthara, in Ramanand Sagar’s television epic serial Ramayan.
Pawar was born as Amba Laxman Rao Sagun on 18 April 1916, into an orthodox family in Yeola in Nashik. Her father Laxman Rao Shagun was a rich silk and cotton piecegoods merchant. She started her acting career at age nine in the film Raja Harishchandra (1928), and later went on to play lead roles in the silent era and 1940s films, in a career that lasted until the end of her life, spanning seven decades.
She co-produced and acted in a silent film Kailash (1932), and later produced another film Duniya Kya Hai in 1938, a talkie.
Vidit Gujrathi
Vidit Gujrathi, born on 24 October 1994 in Nashik, is a celebrated Indian chess Grandmaster. He earned the prestigious Grandmaster title in January 2013 at just 18 years and 3 months. Vidit is the fourth Indian to surpass the 2700 Elo rating mark, with a career peak rating of 2726, making him one of the world’s top chess players and India’s second-highest rated player after Viswanathan Anand.
Vidit’s chess journey began early, coached and inspired by renowned mentors. He became a FIDE Master in 2006 and clinched the World Youth Chess Championship (U14) in 2008, becoming India’s first champion in the category. By 2013, he had achieved several milestones, including three GM norms and a bronze medal at the World Junior Chess Championship.
Known for his exceptional positional play, Vidit has consistently performed in elite tournaments like the Tata Steel Rapid and Blitz, representing India on the global stage. With a strong foundation and a strategic mind, Vidit continues to inspire as a leading figure in Indian chess.
Pradnya Gadre
Pradnya Gadre (born 17 October 1990) is an Indian badminton player from Nashik, Maharashtra who currently plays doubles and mixed doubles. She partners Ashwini Ponnappa for women’s doubles events. The other partners she earlier paired up for women’s doubles are Jyotshna P, Prajakta Sawant, Nitya Sosale. She is the wife of Indian badminton player Pranav Chopra. For mixed doubles Events she partners with Akshay Dewalkar, earlier it was Pranaav Jerry Chopra. She is sponsored by Flypower-arbi sports.
Sayali Bhagat
Sayali hails from the city of Nashik and was born in Maharashtra, in a traditional Gujarati family. She studied at Fravashi Academy, Nashik, and completed her graduation in BMS (Bachelor of Management Studies) from Alkesh Dinesh Mody Institute of Finance and Management Studies. The college is located inside Mumbai University campus, Kalina, Santacruz
Like many other beauty contest winners, Sayali entered the modeling industry followed by Bollywood. Her initial modeling assignments were for Dentzz, SNDT College show and Swarovski gems fashion show. The Train: Some Lines Should Never Be Crossed was her first Hindi film, co-starring Emraan Hashmi and Geeta Basra. The movie was released on 8 July 2007.
She also appeared as a journalist from Singapore, who pretends to interview Indian cricketer Rahul Dravid on the show MTV Bakra. In 2009, she was seen in the Hindi movie named, Paying Guests, opposite Javed Jaffrey. She also appeared in a music video for the popular Punjabi song “Aish Karo” by A.S. Kang.
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Kavita Raut - Tungar
Born on May 5, 1985, in Sawarpada, Nashik, Maharashtra, Kavita Tungar (née Raut) is a celebrated Indian long-distance runner. She holds national records for the 10 km road race (34:32) and the half marathon (1:12:50). Kavita made history by winning the bronze medal in the 10,000 meters at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, the first track medal for an Indian woman in the event’s history.
She also secured a silver medal at the 2010 Asian Games, setting her personal best (31:51.44), and clinched multiple medals in Asian championships and National Games. A recipient of the prestigious Arjuna Award (2012) and Suvarnaratna Award (2015), Kavita is a role model for aspiring athletes.