Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah

(December 5, 1905, Soura, Kashmir-September 8, 1982, Srinagar, Kashmir, India). Known as Sher-e-Kashmir ("The Lion of Kashmir"). Prime Minister of Kashmir, 1948-1953, 1975-1982. Jailed for corruption and separatism, 1953-1960, 1965-1968. Exiled from Kashmir, 1971-1972. Upon his death, he was succeeded as Chief Minister by his son, Farooq Abdullah.

Swami Abhishiktananda, O.S.B.

(August 30, 1910, Saint Briac, Brittany, France-December 7, 1973, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India). Roman Catholic Priest and Sannyasin. Born Henri Le Saux. Pioneer in the spiritual dialog between Hinduism and Catholicism. Professed monk, Order of Saint Benedict, Roman Catholic Church, 1929. Ordained Priest, Order of Saint Benedict, Roman Catholic Church. Librarian and Master of Ceremonies, St. Anne de Kergonan Benedictine Monastery, 1929-1948. Began an association with Father Jules Monchanin, a missionary in India, 1934. Founded an ashram with Father Monchanin, Tannirpalli, India, 1948. Founder, Saccidananda Ashram, Shantivanam, India, 1950. Adopted the dress of a Hindu sannyasi and changed his name to Swami Abhishiktananda, 1950. Spent considerable time in caves of the Holy Mountain Arunachla, 1950-1955. Left Saccindananda and became a hermit, 1968.

Most Reverend Auxiliary Bishop Sebastian Adayanthrath

(April 5, 1957, Vaikom, India-Alive). Syro-Malabar Catholic Auxiliary Bishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly, India, 2002-Current. Ordained Priest, Syro-Malabar Rite, Roman Catholic Chuch, December 18, 1983. Syro-Malabar Catholic Auxiliary Bishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly, India and Titular Bishop of Macriana Maior, February 4, 2002-Current.

His Grace Sriman Sankarshan Das Adhikari

(c. 1955-Alive). Hare Krishna Teacher of Ultimate Self-Realization Course, 2003-Current. Initiated as a disciple of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, 1971. Ordered by Srila Prabhupada to deliver the suffering humanity from illusion, 1977. Founder, Ultimate Self-Realization Course, 2003-Current. Lives in Bhaktivedanta Ashram, Austin, Texas.

Lal Krishna Advani

(1927-Alive). Indian politician. Jana Sangha Member of the Rajya Sabha, 1970-1975, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member, 1975-1989 (Leader of the Opposition, 1980). BJP Minister of Information and Broadcasting, 1977. BJP Member of the Loka Sabha, 1989-Current. Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, 1991-1993, 2004-Current. BJP Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister, 1998-2004. Leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party to 2005.

Jagdish Agarwal

(July 26, 1948, Dinod, Haryana, India-Alive). Photographer; noted of his photo archive of Indian subjects.

E. Ahmed

(April 29, 1938, Kannur, Kerala, India-Alive). Member, Muslim League Kerala State Committee. Minister of Industry of Kerala, 1982-1987. Member of the Lok Sabha, 1991-Current. National Secretary, Indian Union Muslim League, 1995-Current. Union Minister of External Affairs, May 23, 2004-Current. Name sometimes given as E. Ahamed.

Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed

(May 13, 1905, Delhi, India-February 11, 1977, New Delhi, India) 5th President of India, 1974-1977. Member, Congress Party. Minister of Finance and Revenue of Assam, 1938-1939. Imprisoned for Satyagraha, 1940-1941, 1942-1945. Member, Rajya Sabha, 1952-1955. Advocate-General of Assam. Congress Party Member of the Lok Sabha, 1971. Union Minister of Food and Agriculture. Union Minister of Cooperation. Union Minister of Education. Union Minister of Industrial Development and Company Laws. 5th President of India, August 24, 1974-February 11, 1977.

Right Reverend Bishop George Alencherry

(April 19, 1945, Thuruthy, Kottayam, India-Alive). Roman Catholic Syro-Malabar Rite Bishop of Thuckalay, India. Ordained Priest, Syro-Malabar Rite, Roman Catholic Church, December 18, 1972. Secretary, Kerala Catholic Bishop's Conference Commission for Catechetic, 1978-1981. Director, Pastoral Orientation Center of Ernakulam, 1986-1997. Professor, Paurastya Vidyapitham Kottayam, 1986-1997. Syro-Malabar Bishop of Thuckalay, India, February 2, 1997-Current.

The Mother Mirra Alfassa

(February 21, 1878, Paris, France-November 17, 1973, Auroville, Pondicherry, India). Spiritual Teacher and Founder, Auroville, India. Known as "The Mother." Of Egyptian descent. After having occult experiences, she left France for Algeria, 1906. Studied under Max Theon. Returned to Paris, where she set up her own spiritual-esoteric circle. Traveled to India with her second husband, where she met Sri Aurobindo in Pondicherry, 1914. Returned to Pondicherry to work with Aurobindo and remained there for the rest of her life, April 24, 1920. focussed on the transformation of planetary consciousness through the supramental power. Noted author. Founder, Auroville, 1968.

Havel's House of History

You can help other collectors by contributing to the Reference Section on this site. If you have signatures and photos of notable individuals in any of the listed categories, simply scan them and email the scans to JHAVEL@columbus.rr.com. If the scanned items are suitable for use, they will be incorporated into the Reference Section collection.

Her Holiness Mata Amritanandamayi

(September 27, 1953, Parayakadavu, Kerald, India-Alive). Hindu Reincarnation of the Divine Mother. Noted healer and mystic. Lives in Germany, but enjoys a worldwide following. Founder, Mata Amritanandamayi Center.