Amitabh Bachchan

(October 11, 1942, Allahabad, India-Alive). Actor. Known for his deep baritone voice and brooding persona. Has appeared in over 166 films, including Saat Hindustani (1969), Bandhe Haath (1973), Satte Pe Satta (1982), Indrajeet (1991), Mohabbatein (2000), and Waqt: The Race Against Time (2005). Named Best Actor, 1978, 1979, 1992, 2002. First Bollywood action hero.

Most Reverend Bishop Thumma Bala

(April 24, 1944, Narimetta, Andhra Pradesh, India-Alive). Roman Catholic Bishop of Warangal, Andhra Pradesh, India. Ordained Priest, December 21, 1970. Professor. Bishop of Warangal, Andhra Pradesh, India, March 12, 1987-Current.

Smt. Tanjore Balasaraswati

(May 13, 1918, Tanjore, India-February 9, 1984). Tamil Carnatic dancer. Known for her rendering of Bharatanatyam. Made her debut at age seven. Received Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1956) and Fellowship (1975). Considered the greatest Indian dancer by many.

His Holiness Sri Shivarudra Balayogi Maharaj

(September 20, 1954, Kolar, India-Alive). Hindu Guru. Given name was Seenu, but now known as Babaji. Disciple of Sri Sri Sri Shivabalayogi Maharaj, known as Swamiji. Initiated Sanyasin, 1977. Worked under his Guru until Swamiji died, March 28, 1994. Shortly thereafter, Babji was placed into Tapas by the spirit of his Guru, November 10, 1994. In the third year of his 5 years in Tapas, he received the name Shivarudra Balayogi. He now carries on the work of his Guru through the Shri Shiva Balayogi Maharaj Trust.

Saint Goswami Shri Balendu Ji Maharaj

(October 14, 1971, Vrindavan, India-Alive). Hindu Swami and Spiritual Teacher. Known as Swamiji. Son of Goswami Balakram Sharan. Began preaching at nine years of age. Founder, Shree Bindu Sewa Sansthan Ashram, Vrindavan, India, 1995. After a 3-1/2 year period of seclusion, he began performing spiritual healings. Now travels widely and conducts workshops on Hatha Yoga and Kriya Yoga.

Havel's House of History

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Pooja Batra

(October 27, 1976, Faizabad, Uttar Pradesh, India-Alive). Actress and Model. Miss India of 1993. Noted as a super model. First Indian model for the "Head & Shoulders" launch in India. Has appeared in numerous films since 1997, including Virasat (1997), Bhai (1997), Haseen Maan Jayegi (1999), Oruvan (2000), Kahin Pyar Na Ho Jaye (2001), Parwane (2003), and Taj Mahal (2005). Nominated for Best Supporting Actress and Best Actress at the Filmfare Awards.

Bishan Singh Bedi

(September 25, 1946, Amritsar, India- Alive). Cricketeer. A Slow left arm unorthodox bowler averaging 28.71 in Test cricket. Captained the Indian Cricket Team, 1975-1979, and represented Northamptonshire in county cricket. Part of the famous Indian spin quartet.

Sonali Bendre

(January 1, Mumbai, India-Alive). Model and Actress. Has appeared in over 15 films, including Bombay (1994), Diljale (1996), Qahar (1997), Hum Saath Saath Hain (1999), and Dil Hi Dil Mein (2000).

Annie Wood Besant

(October 1, 1847, London, England-September 21, 1933, Madras, India). International President, Theosophical Society, 1907-1933. Married in 1866, then divorced, Reverend Frank Besant. Became a colleague of Charles Bradlaugh, 1874. Lecturer on women's rights. Co-Founder, Freethought Publishing Company, 1876. Arrested for distributing birthcontrol information. Joined the Theosophical Society, 1888. Elected to London, England, School Board, 1889. Co-Editor, Lucifer magazine. Leader of the Esoteric Section for Europe and India, Theosophical Society, 1891. Author of Seven Principles of Man and Karma (1892). Represented Theosophy at the World Parliament of Religions, 1893. International President, Theosophical Society, 1907-1933. Proclaimed Jiddu Krishnamurti a new world Avatar, 1912 (which he personally renounced in 1929). Co-Founder, Order of the Temple of the Rosy Cross, 1912. Active in the Indian freedom movement. Interned by British during WWI. President, Indian National Congress, 1917.

Pooja Bhatt

(February 28, 1972, India-Alive). Actress and Producer. Has appeared in over 15 films, including Ktranti Kshetra (1993), Sawaan (1995), Tamanna (1997), Zakhm (1998), Angaarey (1998), and Everybody Says I'm Fine (2001).

Sanjay Bhattacharya

(1958, Calcutta, India-Alive). Artist. Has had seven One-Man Shows. Represented in works at India House in London, the World Bank, the New Delhi Hilton and elsewhere.

Acharya Vinoba Bhave

(September 11, 1895, Gagode, Maharashtra, India-November 15, 1982, Paunar, Maharashtra, India). Spiritual Successor of Mahatma Gandhi. Born Vinayak Narahari Bhave. Jailed by British during Quit India movement, 1932. Chosen by Gandhi to be the first Individual Satyagrahi, 1940. Author of Talks on the Gita and the hymn "Om Tat." Founder of the Bhoodan (Land Gift) Movement and Sarvodaya (Awakening) Movement. Campaigned against slaughtering cows. Founded an ashram in Paunar, India. Received Ramon Magsaysay Award, 1958; Bharat Ratna Award (posthumously), 1983.

Ganga Prasad Birla

(1922-Alive). Industrialist. Received Padma Bhushan, 2006.

Helena Petrovna Blavatsky

(July 30/August 12 (OS), 1831, Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine-May 8, 1891, London, England). Co-Founder, The Theosophical Society. Briefly the wife of General Nikifor Blavatsky. Left him and moved to Constantinople. Spent 25 years exploring the occult and meeting key religious leaders. Founded a spiritualist society in Egypt. Arrived in the United States in 1870s. Founded the Theosophical Society with Colonel Henry S. Olcott and William Q. Judge, September 8, 1875. Repudiated spiritualism in Isis Unveiled (1877) and espoused an occult emphasis on reincarnation, karma, and ancient wisdom. Became an American citizen, July 8, 1878. Established headquarters in Adyar, India, 1879. Author of The Secret Doctrine (1888), The Voice of Silence (1889), and The Key to Theosophy (1889). Denounced as a fraud, she moved to London, but continued her work until her death. One of the modern occult's most influential leaders.

Most Reverend Bishop Francis Leo Braganza, S.J.

(January 29, 1922, Bombay, India-Alive). Roman Catholic Bishop of Baroda, India, 1987-1997. Ordained Priest, Society of Jesus, November 21, 1951. Bishop of Baroda, India, April 27, 1987. Retired, August 29, 1997.

Sri La Sri Swami Bua Maharaj

(c. 1890-??). Hindu Swami. Founder and Head of the Indo-American Yoga-Vedanta Society of New York. Named "Hindu of the Year," 1998. A hatha yogi. Born crippled, he was presumed dead at age 10 and placed on a funeral pyre. Apparently he began to shake when the fire was lit and everyone fled except a single sadhu, who retrieved him from the flames and nourished him back to health. His service as a sannyasin dates from that time.

His Holiness Dr. Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin Saheb

(March 6, 1915, Surat, India-Alive). Islamic Leader and 52nd Dai-al-Mutlaq, Viceregent and Representative of the Imam on Earth in Seclusion, Shia Dawoodi Bohra Community, 1968-Current. Succeeded his father, His Holiness Dr. Syedna Taher Saifuddin, as 52nd Dai-al-Mutlaq of the Shia Dawoodi Bohra Community, 1968. Noted for his leadership in the education of the Ismaili Muslim community he heads and for philanthropic works.

Radha Burnier

(1923, Adyar, India-Alive). President, International Theosophical Society. Daughter of N. Sri Ram, 5th President of the International Theosophical Society. Joined Theosophical Society, 1935. Master of Arts in Sanskrit, Benares Hindu University. Honorary Doctorate, Nagarjuna University. Classical Indian dancer. Director, Adyar Library and Research Center, 1954-1980. Played a major dramatic and dance role in the Renoir film The River. General Secretary, Indian Section, International Theosophical Society, 1960-1978. President, International Theosophical Society, 1980-Current. Editor, The Theosophist. Lecturer. Chairman, Olcott Education Society. President, Besant Education Fellowship. Author of Human Regeneration.