Popular figures of India have often been conferred with an honorific title by fans and followers. These generally include those that are not formally recognised. Many titles were given to various Indian leaders during Indian independence struggle.
List
+HonorificFull NameNotesPortraitAcharyaVinayak Narahari BhaveTranslates to 'respected teacher'.AzaadChandra Shekhar Tiwan"The Freed Soul" (Urdu)BabasahebBhimrao Ramji Ambedkar"The Respected Father" (Marathi). "Baba" = "father" and "Saheb" = "sir"BabujiJagjivan RamA term of respect for one's fatherBahadurSam Hormusji Framji Jamshedji ManekshawMeaning 'the Brave'. Bahadur is an honorific title bestowed upon princes and victorious military commanders by Mughal emperors, and later by their British successors.Bihar KesariShri Krishna Sinha (Singh)"Lion of Bihar" ( Hindi/Sanskrit) "Bihar" = "Bihar state" and "Kesari" = "Lion"Bihar VibhutiAnugrah Narayan Sinha"Gem of Bihar" (Hindi). "Bihar" = "Bihar state" and "Vibhuti" = "Gem"BuddhaGautamaIn Buddhism, means 'awakened one'Deen BandhuCharles Freer Andrews"Friend of the Poor" (Bengali). "Deen" = "poor" and "Bandhu" = "friend".Desh BandhuChittaranjan Das"Friend of country" (Bengali). "Desh" = "country" and "Bandhu" = "friend".Desh Nayak NetajiSubhash Chandra Bose"Leader of the country" (Bengali) (Hindi).
"Desh" = "country" and "Nayak" = "Leader".
"Respected leader" (Bengali) (Hindi).
"Neta" = "leader" and "ji" = an honorary title.Desh RatnaRajendra Prasad"Jewel of the Country" (Hindi). "Desh" = "country" and "Ratna" = "jewel"Fakhr-e-AfghanAbdul Ghaffār Khānفخرِ افغان, 'Pride of Afghans'Gurudev Kobiguru
Biswakobi
The Bard of BengalRabindranath Tagore"Supreme teacher" (Bengali) (Hindi). "Guru" = "teacher" and "dev" = "Respected person".GurujiMadhavrao Sadashivrao GolwalkarHindi for 'respected teacher'Karnataka KulapurohitaAluru Venkata RaoTranslation - "High priest of the Kannada family"LokmanyaBal Gangadhar Tilak"Revered by the people" (Hindi). "Lok" = "people" and "manya" = "Revered".LoknayakJayaprakash Narayan"Leader of the people" (Hindi). "Lok" = "people" and "nayak" = "leader". MahamanaMadan Mohan Malaviya"One with greatest thoughts" (Hindi). "Mahan" = "great" and "Mann" = "thought/heart" Mahatma /Bapuji Mohandas Karamchand GandhiSanskrit for 'great soul'. In popular usage ever since Rabindranath Tagore used it to refer to him.MahatmaJotirao Govindrao Phule"Great Soul" (Sanskrit). "Maha" = "great" and "atma" = "soul".MaulanaAbul Kalam Azad"Our lord" (Arabic).MootharignarChakravarti RajagopalachariTamil for "the Scholar Emeritus", for his scholarly contribution to the Tamil literature.Nata SaarvabhoumaSinganalluru Puttaswamaiah MuthurajKannada for 'Emperor of Actors'. Revered as so by the people of Karnataka.Pandit / ChachaJawaharlal NehruSanskrit for "learned man". Originally meant exclusively for a man expert in Hindu law and literature.Punjab KesariLala Lajpat Rai"Lion of Punjab" ( Hindi/Sanskrit) "Punjab" = "Punjab state" and "Kesari" = "Lion"RajaRam Mohan RoyTranslates to 'king' in most Indian languages. Conferred upon by Akbar II.SadhguruJagadish Vasudev"Sadhguru", alternatively spelt "sadguru", means "real or true guru". The term has also been translated as "senior sadhu; eminent preceptor".SardarVallabhbhai Jhaverbhai PatelPersian for "leader or chief". Conferred upon by his long-time mentor Mahatma Gandhi after the Bardoli Satyagraha.Shaheed e AzamBhagat Singh"Great martyr" (Urdu). "Shaheed" = "martyr" and "Azam" = "Principal".VeerVinayak Damodar SavarkarHindustani for "the brave". Popularly used by followers; now a part of popular culture.
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