Prafulla Chandra Ray — The neighbours did not know what to make of the young man. That he was a college lecturer and scientist, they knew. And he did experiments in the small laboratory he had set up at his house. But what scientific purpose could he hope to serve by dumping on the terrace sackfuls of cattle bones he …

Joseph Alois Ratzinger, Pope Benedict XVI, was born on 16 April, Holy Saturday, 1927 at Marktl am Inn, Diocese of Passau (Germany)and was baptised on the same day. He was the third and youngest child of Joseph Ratzinger, Sr., a police officer, and Maria Ratzinger. His father, belonged to an old family of farmers from Lower Bavaria of modest economic …

Platini — He never did win the FIFA World Cup™, the ultimate prize for a footballer. In fact, it is the only trophy missing from Platini’s impressive trophy cabinet, but that surely does not detract from his status as a footballing legend. His technical ability, reading of the game and amazing ruthlessness in front of goal made him one of …

Phineas Taylor Barnum, (July 5, 1810 – April 7, 1891) was an American showman, businessman, scam artist and entertainer, remembered for promoting celebrated hoaxes and for founding the circus that became the Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus. Although Barnum was also an author, publisher, philanthropist, and for some time a politician, he said of himself, “I am a …

Philip Seymour Hoffman (born July 23, 1967) is an American actor and director. Hoffman began acting in television in 1991, and the following year started to appear in films. He gradually gained recognition for his supporting work in a series of notable films, including Scent of a Woman (1992), Twister (1996), Boogie Nights (1997), Happiness (1998), The Big Lebowski (1998), …

Pervez Musharraf was the tenth President of Pakistan and led a military government. Pervez Musharraf was born on August 11, 1943 in Daryaganj Delhi, British India. He is the second of three brothers. Musharraf stems from the family of Politicians, His Grandfather Qazi Mohtashimuddin, retired as the Deputy Collector of Revenue based in Delhi, British India. After Independence, Musharraf’s family …

Pernessa Seele — Pernessa C. Seele was born on 15 Oct 1954. She is an immunologist and the CEO and founder of Balm in Gilead, Inc., a religious-based organization that provides support to people with AIDS and their families, as well as working for prevention of HIV and AIDS. In 1989 she initiated the Harlem Week of Prayer, with 50 …

Pepe — For Real Madrid’s centre-half Pepe, the last decade has been one of non-stop success. Like so many Brazilian footballers, the defender crossed the globe in 2000 to seek fame and fortune in European football. He ended up at Madeira club Maritimo where, after a short spell in the reserves, he established himself as a top-class central defender, and …

Pavan Varma — Writer diplomat Pavan K. Varma is a graduate in History from St. Stephen’s College, New Delhi. He joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1976. He has been Press Secretary to the President of India, the Spokesman of the Ministry of External Affairs, Joint Secretary for Africa, High Commissioner for India in Cyprus and Director of the Nehru …

Paula Radcliffe — Paula Jane Radcliffe (December 17, 1973) is an English long-distance runner and is currently the World Record holder for the marathon, which she set during the 2003 London Marathon, with a time of 2:15.25. Radcliffe was born in Davenham, Cheshire, and studied modern languages at Loughborough University. Radcliffe is not known for her sprint finish, and so …