Born and died in 2001

First president of Senegal, renowned poet, cultural theorist, and French resistance fighter

English musician, lead guitarist of the Beatles, and solo artist known for integrating non-Western musical influences

Italian lawyer, politician, and university professor who served as the 6th President of Italy from 1971 to 1978

South African cardiac surgeon who performed the world's first human-to-human heart transplant operation

American R&B singer, actress, and model known for redefining contemporary R&B, pop, and hip hop

British astronomer, astrophysicist, and writer known for co-formulating the theory of stellar nucleosynthesis, explaining the formation of elements within stars

Brazilian writer, poet, and novelist known for his modernist works translated into 49 languages, depicting a Mestiço Brazil and nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature multiple times

Indian dacoit who transformed into a politician, serving as a Member of Parliament and becoming a symbol of resistance for marginalized communities

Soviet physicist and educator who shared the 1964 Nobel Prize in Physics for his fundamental work in quantum electronics, leading to the development of laser and maser

Finnish children's writer, illustrator, painter, and comic strip author, best known as the creator of the Moomins and for her distinctive art style

Mexican and American actor who won two Academy Awards and appeared in over 100 films, television shows, and stage productions, known for his passionate character portrayals

Indian writer and novelist renowned for creating the fictional South Indian town of Malgudi, a key figure in early Indian literature in English