India, a land of diverse cultures, rich traditions, and incredible achievements, has been home to countless pioneers who have achieved remarkable feats and broken new ground in various fields. From science and technology to sports and arts, these individuals have earned their place in history by becoming the “First in India” to accomplish extraordinary milestones. In this blog, we embark on a journey to explore the stories of these exceptional trailblazers and celebrate their indomitable spirit and groundbreaking achievements. Join us as we delve into the captivating world of “Bharat Me Pratham,” where the pursuit of excellence knows no bounds.
Bharat Me Pratham
1. Introduction
- “Bharat Me Pratham” translates to “First in India.”
- It signifies being the first in various achievements and milestones in India.
- The term highlights the country’s progress and accomplishments.
- India has a rich history of being a pioneer in various fields.
- Being “First in India” reflects the nation’s diversity and potential.
- Achievements are celebrated as they contribute to the nation’s growth.
- India has excelled in multiple domains, including science, technology, and sports.
- “Bharat Me Pratham” serves as a source of inspiration for future achievements.
- It fosters a sense of pride and nationalism among Indians.
- This phrase encapsulates India’s journey of excellence.
2. Scientific Achievements
- India was the first country to discover the concept of zero in mathematics.
- Aryabhata, an ancient Indian mathematician and astronomer, made significant contributions.
- Bhaskaracharya, also known as Bhaskara II, made pioneering contributions to calculus.
- The first recorded surgery was performed in India around 600 BCE.
- Sushruta, an ancient Indian physician, is known as the “Father of Surgery.”
- India’s ancient knowledge systems included Ayurveda, Yoga, and astronomy.
- Indian scientists like C.V. Raman and Satyendra Nath Bose made groundbreaking discoveries.
- India’s Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan) was the first to succeed in its maiden attempt.
- Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) made India the first Asian country to reach Mars.
- India also boasts achievements in nuclear energy and information technology.
3. Technological Advancements
- India’s IT industry played a key role in the global software services sector.
- India was among the first countries to adopt a digital identity system (Aadhar).
- The first Indian satellite, Aryabhata, was launched in 1975.
- India developed its own supercomputer, PARAM, in the 1990s.
- The introduction of the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) revolutionized digital payments.
- India has a thriving startup ecosystem, particularly in tech.
- The country has made strides in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals.
- The first Indian-built aircraft, the Hansa, was developed in 1993.
- India is a pioneer in affordable healthcare technologies.
- The nation’s achievements in technology continue to expand.
4. Cultural and Historical Firsts
- India is home to the world’s oldest known civilization, the Indus Valley Civilization.
- The first recorded use of the decimal system was in ancient India.
- India is the birthplace of major religions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism.
- The concept of non-violence or “Ahimsa” originated in India.
- The world’s first university, Takshashila, was in ancient India.
- The Indian epic, Mahabharata, is one of the longest epic poems in history.
- India’s classical dance forms, such as Bharatanatyam and Kathak, are renowned.
- The Ramayana and Mahabharata are among the world’s oldest epic poems.
- India has a rich tradition of classical music and instruments.
- The nation’s cultural contributions continue to influence the world.
5. Sporting Achievements
- India won its first Olympic gold medal in field hockey in 1928.
- Dhyan Chand, an Indian hockey player, is considered one of the greatest athletes of all time.
- P.T. Usha was the first Indian woman to reach the finals of an Olympic event.
- Abhinav Bindra won India’s first individual Olympic gold medal in shooting.
- Mary Kom is the first Indian woman boxer to win six World Championships.
- India has made significant strides in cricket, becoming a cricketing powerhouse.
- Milkha Singh, known as the “Flying Sikh,” was India’s first international athletics star.
- Indian athletes have excelled in badminton and tennis on the international stage.
- India hosted the first-ever Asian Games in 1951.
- Indian sports personalities continue to make the nation proud.
6. Educational Milestones
- India’s ancient universities, like Nalanda and Taxila, attracted scholars from around the world.
- The first formal educational institution in India was established in 600 BCE.
- The Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) are globally recognized for technical education.
- The Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) are prestigious business schools.
- India has a strong tradition of ancient and modern education.
- The country is known for its contributions to literature and philosophy.
- Rabindranath Tagore was the first Asian to win a Nobel Prize in Literature.
- The first modern university in India, the University of Calcutta, was established in 1857.
- India’s literacy rate has steadily increased over the years.
- Education continues to be a key focus for the country’s development.
7. Healthcare Advancements
- India is known for its ancient system of medicine, Ayurveda.
- The first known surgery was performed in India over 2,600 years ago.
- India has a robust pharmaceutical industry and is a global leader in generic drugs.
- The country produces a significant portion of the world’s vaccines.
- India’s healthcare sector has made strides in medical research and innovation.
- Indian doctors and healthcare professionals are highly regarded internationally.
- The country has a growing medical tourism industry.
- Traditional Indian practices like yoga and meditation are globally popular for well-being.
- India is pioneering research in areas like stem cell therapy and organ transplantation.
- Accessible and affordable healthcare remains a focus for India’s development.
8. Economic Achievements
- India was one of the world’s earliest centers of trade, with the Indus Valley Civilization.
- The country has a history of skilled craftsmanship and manufacturing.
- India introduced the concept of banking and coinage to the world.
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is one of the oldest central banks in the world.
- India has a diverse economy, including agriculture, manufacturing, and services.
- The Green Revolution in the 1960s made India self-sufficient in food production.
- The nation’s software services industry has seen exponential growth.
- India’s economic reforms in 1991 opened up the economy to global markets.
- The country is a leader in space technology and satellite launches.
- India’s economic achievements continue to shape its global position.
9. Environmental Initiatives
- India was among the first nations to emphasize environmental conservation in its ancient texts.
- The Chipko Movement, which began in the 1970s, was a pioneering environmental movement.
- The nation has taken significant steps towards renewable energy, including solar and wind power.
- India ratified the Paris Agreement on climate change in 2016.
- The country has set ambitious goals for reducing carbon emissions.
- Initiatives like Swachh Bharat Abhiyan focus on cleanliness and sanitation.
- India’s biodiversity includes the first-known record of domesticated rice.
- The nation is home to the Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest.
- India’s wildlife conservation efforts include protecting the Bengal tiger.
- The nation is committed to preserving its natural heritage for future generations.
10. Social and Cultural Progress
- India has a rich tradition of social reforms led by figures like Raja Ram Mohan Roy.
- The country is known for its cultural diversity and tolerance.
- The first documented use of the concept of “secularism” was in India.
- India’s film industry, Bollywood, is one of the largest in the world.
- The nation celebrates numerous cultural festivals and traditions.
- India has made significant strides in gender equality and women’s empowerment.
- The Indian Constitution guarantees fundamental rights and freedoms to all citizens.
- The nation has a strong tradition of non-violent resistance and civil disobedience.
- India is committed to promoting education and healthcare for all.
Listings
Polity & Governance
First President of India | Dr. Rajendra Prasad |
First Female President of India | Pratibha Patil |
First Vice-President of India | Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan |
First President of Indian National Congress | Womesh Chandra Banerjee |
First Dalit President of India | K.R. Narayana |
First Prime Minister of India | Jawaharlal Nehru |
First Female Prime Minister of India | Indira Gandhi |
First Chief Election Commissioner of India | Sukumar Sen |
First Viceroy of India | Lord Canning |
First Governor-General of India | Lord William Bentinck |
First Chief Justice of India | H.J Kania |
First Female Chief Justice of India | Leila Seth |
First Speaker of Lok Sabha | G. V. Mavlankar |
First Home Minister of India | Sardar Vallabhai Patel |
First Chairperson of Lokpal of India | Pinaki Chandra Ghose |
First Transgender Mayer of India | Madhu Bai Kinnar |
First Muslim President of India | Zakir Hussain |
First Female Governor of India | Sarojini Naidu |
Defence
First Defence Minister of India | Baldev Singh Choker |
First Commander-in-Chief of Free India | Kodandera Madappa Cariappa |
First Commander-in-Chief, Indian Air Force | Subroto Mukherjee |
First Field Marshal | Sam Manekshaw |
First Param Vir Chakra Winner | Major Somnath Sharma |
First Female Jawan in the Army | Shanti Tigga |
First Indian woman to fly fighter aircraft without co-pilot | IAF Officer Avani Chaturvedi |
First cosmonaut | Sqn Ldr Rakesh Sharma |
First woman in the Indian Army awarded the coveted ‘Sword of Honour’ prize | Divya Ajith Kumar |
Awards & Honors
First Indian Nobel Laureate | Rabindranath Tagore |
First Bharat Ratna Award: | Dr. S. Radhakrishnan |
First Scientist to get Nobel Prize | C.V. Raman |
First woman to get Bharat Ratna Award | Indira Gandhi |
First Indian to get Ashok Chakra | Rakesh Sharma (Astronaut) |
First woman to get Ashok Chakra | Neerja Bhanot |
First Indian to get Jnanpith Award | G. Shankar Kurup |
First Transgender to get Padma Shri | Narthaki Nataraj |
First Sportsperson to get Padma Shri | Balbir Singh Dosanjh |
First Indian to receive Param Vir Chakra | Major Somnath Sharma |
First Indian to receive Oscar award | Bhanu Athaiya |
First Indian to receive Magsaysay Award | Acharya Vinoba Bhave |
First Indian to receive Stalin Prize | Saifuddin Kitchlu |
First Indian to receive Nobel Prize in Medicine | Hargovind Khurana |
First Indian to receive Nobel Prize in Economics | Amartya Sen |
Science & Technology
First hydroelectric plant | Sidrapong (Darjeeling) |
First Indian Man in Space | Rakesh Sharma |
First Nuclear Reactor | Apsara (Maharashtra) |
First satellite | Aryabhatta |
First successfully indigenous launch vehicle | SLV-3 |
First genetically modified food product in India | Bt. Eggplant Hybrid [Banned] |
First to pass the examination of the Indian Medical Service (IMS) | Surjo Kumar Chakraborty |
First Indian to be appointed as the deputy director-general of programmes (DDP) of the World Health Organization (WHO) | Dr. Soumya Swaminathan |
First satellite earth station for domestic communications | Secunderabad |
First Indian to get Nobel Prize in Physics | C.V. Raman |
First Computer developed in India | TIFRAC |
First Newspaper in India | The Bengal Gazette, 1780 |
First Female Doctor in India | Rukhmabai Bhimrao Raut |
First moon mission of India | Chandrayan-1 (2008-2009) |
First Indian to develop an Airplane | Shivkar Bapuji Talpade |
First Nuclear Plant in India | Tarapur Atomic Power Plant-1 |
Sports
First Olympics Team Medal | Gold in Field Hockey (1928, Summer Olympics) |
First Indian woman wrestler to win an Asian gold medal | Navjot Kaur |
First Indian woman badminton player to win an Asian Games medal | Saina Nehwal |
First Indian woman to win a medal at Asian Games | Santhi Soundarajan |
First person to win the international bronze medal in skiing | Aanchal Thakur |
First Woman to Win an Olympic Silver Medal | P. V. Sindhu in Badminton |
First female to represent India at the Summer Olympics | Nora Polley, 1924 Summer Olympics |
First Individual Gold Medal won by | Abhinav Bindra, 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing |
First Woman to Win a Medal in Wrestling | Sakshi Malik won Bronze in the 2016 Summer Olympics |
First Indian to receive Gold Medal at Olympics | Abhinav Bindra |
First woman to win in Olympics | Karnam Malleswari |
First Chess Grandmaster of India | Viswanathan Anand |
First Woman to be awarded the Padma Shri | Arati Saha |
First Win in Cricket World Cup for India | 1983 |
First Paralympics Medal | Murlikant Petkar, Gold, Swimming, 1974 |
Miscellaneous
First Hindi newspaper in India | Udant Martand (30 May 1826) |
First woman to climb Mount Everest | Bachendri Pal |
First Asian Games in India | New Delhi, 1951 |
First Temple constructed from a single rock | Kailasa Temple at Ellora |
First Dam in India | Kallanai Dam |
First Space Shuttle launched in India | RLV-TD, 2016 |
First Indian Pilot in India | J.R.D. Tata |
First woman to go to space from India | Kalpana Chawla |
First church in India | St. Thomas Church, Palayoor |
First mosque in India | Cheraman Juma Mosque in Methala |
First Indian temple with many interconnected structures | Brihadeeswarar Temple, Tamil Nadu |