The Northeast punches way above its weight. Sometimes literally. This is a starter list of people who made the whole country look up, and it is deliberately incomplete. Our People section exists to keep adding to it, especially the names that never made national headlines.
Bhupen Hazarika · Assam
Singer, composer, poet and filmmaker, known as the Bard of the Brahmaputra. His songs, including “Dil Hoom Hoom Kare”, crossed languages and borders. He was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 2019, and the Dhola-Sadiya bridge over the Lohit river is named after him.
Mary Kom · Manipur
A six-time world boxing champion and Olympic bronze medallist at London 2012. She inspired a generation of girls in Manipur and across India to step into the ring.
Mirabai Chanu · Manipur
The weightlifter who won silver at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, India’s first medal of those Games. Her story of training in the hills, carrying firewood as a child, became a national favourite.
Lovlina Borgohain · Assam
Olympic bronze medallist in boxing at Tokyo 2020, from Golaghat district, and a role model for young athletes across the state.
Hima Das · Assam
The “Dhing Express”. In 2018 she became the first Indian woman to win a gold medal in a track event at a World U20 Athletics Championship, in the 400 metres.
Baichung Bhutia · Sikkim
Former captain of the Indian football team and one of the country’s most celebrated players. A stadium in Namchi carries his name.
Lou Majaw · Meghalaya
Shillong’s beloved rock veteran, famous for decades of concerts celebrating Bob Dylan’s birthday every 24 May. If Shillong is India’s rock capital, Lou is one of the reasons.
Zubeen Garg · Assam
The voice of a generation in Assam, who also sang across many languages and in Bollywood. His death in 2025 brought vast crowds into the streets of Guwahati in mourning.
For every famous name here, there are a hundred brilliant people in the Northeast you have not heard of yet. That is our job.
Who should we profile next? A teacher, a chef, a founder, a farmer, a grandmother with a story? Nominate them at contact@lifeinnortheast.com.
Quick answers
Who is the most famous person from Northeast India?
Bhupen Hazarika of Assam and boxer Mary Kom of Manipur are among the most widely known. Hazarika was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 2019.
Which Olympic medallists are from Northeast India?
Mary Kom (bronze, London 2012), Mirabai Chanu (silver, Tokyo 2020) and Lovlina Borgohain (bronze, Tokyo 2020) are Olympic medallists from the region.
Who is Lou Majaw?
Lou Majaw is a Shillong rock musician famous for decades of concerts celebrating Bob Dylan’s birthday every 24 May.