There are thousands of scientists and technocrats behind the thriving Indian economy of today, who have been working since the 1950s, sometimes under the most unfavorable conditions. Their talent, expertise, creativity, patience, and innovation contributed to the growth of agriculture, dairy, IT, space, atomic energy, etc, which in turn made the nation of 1.5 billion people, a land of opportunities. In this talk, I will narrate the science stories from less known, often unknown, scientists whose work saved millions, created millions of jobs, and contributed to India’s good standing in the world. Time we take the lead in mitigating the impact of climate change, conserving biodiversity, and developing low cost-high quality vaccines and therapeutics for the world.