Ancient and Medieval:
* Kalidasa (circa 4th-5th century CE): Widely considered the greatest Sanskrit poet, known for works like "Meghaduta" and "Abhijnanasakuntalam."
* Valmiki (circa 5th-6th century BCE): The author of the epic Ramayana, one of the most important texts in Hinduism.
* Vyasa (circa 8th-9th century BCE): Attributed with the authorship of the epic Mahabharata.
* Amir Khusrau (1253-1325): A Persian poet and musician, known for his mystical poetry and for bridging Indian and Persian traditions.
* Kabir (1440-1518): A mystic poet and reformer, known for his simple yet profound poetry that challenged religious dogma.
* Guru Nanak (1469-1539): The founder of Sikhism, known for his hymns and spiritual poetry.
* Surdas (1478-1583): A blind poet known for his devotional poetry dedicated to Lord Krishna.
* Tulsidas (1532-1623): Famous for his epic retelling of the Ramayana in Hindi, "Ramcharitmanas."
Modern:
* Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941): Nobel laureate, renowned for his lyrical poetry and philosophical writings.
* Sri Aurobindo (1872-1950): A poet, philosopher, and nationalist, known for his epic poem "Savitri."
* Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948): While known primarily as a political leader, Gandhi wrote prolifically and had a strong lyrical style.
* Sarojini Naidu (1879-1949): Known as the "Nightingale of India," for her elegant and melodious poetry.
* Harivansh Rai Bachchan (1907-2003): A prominent Hindi poet and father of actor Amitabh Bachchan, known for his epic poem "Madhushala."
* Kamala Das (1934-2009): A feminist poet who broke new ground with her frank and often controversial depictions of female sexuality and experience.
* Arun Kolatkar (1932-2004): A modernist poet known for his innovative style and use of colloquial language.
* Jaya Jaitly (born 1940): A renowned poet and politician, known for her feminist and nationalist themes.
* Agha Shahid Ali (1949-2001): A Kashmiri-American poet, known for his melancholic and elegiac poetry.
* Salman Rushdie (born 1947): While best known for his novels, Rushdie also writes poetry, and his work often explores themes of language, culture, and identity.
Contemporary:
* Sudeep Sen: A contemporary poet known for his exploration of nature and the human condition.
* Ranjit Hoskote: Known for his experimental and highly intellectual poetry.
* Jeet Thayil: A poet, novelist, and screenwriter, known for his dark and introspective work.
* Keki N. Daruwalla: A poet known for his engagement with political and social issues.
* A.K. Ramanujan: Known for his translations of Indian poetry and his original work.
This is just a small sampling of the many brilliant Indian poets. To discover more, explore different periods, genres, and languages. The richness of Indian poetry is sure to captivate and inspire.