Encyclopedias attempt to summarize the state of knowledge in a field of inquiry. A good encyclopedia can be a valuable starting point for your research.
Two online reference collections that students often find useful are: Oxford Reference Online, and Gale Virtual Reference Library.
The International and Area Studies Library has several encyclopedias in addition to those listed below, like the India Who's Who and the series Reference Guide to India.
Below are some sources of Indian biography. For more general information, visit the Reference Library's Biography guide.