2021 began as a year of hope but as we progressed further, the gloominess started appearing as people struggled for oxygen cylinders and hospital beds. The second wave of the pandemic bought in only bad news. We lost eminent personalities that included litterateurs, celebrities and important public figures. Here is to reminiscing all the famous people that we bid goodbye to, in the past year.
- Nanda Kishore Prusty.
Picture Credits: Twitter
Popularly known and revered as Nanda Sir, he passed away few days after receiving the Padma Shri Award for his extraordinary contribution in the field of education and social service. He was known across the state of Odisha for having taught students and adults for near about seven decades. He was infected with covid days after returning from Delhi and succumbed to the virus.
- Dillip Kumar
Picture Credits: ANI on Twitter
The veteran actor breathed his last in a private hospital on the 7th of July in Mumbai. Having debuted in the film Jwar Bhatta in 1944, his career spanned for half a decade. He is revered highly as The Tragedy King of Bollywood for his serious roles. Dillip Sahab as he was popularly addressed won the Padma Vibhusan and Dada Saheb Phalke Award for his extensive contribution in the field of cinema. His fans were heartbroken after the news of his demise.
- CDS General Bipin Rawat.
The first chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat was killed in a tragic chopper crash on December 8 while he was on his way to Tamil Nadu. He was the one-man advisor to the government of India regarding matters of Navy, Army and Air Force. He played an important role in controlling the insurgency in North-east. General Rawat was also an integral part behind the planning of the 2016 surgical strikes. After the unfortunate chopper crash, condolences poured in from every nook and corner of the country.
- Arindam Das
Picture Credits: Odisha TV
In an event that seemed unbelievable for the people of Odisha, Arindam Das popularly called ‘The Cyclone Man’ lost his life while trying to save an elephant. Das was working for a popular TV channel in Odisha and was known for covering disasters. As the state of Odisha is synonymous to Cyclones, people of the state looked forward to his extensive ground reports. He lost his life when an ODRAF boat overturned while shooing away an elephant stuck in the river. It was a heartbreaking moment not only for the journalists who knew him personally but also the statewide Odias who had watched him on television regularly.
- Sidharth Shukla
Picture Credits: Twitter
Another stalwart from the entertainment industry lost his life to a cardiac arrest. Sidharth Shukla of Big Boss fame had a huge fan base and girls adored him. His death created a stir in the city of Mumbai. Shukla also was known for his roles in Humpty Sharma ki Dulhaniya, Balika Badhu, Dil se Dil Tak, etc.
- Raghunath Mohapatra
Picture Credits: Twitter
A Padma Shri, Padma Vibhusan and Padma Bhusan Awardee, Raghunath Mohaptra was one of the best known sculptors and architect. He is known for his many feats that include creating the exact replica of the horse of the Konark Temple that is placed in the heart of the city of Bubaneswar. He also had declared to make another Konark Temple before the pandemic took his life.
- Milkha Singh
Picture Credits: Twitter
Known around the country as The Flying Sikh, Milkha Singh won five golds in international athletic championships and was awarded the Helms World Trophy in 1959 for winning 77 of his 80 international races. He also won India’s first Commonwealth gold in 1958. He succumbed to COVID related complications in June. He was orphaned during the partition of India. A bollywood movie depicting his life was made in 2013 called ‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag.’
- Puneeth Rajkumar
Picture Credits: Facebook
A man of many talents, Puneeth Rajkumar was an actor, playback singer and producer who mainly was focused in the Kannada industry. He was an icon of Tamil Nadu with millions of fans from every sphere of life. He lost his life to a cardiac arrest at the tender age of 46. A two time national award winner, Puneeth also received the Karnataka Ratna posthumously. His untimely death sent shocks of sadness across the state but he continues to live through his art.
The list comprises a minute percentage of people who lost their lives in the dreadful year of 2021. They have for sure left their mortal bodies only to reside in the hearts of their admirers forever.
