Complete List Of Obituaries Current Affairs 2024

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Complete List of Obituaries 2024

The list of obituaries for 2024 is important for various competitive exams such as SSC, RRB NTPC, UPSC, and others. One or two questions from the obituaries section can often be seen in the current affairs portion of these exams.

September -October 2024

Name of the Personality	Field/Profession	Key Points
Mohanraj	Veteran Malayalam actor	Known for his legendary role as ‘Keerikkadan Jose’ in the classic film Kireedam
Ratan Tata	Tata Sons Chairman	Assam Baibhav Award 2021: Recognized for his efforts to improve cancer care in Assam. Leadership Transition: Ratan Tata took over as the chairman of Tata Sons in 1991, succeeding J.R.D. Tata. Special Postal Cover: Bihar Postal Circle released a special cover honoring his contributions to industry, philanthropy, and national development.
Dr. P. Venugopal	Former All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Director	India’s First Heart Transplant: Renowned for performing the country’s first heart transplant. Over 50,000 Heart Surgeries: Successfully completed more than 50,000 heart surgeries during his illustrious career. Pioneering Achievement at AIIMS: Launched the first open-heart surgery clinic at AIIMS in 1974.
Indranand Singh Jha	Former radio presenter of Akashvani Darbhanga	Profession: Former radio presenter and compere at Akashvani Darbhanga Popular Alias: Known affectionately as Khur Khur Bhai Signature Program: Hosted the rural talk show Gamghar, which resonated deeply with local listeners.
Atul Parchure	Renowned Marathi actor	Career Start: Debuted in 1985 with the Marathi film Khichdi. Theater and Cinema: Known for his work in Marathi plays and films like Vasu Chi Sasu, Navra Majha Navsacha, Priyatama, and Tarun Turk Mhatare Arka. Hindi Television: Gained fame with shows like Comedy Nights With Kapil, R K Laxman Ki Duniya, and Comedy Circus. Notable Hindi Films: Featured in movies such as Partner, All the Best, Khatta Meetha, Salaam-E-Ishq, and Bbuddah… Hoga Terra Baap.
Vasant Anant Gadgil	Sanskrit Scholar	Founder: Established Sharda Gyan Peetham for the promotion of Sanskrit education. Teaching Career: Taught at institutions like Tilak Maharashtra University and promoted Sanskrit internationally, including in the US and Africa. Research Contributions: Specialized in ancient texts like the Vedas and Upanishads and was affiliated with the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute. Publications:Launched the monthly Sanskrit magazine Sharda. Initiated the Sharada Gaurav Granthamala series, including the Sanskrit biography of Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar, Bhimayanam. Cultural Initiatives: Played a key role in popularizing Rishi Panchami, celebrating intellectuals over 80 for their contributions. Recognition and Awards:Honored with the Mahakavi Kalidas Sanskrit-Vrati National Award for his contributions to Sanskrit research. Felicitated by Narendra Modi in 2012 for his achievements.
Ron Ely	Hollywood Actor	Best known for portraying Tarzan in the 1966 NBC series, where he depicted a more articulate and educated version of the character. Starred in the 1975 film Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze. Featured in South Pacific (1958) and other TV shows and films. Authored two mystery novels: Night Shadows (1994) and East Beach (1995).
Rohini Godbole	Renowned Physicist and Gender Equity Proponent	Specialized in elementary particle physics, field theory, and phenomenology. Criticized the Standard Model of fundamental particles, urging the scientific community to explore new frameworks for understanding antimatter. Contributed to accelerator design at CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research. Co-edited Lilavati’s Daughters, a collection of biographical essays on Indian women scientists. Authored Access of Indian Women to Careers in Science, addressing the challenges Indian women face in scientific fields. Padma Shri (2019): Recognized by the Indian government for her contributions to science. French National Medal of Merit (2021): Awarded by the French government for her scientific achievements.
Justice KS Puttaswamy	Judge at the Karnataka High Court	Pivotal Role in Right to Privacy Case: Justice K.S. Puttaswamy filed the petition in 2012 challenging the Aadhaar scheme, which led to the landmark Supreme Court ruling recognizing the right to privacy as a fundamental right under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution. Legal Career: Justice Puttaswamy served as a judge at the Karnataka High Court and was the first vice-chairperson of the Central Administrative Tribunal in Bengaluru. Key Constitutional Contribution: In 2017, the Supreme Court’s unanimous verdict upheld privacy as a fundamental right, with Justice Puttaswamy’s petition serving as a crucial catalyst for this legal milestone.

August 2024

Name of the Personality	Field/Profession	Key Points
Luis Ayala	Tennis Legend	Chile’s most celebrated athletes.
Dame Maggie Smith	British actress	Renowned for her roles in Harry Potter and Downton Abbey.
Daniela Larreal Chirinos	Olympic Cyclist	Venezuelan Olympic cyclist, Her participation spanned an impressive five Olympic Games.
Peter Lundgren	Former Swedish tennis player	Lundgren won three ATP titles and was ranked 25th in the world at the peak of his career.
Girish Sahni	Former director-general of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)	Dr. Sahni was renowned for his research on blood clots and the development of ‘clot buster‘ drugs.
General Sundararajan Padmanabhan	Former Chief of Army Staff	Affectionately called “Paddy” by his peers, General Padmanabhan is remembered for his dedication to soldier welfare, the modernization of the Indian Army, and his strategic vision.
Maria Branyas Morera	World’s oldest person from Spain	In January 2023, Guinness World Records officially recognized Branyas as the world’s oldest person following the death of 118-year-old French nun Lucile Randon.
Rakesh Pal	Director General of the Indian Coast Guard	He was awarded the Vishist Seva medal for his significant contributions to modernizing and developing the Indian Coast Guard.
Dr. Ram Narain Agarwal	Renowned Indian scientist	Affectionately dubbed the ‘Father of Agni Missiles’, Dr. Agarwal has made revolutionary contributions to India’s defense capabilities.
Susan Wojcicki	American business executive	Former CEO of YouTube, She worked as Google’s first marketing manager in 1999,
H. Devaraj	Former Vice-Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC)	The University of Madras awarded Devaraj a D.Sc degree in Stem Cell Biology in 2007 for his significant contributions to science.
Tsung-Dao Lee	Chinese-American physicist	In 1957, Prof. Lee and Chen-Ning Yang were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for their research on the symmetry of subatomic particles interacting with the fundamental force that holds atoms together.
Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee	Politician	Former chief minister of West Bengal and veteran CPIM leader.
Yamini Krishnamurthy	Classical Dancer	Renowned for her expertise in Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, and Odissi.
Anshuman Gaekwad	Former Indian Cricketer and Coach	In 2018, he received the C. K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award from the BCCI, the top honor for former Indian cricketers. His autobiography, “Guts Amid Bloodbath,” published in 2023, shares insights into his cricketing journey.

July 2024

Name of the Personality	Field/Profession	Key Points
Father Francis D’Britto	Marathi Writer	Received Sahitya Akademi award in April 2014
Hamzah Haz	Politician	Former Vice President of Indonesia
Subhash Dandekar	Industrialist	The founder of the iconic brand Camlin.
Aparna Vastarey	Kannada Actress	She became the first presenter for AIR FM Rainbow.
Dr MS Valiathan	Doctor, cardiac surgeon	Founder of Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST)
Smriti Biswas	Bengali Actress	She made her acting debut with the 1930 Bengali film Sandhya
Jon Landau	Oscar-winning producer	Worked closely with director James Cameron on “Titanic” and the “Avatar” series
Bhupinder Singh Rawat	Former India midfielder (Football)	Rawat was nicknamed “Scooter” by the fans.

June 2024

Name of the Personality	Field/Profession	Key Points
Frank Duckworth	English Statistician	co-developed the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method for calculating cricket match outcomes when rain interrupts play
Donald Sutherland	Canadian actor	Known for films including The Hunger Games and Don’t Look Now.
Murlidhar Chandrakant Bhandare	Politician	Senior Congress leader from Maharashtra, Former Odisha Governor
Harpal Singh Bedi	Sports Journalist	Served as the national Olympic contingent’s press attache in 2012
Pandit Rajeev Taranath	Sarod maestro	He was honored with the Padma Shri by the Government of India in 2019 and the Sangeet Natak Akademi award in 2000.
aulos Chilima	Malawi’s Vice President	Malawi Vice President Saulos Chilima, his wife, and eight others were killed in a plane crash in the Chikangawa mountain range.
A.J.T. Johnsingh	Wildlife field biologist and conservationist	He served as a member of the National Wildlife Board and the Tiger Conservation Authority. His groundbreaking work on elephants in the early 1980s was instrumental in the Government of India’s decision to formulate Project Elephant.

May 2024

Name of the Personality	Field/Profession	Key Points
Vinay Vir	Renowned Journalist	Vinay Vir, the publisher and editor of Daily Hindi Milap, was renowned for his commitment to advancing Hindi journalism in the southern regions of India.
Uma Ramanan	Playback Singer	Her breakthrough came with the song “Poongathave Thalthiravai” from the film “Nizhalgal,” which catapulted her to fame.
Paul Auster	American novelist and filmmaker	Best known for his acclaimed work “The New York Trilogy,” “City of Glass,” “Ghosts,” and “The Locked Room”
Richard M. Sherman	Disney Songwriter	Sherman, along with his late brother Robert, left an indelible mark on millions of childhoods with their award-winning compositions for films like “Mary Poppins,” “The Jungle Book,” and “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.” The Sherman Brothers won two Academy Awards for the 1964 classic “Mary Poppins” – best score and best song for “Chim Chim Cher-ee.” They also received a Grammy for best movie or TV score.
Narayanan Vaghul	Indian banker and philanthropist	He served as chairman and managing director of ICICI Bank, one of India’s largest private sector banks. In 2010, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian honor.
Colonel (Retd.) Waibhav Anil Kale	former Indian Army officer	The ongoing conflict in Gaza has claimed the life of Colonel (Retd.) Waibhav Anil Kale, a former Indian Army officer serving as a staff member of the United Nations Department of Safety and Security (DSS) in the region.
Malti Joshi	Author	Malti Joshi, a prolific writer and storyteller, made a lasting impact on Hindi and Marathi literature. She received the Padma Shri award in 2018.
Kamla Beniwal	Congress Leader and Former Governor	Beniwal, a longtime Congress leader and former governor of Gujarat, Tripura, and Mizoram, made a significant impact on the nation’s political landscape through her dedication and decades of service.
Alice Munro	Nobel Prize-winning author	Despite achieving immense success and winning prestigious literary prizes such as the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2013 and the International Booker Prize in 2009 for her body of work, Munro remained remarkably modest and unassuming, much like the characters in her fiction.
Sushil Kumar Modi	Politician	He served as the Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar for many years and was also a Member of Parliament.
Richard Slayman	an American patient	The first person to receive a genetically modified pig kidney transplant has passed away two months after the groundbreaking operation.
Surjit Patar	Punjabi Poet and Writer	Surjit Patar’s literary journey garnered him numerous accolades, notably the Sahitya Akademi Award for regional language writing. In 2012, he was bestowed with the Padma Shri for his significant contributions to Punjabi literature.
Sangeeth Sivan	Filmmaker from Kerala	He acted in films like ‘Vyooham,’ ‘Daddy,’ ‘Gandharvam,’ and ‘Yodha.’ Additionally, he made 10 Hindi movies, including ‘Kya Kool Hai Hum’ and ‘Apna Sapna Money Money.’
Salam Bin Razzaq	Urdu Writer	He received the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award for Urdu literature in 2004 for his acclaimed short story collection, ‘Shikasta Buton Ke Darmiyan.’
Frank Shrontz	Former Boeing CEO	He supported the advancement of new aircraft, including the revolutionary Boeing 777 long-range jet, and enhancements to the company’s well-known 747 jumbo jet and 737 models.
Bernard Hill	British actor	In Peter Jackson’s ‘The Lord of the Rings’ trilogy, Hill’s performance as King Theoden of Rohan made a profound impact on audiences globally.
V. Srinivas Prasad	Politician	Prasad served as the Union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government from 1999 to 2004.

April 2024

Name of the Personality	Field/Profession	Key Points
Visheshwara Rao	Tamil Actor	• One of his most memorable roles was that of Laila’s innocent father in the Suriya-starrer Pithamagan. • The jail scene from the film, featuring Laila’s famous dialogue “Loosa Pa Nee,” is considered one of the iconic moments of Rao’s acting career, highlighting his ability to leave a lasting impression with his performances.
Barbara Rush	Veteran Actress	Her breakthrough role came in 1954 with the science-fiction film “It Came from Outer Space,” which earned her the Golden Globe Award for Most Promising Newcomer.
Sudhir Kakar	Father of Indian Psychology	• Groundbreaking work: “The Inner World: A Psychoanalytic Study of Childhood and Society in India.” • Fictional works include “The Seeker” and “A Book of Memory.” .
Gangu Ramsay	Legendary Cinematographer	• Gangu Ramsay’s filmography includes several horror classics like Veerana, Samri, Bandh Darwaza, Do Gaz Zameen Ke Niche, and Purana Mandir. • He collaborated with prominent actors and directors, including Rishi Kapoor in Khoj and Saif Ali Khan in his debut film Ashiq Awara. He also worked with Akshay Kumar in the Khiladi franchise. • Gangu Ramsay made a significant impact on the television industry with his groundbreaking Zee Horror Show, which entertained audiences for over eight years. • His other notable works on Zee TV include Saturday Suspense, Naagin, and Zimbo, showcasing his versatility as a filmmaker.
K.G. Jayan	Carnatic Musician	Along with his twin brother, K.G. Vijayan, they were known as the illustrious “Jaya-Vijaya” duo, a name given to them by the legendary Malayalam actor Jose Prakash.

March 2024

Name of the Personality	Field/Profession	Key Points
Dr Arun Kumar Sharma	Archaeologist	• He was the senior-most team member that excavated the Ram Janmabhoomi Ayodhya site on the order of the Allahabad High Court. • In 2004, he was appointed as the archaeological advisor to the Chhattisgarh state government. • He was awarded the Padma Shri in 2017.
Akira Toriyama	Japanese manga artist and character designer	• Akira Toriyama was a renowned Japanese manga artist and character designer. • He gained recognition with his manga series Dr. Slump. • He earned the 1981 Shogakukan Manga Award for best shōnen manga with Dr. Slump, which went on to sell over 35 million copies in Japan. • He is also famous for his works including Sand Land, Dragon Quest, and Chrono Trigger.
Aziz Qureshi	Congress leader	• Served as the governor of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Mizoram • His political career began when he was first elected as an MLA in 1972 from Madhya Pradesh’s Sehore seat. • He later became a Lok Sabha member in 1984, further solidifying his influence and impact in Indian politics.
Sadi Mohammad	Bangladeshi Rabindra Sangeet singer	• Completed his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Rabindra Sangeet from Visva-Bharati University in Shantiniketan, West Bengal, India, • He is the son of Bangladesh Liberation War martyr Salimullah and Jebunnesa Salim Ullah. • Sadi Mohammad served as the director of the cultural organization, Rabi Raag.
Lama Lobzang	Tribal leader	• Served as a member of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes for 19 years, starting in 1984. • Additionally, he was a prominent Buddhist Monk of Ladakh, playing a significant role in religious and cultural affairs in the region.
Saeed Ahmed	Cricketer (former Pakistan Test captain)	• Throughout his Test career, he scored a total of 2,991 runs, demonstrating his proficiency with the bat. • Additionally, he contributed with his off-spin bowling, taking a total of 22 wickets during his Test caree.

February 2024

Name of the Personality	Field/Profession	Key Points
R. Champakalakshmi	Historian	Served as a professor in the Centre for Historical Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and president of the Indian History Congress.
Harmohan Dhawan	Former Union minister	• A former Chandigarh Member of Parliament (MP), Dhawan was elected to the Lok Sabha in 1989 as a Janta Party nominee. • He subsequently became the civil aviation minister in the Chandra Shekhar-led government.
Sukhbir Singh Gill	Chandigarh’s first hockey Olympian	Represented India at the Sydney Olympics (2000), the Hockey World Cup in Kuala Lumpur (2002), and the FIH Champions Trophy in Cologne (Germany) in 2002
Mir Mohammad Farooq Nazki	veteran broadcaster, poet	• Nazki was awarded the Sahitya Akademi award in 1995 in Kashmiri for his poetry book Naar Hyutun Kanzal Wanas (Fire in the Eyelashes). * He served as the media advisor to two Jammu and Kashmir chief ministers: Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah.
Sebastian Pinera	Chile’s former President	• He was a Chilean businessman and politician who served as President of Chile from 2010 to 2014 and again from 2018 to 2022. * At the time of his death, he had an estimated net worth of US$2.7 billion.
A Ramachandran	Artist	• Born in 1935 in Attingal, Kerala, Ramachandran was known for his monumental canvases and colorful oil and watercolor paintings. * In 2002, he was elected a Fellow of the Lalit Kala Akademi. * He received the Padma Bhushan award in 2005.
Kelvin Kiptum	Kenya’s marathon world record holder	The 24-year-old set the world record at the Chicago Marathon in October 2023.
Dattajirao Gaekwad	Cricketer (former India Test captain)	• Held the record of being the oldest-living Test cricketer in India. * He made his debut in England in June 1952 and earned the distinction of being India’s oldest-living Test cricketer in mid-2016 after the death of Deepak Shodhan. * Dattajirao played 11 Tests for India during his cricketing career.
Dr Usha Kiran Khan	Litterateur	• Dr. Usha Kiran Khan was an acclaimed writer in Hindi and Maithili. * In 2011, she was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award for her Maithili novel Bhamati: Ek Avismaraniya Premkatha. * She was honored with the Padma Shri in 2015 for her contributions to literature.
Dr Ishwar Chander Verma	Advisor in the institute of medical genetics and genomics	• He established the first Genetic centre in India at AIIMS Delhi in 1968. * He received the Padma Shri in 2023 for his significant research contributions. * He was also honored with the BC Roy National Award in 1983 for his outstanding achievements.
Andreas Brehme	German Football player	• His penalty in the 1990 FIFA World Cup final against Argentina in Italy helped Germany secure its third world title. * He had an illustrious club career, playing for top clubs like Bayern Munich and Inter Milan, among others, before retiring in 1998.
Mike Procter	South African cricketer	South Africa’s first National Coach of the Cricket Team in the post-isolation era

January 2024

Name of the Personality	Field/Profession	Key Points
Professor Ved Prakash Nanda	Professor at the University of Denver	He was awarded the Padma Bhushan award in 2018 in the field of Literature and Education.
Prabir Majumdar	Former Indian footballer	• He was a member of the Indian team in the 1974 Asian Games. • He was a part of East Bengal and Eastern Railways. • He also represented Bengal in the Santosh Trophy.
Dr Uttam Pacharne	Renowned sculptor	He was appointed Chairman of the Lalit Kala Akademi (2018).
Ustad Rashid Khan	Hindustani classical musician	• He was awarded the Padma Shri and Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2006. • He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2022. • He belonged to the Rampur-Sahaswan Gharana, which is closely related to the Gwalior Gharana.
Pandit Hariram Dwivedi	Hindi and Bhojpuri poet	• He has written famous poetry collections like Anganaiya and Jeevandayini Ganga. • He has been awarded many awards, including: Sahitya Akademi Bhasha Samman Sahitya Bhushan Sahitya Saraswat Rahul Sankrityayan
Mario Zagallo	Brazilian football player and coach	• Zagallo holds the record for most World Cup titles in general, with four titles in total. • He also holds the record for World Cup Finals with six participations. • He was the first person to win the FIFA World Cup as both a manager and as a player, winning the competition in 1958 and 1962 as a player and in 1970 as manager. • In addition, he won the 1994 FIFA World Cup as assistant manager. • He was the first of three men, along with Germany’s Franz Beckenbauer and France’s Didier Deschamps, to have won the World Cup as a player and as a manager, and the only one who had done it more than twice. • In 1992, Zagallo received the FIFA Order of Merit, the highest honour awarded by FIFA, for his contributions to football. • He was the last surviving Brazilian player who participated in the 1958 World Cup final.
Franz Beckenbauer	German football player	• Beckenbauer was captain of the West Germany team that won the World Cup in 1974 and later led them to the title as a manager in 1990. • He is one of just three men to have won the World Cup as both a player and a manager. • He also won the European Championship with West Germany in 1972.
Prof Amrutha Someshwara	Famous Kannada, Tulu writer and folklorist	• He worked extensively for the development of the Tulu language and literature. • He carried out extensive research works on Yakshagana, a traditional theater form of Karnataka. • He also conducted research on Tulu folk traditions and Bhootharadhane, a ritualistic folk dance performed in coastal Karnataka.
Basdeo Panday	Former prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago	In 2005, he was awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs
Munawwar Rana	Urdu poet	won the Sahitya Akademi Award in 2014 for his poetry book ‘Shahdaba’.
Ajit Singh Gill	Singapore’s oldest Olympian and former national hockey player of Indian-origin	He competed in the men’s tournament at the 1956 Summer Olympics.
Norman Jewison	Canadian filmmaker and director	Nominated for the Academy Award (Oscars) for Best Director three times in three separate decades, for In the Heat of the Night (1967), Fiddler on the Roof (1971), and Moonstruck (1987).
Rana Talwar	Banker	• He served as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Standard Chartered Bank from 1997 to 2002. • Additionally, he was the son-in-law of DLF Group chairman emeritus K P Singh.

Complete List of Obituaries 2023

The following tables provide month-wise lists of recent obituaries for the year 2023.

November 2023

Name of the Personality	Field/Profession	Key Points
Henry Kissinger	Diplomat,Political, Scientist	Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1973 for his role in the Paris Peace Accords.
C.K. Gopinathan	Banking Sector	A director on the board of Dhanlaxmi Bank based in Kerala and a notable shareholder
P. Valsala	Malayalam Writer	P. Valsala is particularly celebrated for her critically acclaimed work, ‘Nellu.’
Rosalynn Carter	American writer, activist and humanitarian	Rosalynn Carter, the wife of former President Jimmy Carter and ex-First Lady of the United States, known affectionately as the “Steel Magnolia,”.
Fathima Beevi	Supreme Court judge	First female Supreme Court judge
Gieve Patel	Famous playwright, poet, painter, and thinker	Some of his notable poems include “How Do You Withstand” (1966), “Body” (1976), “Mirrored Mirroring” (1991), and “On Killing a Tree.”
Leela Omchery	Renowned Musician	IIn 2005, Leela Omchery was awarded the Padma Shri, a prestigious civilian honor, in recognition of her significant contributions to the field of music.
D B Chandregowda	Politician	Former Karnataka assembly speaker
P B Acharya	Politician	Former governor of Nagaland
Lala Kedarnath Aggarwal	Entrepreneur	He was a visionary entrepreneur and founder of the renowned sweets and snacks brand Bikanervala
Subrata Roy	ndian businessman	Founder and chairman of Sahara India Pariwar
N Sankaraiah	Freedom Fighter And Communist Leader	He was the first recipient of the Thagaisal Tamizhar (Eminent Tamil) award instituted by the MK Stalin-led DMK government in 2021.
B. N. Goswamy	Renowned art historian and prolific writer	B. N. Goswamy, a Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan awardee, was honored for his remarkable contributions to art history, particularly in the Pahari style of paintings.
A.S. Byatt	Renowned Novelist	Her notable work, “Possession: A Romance,” earned her the prestigious Booker Prize in 1990.
S. Venkitaramanan	economist	Former RBI Governor
Sanjay Gadhvi	Film Industry	Sanjay Gadhvi, best known for directing the blockbuster films ‘Dhoom’ (2004) and its sequel ‘Dhoom 2’ (2006)

October 2023

Name of the Personality	Field/Profession	Key Points
Michael Chiarello	Chef	Michael Chiarello was named Chef of the Year by Food & Wine magazine in 1985 and later received the prestigious CIA’s Chef of the Year award in 1995.
Manohar Singh Gill	Former Chief Election Commissioner	He became the first former CEC to join politics when he entered the Rajya Sabha as a member of the Congress party.
PV Gangadharan	Malayalam film producer	Noted Malayalam film producer and director of Mathrubhumi group of publications
Bishan Singh Bedi	Cricketers	Legendary left-arm Spinner and Former Indian Captain Honored with the Padma Shri In 1970
Richard Roundtree	African American actor	Recognized as the “first black action hero” Honored with MTV Movie + TV Award for his role in “Shaft.”
Li Keqiang	Former Chinese Premier	The current and 8th premier of the People’s Republic of China : Li Qiang
Baijnath Aggarwal	Trustee of Geeta Press Gorakhpur	Gita Press Awarded the Gandhi Peace Prize 2021
Matthew Perry	American-Canadian actor	Renowned For His Role As Chandler In the legendary TV series ‘Friends,’
Saleemul Huq	Renowned Bangladeshi Scientist	Recognized as a ‘climate revolutionary’ for his efforts to deal with climate change impacts.
Terence Davies	British Filmmaker	He is recognized for his internationally acclaimed films, including ‘Distant Voices, Still Lives’ and ‘The Long Day Closes’.
Dahyabhai Karunashankar Shastri	Indian Sanskrit scholar	Founder of Brahmarshi Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya, Nadiad (Gujarat). In 2016, he was awarded the ‘Padma Shri’ in the field of Literature and Education
Karthyayani Amma	Kerala Adult Literacy Topper	In 2018, at 96, Karthyayani Amma aced the Aksharalaksham literacy exam by the Kerala State Literacy Mission with an impressive score of 98/100.
Birendra Nath Datta	Assamese Scholar	He was awarded the Padma Shri in 2009, For the book Shankar-Madhav Manisha.
Sir Bobby Charlton	Former England football player	He debuted for Manchester United football club from 1956 to 1973. He also awarded the Ballon d’Or award for the best player in Europe in 1966.

September 2023

Name of the Personality	Field/Profession	Key Points
Actor Michael Gambon	Renowned British Actor	He was famous for his portrayal of Professor Dumbledore in the Harry Potter films
Ashwin Dani	Business Tycoon	Co-Founder Of Asian Paints
Mankombu Sambasivan Swaminathan or M.S. Swaminathan	Agriculturist	He is known as the father of the Green Revolution. He also received the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 1971 and the Albert Einstein World Science Award in 1986.
RS Shivaji	Tamil Actor and Comedian	Some of his famous comedic roles in films like “Michael Madana Kama Rajan,” “Vikram,” “Sathya,” and “Anbe Sivam,” made him synonymous with rib-tickling humor
Piloo Reporter	International umpire	His unique way of setting boundaries earned him the nickname “PD” in the cricketing world.
N Valarmathi	ISRO scientist	She lent her voice to countdowns announcement for the launch of Chandrayaan-3 from Sriharikota.
Malini Rajurkar	Hindustani vocalist	She was a master of the Gwalior gharana style of singing, and one of the most important singers of the khayal and tappa genres.
Arun Kumar Sinha	Director of the Special Protection Group (SPG)	He was an IPS officer from the 1987 Kerala cadre, and was responsible for providing proximate security to the Prime Minister of India.
Dennis Austin	Software Developer	Austin created PowerPoint with Robert Gaskins and released it in 1987.
Ajit Ninan	Political Cartoonist	He was best known for the Centrestage series in India Today magazine and Ninan’s World in Times of India.
Gita Mehta	Renowned writer-filmmaker	Mehta had written books including Karma Cola, Snakes and Ladders, A River Sutra, Raj and Eternal Ganesha.
Akhil Mishra	Actor	Famous actor Akhil Mishra, known for his unforgettable role as librarian Dubey in the popular movie “3 Idiots.”
Giorgio Napolitano	Former President Of Italy	Italy’s longest-serving president.
K G George	Malayalam Filmmaker	In 1976, K G George received the National Award for Best Feature Film for “Swapnaadanam”.
Mr McCallum	British Actor	Famous for played a secret agent in the 1960s spy drama ‘The Man From U.N.C.L.E.

August 2023

Name of the Personality	Field/Profession	Key Points
Jayanta Mahapatra	English Poet	First Indian poet to win a Sahitya Akademi award for English poetry in 1981.
Dev Kohli	Veteran Lyricist	Wrote lyrics for several hit songs like ‘Aate Jaate Hanste Gaate,’ ‘Kabootar Ja Ja Ja,’ ‘Aaja Shaam Hone Aayee,’ ‘Maine Pyar Kiya’ and ‘Hum Aapke Hain Koun’
Seema Deo	Veteran Actor	SRenowned actor in Marathi cinema, appeared in over 80 films throughout her career
CR Rao	Eminent Statistician	He had recently received the prestigious “International Prize in Statistics-2023”, often referred to as the “statistics’ equivalent of the Nobel Prize”.
Dr V.S. Arunachalam	Former DRDO Director General	Founder chairman of Bengaluru-based think tank Center for Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP)
Kandlakunta Alaha Singaracharyulu	Sanskrit scholar	He was awarded the Padma Shri in 2021 for his contributions to the field of Sanskrit literature and education.
Hari Narke	Renowned Author	He was the professor of Mahatma Phule chair at Savitribai Phule Pune University and a former member of the Maharashtra Backward Class Commission.
Bikash Sinha	Nuclear Physicist	He was the recipient of Padma Shri in 2001 and Padma Bhusan in 2010 for his contribution to science & technology.
Siddique	Prominent filmmaker	Siddique’s journey in the world of Malayalam cinema began with his directorial debut, “Ramji Rao Speaking” along with his friend Lal.
N Vittal	IAS officer of the Gujarat cadre	Former Telecom Secretary and Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC). He authored a book titled Corruption in India – The Roadblock to National Prosperity.
Gummadi Vittal Rao ‘Gaddar’	Telangana folk singer	He earned the title of the people’s singer due to his songs that brought attention to various issues faced by the common people.
Jose Paulino Gomes	N/A	World’s oldest man
Vakkom Purushothaman	Former Mizoram Governor	He was the longest-served Speaker of the Kerala assembly, from 1982 to 1984 and again from 2001 to 2004.
PolaliJayarama Bhat	Former MD & CEO of Karnataka Bank	He served the Bank for over 48 years from April 1973 to November 2021
William Friedkin	American Director	Oscar-winning American director of films like The Exorcist and The French Connection
NamdeoDhondoMahanor (Na Dho Mahanor)	Marathi poet and lyricist	Honored with the Padma Shri award, in 1991 for his contribution in the field of literature.
Ron Cephas Jones	American Actor	Ron Cephas Jones won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor for his role in the drama series “This Is Us” in both 2018 and 2020.
John Thomas Devitt	Australian Olympic Swimmer	John Thomas Devitt totally won two gold, a silver, and a bronze medals in Olympic competition.
Dr Bindeshwar Pathak	Social activist	Founder of Sulabh International. He is a pioneer of Public toilets in India who is known as the “Toilet Man of India
Mohammed Habib	Indian Footballer	He was affectionately referred to as the ‘Bade Miya’ of Kolkata football.

July 2023

Name of the Personality	Field/Profession	Key Points
Nikki McCray-Penson	Basketball Player	McCray-Penson won two Olympic gold medals for the USA – first in Atlanta in 1996 and then in Sydney in 2000
Nirmala Buch	Former Chief Secretary of Madhya Pradesh	first and only woman chief secretary of Madhya Pradesh (MP) (1991 to 1993)
Luis Suarez	Former Spanish footballer	He was the only spanish-born men’s footballer to receive the Ballon d’Or award (1960) as of July 2023
K M VasudevanNamboothiri	Line Artist from Kerala	He is well known for his illustrations for short stories and novels of Malayalam, like Randamoozham (M.T. Vasudevan Nair), Enippadikal (Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai), Pithamahan (VKN) and Smarakasilakal (Punathil Kunhabdulla).
Alan Arkin	Veteran United States(US) actor	In 2007, he secured an Oscar for his exceptional supporting role in the independent comedy “Little Miss Sunshine.”
ShirishKanekar	Renowned Marathi Writer	His collection of stories titled ‘Lagaon Batti,’ was recognised and honoured with the Maharashtra Literary Parishad Award for Best Comedy- Joshi Award
Milan Kundera	Czech-French novelist	He was best-known for his 1984 novel ‘The Unbearable Lightness of Being’. His awards include the Jerusalem Prize (1985); the Herder Prize (2000).
Tony Bennett	legendary American pop & jazz singer	He received a Recording Academy (Grammy)’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001.
OommenChandy	Former Kerala CM	He served as the Chief Minister twice (2004–2006 and again from 2011–2016) for a total of seven years.
Mangala Narlikar	Eminent Mathematician	She worked for Balbharti, the Maharashtra State Bureau of Textbook Production & Curriculum Research Centre(MSBTPCRC), a government organization responsible for developing and publishing textbooks for schools in Maharashtra.

June 2023

Name of the Personality	Field/Profession	Key Points
Sulochana Latkar	Veteran Actress	Sulochana Latkar is popularly known as Sulochana didi in Bollywood and Marathi film industry
Aamir Raza Hussain	Noted Theatre Actor and Director	Hussain was known for his large outdoor stage productions such as “The Fifty Day War” based on the Kargil War and “The Legend of Ram”
Gitanjali Aiyar	Doordarshan News Anchor	Gitanjali Aiyar holds the distinction of being one of India’s pioneering female news presenters in English on the national broadcaster Doordarshan.
Mangal Dhillon	Bollywood Actor	He was known for his remarkable acting prowess and memorable performances in shows like ‘Junoon’ and ‘Buniyaad’
Silvio Berlusconi	Former Prime Minister of Italy	Berlusconi previously served as Prime Minister of Italy four times, from 1994 to 1995, 2001 to 2006, and 2008 to 2011.
John Goodenough	Nobel-winning lithium battery inventor	Goodenough made history at the age of 97 by becoming the oldest person ever to win a Nobel Prize. In 2019, he shared the prestigious chemistry award with Britain’s Stanley Whittingham and Japan’s Akira Yoshino for their groundbreaking invention of the lithium-ion battery.
Cormac McCarthy	Pulitzer Prize-winning Novelist	He was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2007 for “The Road,” and his novel “No Country for Old Men” was adapted into an Academy Award-winning film in 2007.
Havildar Alby D’Cruz	Defence personnel	In 1962, he became the first person from Kerala to be honored with the Ashoka Chakra. The distinguished award, then known as Ashoka Chakra (Class III), was presented to him by India’s first president, Rajendra Prasad. Since 1967, this commendation has been renamed as the ‘Shaurya Chakra’.
Gufi Paintal	Actor	Gufi Paintal, best known for playing ‘Shakuni mama’ in the epic TV serial “Mahabharat”,

May 2023

Name of the Personality	Field/Profession	Key Points
Tina Turner	Singer	She is known for her powerful vocals, energetic performances, iconic style, and is often referred to as the “Queen of Rock’n’Roll”.
Karumuttu T Kannan	Industrialist and philanthropist	He was served as the Chairman & Managing Director of Thiagarajar Mills Ltd, located in Madurai.
Sarath Babu	Actor	Sarath Babu had a successful television stint as well, with series such as Antharangaalu (1997-2001) Janani (2000-2001) and Agnigundaalu (2005-26).
Srichand Parmanand Hinduja	Businessman / Hinduja Group chairman	The Hinduja Group is a multinational conglomerate with interests in a wide range of industries, including banking, finance, manufacturing, and media.
A.R. Khaleel	Former All India Football Federation (AIFF) Vice-President	A.R. Khaleel, who served as the president of the Karnataka State Football Association (KSFA) for 28 years, also served as the AIFF treasurer and executive committee member.
Antonio Carbajal	Football Player	Antonio Carbajal, the first Mexican player to appear in five World Cups.
Arun Gandhi (Mahatma Gandhi’s grandson)	Indian-American activist, speaker, and writer	Arun Gandhi is the author of several books, including “Legacy of Love: My Education in the Path of Nonviolence” and “The Gift of Anger: And Other Lessons from My Grandfather Mahatma Gandhi.”
Ranajit Guha	Noted historian	One of his well-known books is ‘Elementary Aspects of Peasant Insurgency in Colonial India’.
Dr.N. Gopalakrishnan	Scientist	N. Gopalakrishnan, the creator of the Indian Institute of Scientific Heritage (IISH) and a former scientist at the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).

April 2023

Name of the Personality	Field/Profession	Key Points
Mamukkoya	Malayalam Actor	The veteran actor was known for the use of the Mappila dialect and his impeccable comedy timing.
Parkash Singh	Former Punjab Chief Minister	Under his leadership, the state assembly passed the controversial Punjab Sutlej Yamuna Link Canal (Transfer of Proprietary Rights) Bill, 2016.
Sidharth Rao	Co-founder and former CEO of Webchutney	In 2022, Dentsu Webchutney achieved a major feat in the advertising industry by being awarded the prestigious Agency of the Year accolade at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.
Tarek Fatah	Pakistani-Canadian journalist	Born on November 20, 1949 in Karachi, Fatah refers to himself as a “Midnight’s Child”. He gained recognition for his criticism of Islamic extremism and the Pakistani establishment, as well as his advocacy for queer rights.
Abdul Azeem	Cricketer	Having made his first-class debut in the 1979-80 season, Abdul Azeem played a total of 73 matches and scored 4,644 runs, which included 12 centuries. Notably, he achieved a triple century against Tamil Nadu at Gymkhana ground.
Uttara Baokar	Veteran film and television actress	In 1984, she won the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, India’s National Academy for Acting.
Keshub Mahindra	Former Mahindra Group chairman	He was awarded Chevalier de l’Ordre National de la Legion d’honneur by the French Government in 1987.
Jalabala Vaidya	Legendary theatre actor	She received several accolades during her career, such as the Tagore Award from Sangeet Natak Akademi, the Delhi Natya Sangh Award, and the Andhra Pradesh Natya Akademi Honour. In addition, she was granted Honorary Citizenship of Baltimore City in the USA.
Salim Durani	Former Indian Cricketer	In first-class cricket, he played for Saurashtra, Gujarat, and Rajasthan.
Sarah Thomas	Novelist and Author	Sarah Thomas’s novel ‘Muripadukal’ was made into a movie by PA Bakker called ‘Manimuzhakkam’. Her novels Asthamayam, Pavizhamuthu, and Archana have also been adapted into films.
Jagarnath Mahto	Jharkhand Education Minister	Tiger Mahto, also known as Jagarnath Mahto or Tiger Jagarnath Da, was a prominent politician and cabinet minister hailing from Jharkhand, India. He represented the Dumri Vidhan Sabha constituency as a legislator for the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha party.
Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury	Freedom fighter, public health pioneer	Apart from being a skilled vascular surgeon, Dr. Zafrullah Chowdhury was a pioneer in the field of public health. He founded the Gonoshasthaya Kendra in 1972 with the aim of providing affordable yet top-notch medical facilities to underprivileged communities.

March 2023

Name of the Personality	Field/Profession	Key Points
Gordon Moore	Businessman	Intel co-founder and creator of Moore’s Law
Pradeep Sarkar	Filmmaker	Known for hit films like Parineeta, Mardani
Sameer Khakhar	Actor	Best known for his role in the 1980s classic Nukkad. He was last seen in the OTT series ‘Farzi’.
Satish Kaushik	Actor-director	He directed Sridevi`s film, “Roop Ki Rani, Choron Ka Raja” and later “Prem”, but he got his big hit with “Hum Aapke Dil Me Rehte Hain” and also “Tere Sang”, among many others.
Innocent Vareed Thekkethala	Malayalam Actor	Innocent Vareed Thekkethala, popularly known as Innocent, has acted in about 500 Malayalam films. He was a producer, author and former Member of Parliament (MP) Lok Sabha.
Abhay Chhajlani	Veteran journalist	Abhay Chhajlani was awarded the Padma Shri, India’s 4th highest civilian honour, in 2009 for Literature and Education (Madhya Pradesh).
Patrick French	British Writer & Historian	He won the Hawthornden Prize in 2009 for the authorized biography of VS Naipaul, “The World is What it is”.
Richard Douglas Fosbury (Dick Fosbury)	American High Jumper	Dick Fosbury is famous for inventing the “Fosbury Flop,” a revolutionary back-first technique in the high jump event. He won a gold medal at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City using this new jumping style. The “Fosbury Flop” has since become the standard technique used in high jump competitions worldwide.
Kenzaburo Oe	Litterateur	Nobel literature laureate (1994) Kenzaburo Oe, one of the most celebrated authors in Japan in the post-World War II era, studied French literature at the University of Tokyo.
Dr Kanak Yatindra Rele	Indian Dancer	Padma Shri & Padma Bhushan Awardee, a world-renowned Indian dancer and Mohiniyattam exponent
Satyabrata Mookherjee	Former ASG & Union Minister	Former Additional Solicitor General (ASG) of India and former member of parliament (Lok Sabha)
Aziz Mushabber Ahmadi (A M Ahmadi)	Former Chief Justice of India	A M Ahmadi was appointed the 26th CJI (1994-1997). He was also the 3rd Muslim CJI after Mohammad Hidayatullah (1968-1970) and Mirza Hameedullah Beg (1977-1978).
Patricia Joan McCormick (Pat McCormick)	American Olympic athlete	Pat McCormick was the first diver to sweep the 3-metre Springboard event and 10-metre platform diving event at consecutive Olympics

February 2023

Name of the Personality	Field/Profession	Key Points
K.V. Tirumalesh Passed	Kannada Writer	K.V. Tirumalesh was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award, in 2015 for his collection of poems “Akshaya Kavya” (2010).
General Pervez Musharraf	Former Pakistani President	His autobiography titled “In the Life of Fire: A Memoir”. He was honored with the Imtiaz Sanad Medal for his gallantry during the Indo-Pakistan War of 1965..
Vani Jairam	Veteran Singer	She was recently honoured with India’s third-highest civilian award, the “Padma Bhushan“ .
Kasinadhuni Vishwanath	Telugu filmmaker and actor	Padma Shri & Dadasaheb Phalke Awardee K Vishwanath popularly known as ‘Kalatapasvi’.
Parimal Dey	Former Indian Footballer	He was fondly known as “Jangla-da”
Shanti Bhushan	Former Union Law Minister& Veteran lawyer	He has authored a book titled “The Case that Shook India: The Verdict That Led to the Emergency” about India’s historic case Raj Narain vs Indira Nehru Gandhi handled by Shanti Bhushan.
Devisingh Ransingh Shekhawat	Indian agriculturist and politician	He was the husband of the former President of India Pratibha Patil and former First Gentleman of India.
Om Prakash Kohli	Former Gujarat Governor & Veteran BJP Leader	O. P. Kohli served as the 19th Governor of Gujarat between 2014 and 2019.
Balipa Narayana Bhagawatha Passed	Yakshagana Playback Singer	He was known for the “Balipa style” of singing with his rich voice.
Tulsidas Balaram	Indian Footballer	He was awarded the Arjuna Award in 1962 for his contribution to Indian Football
Shoichiro Toyoda	Chairman of Toyota Motor Corporation	He served as the President of Toyota, the Japanese multinational automotive manufacturer, from 1982 to 1992
Lalitha Lajmi	Noted Painter	Lalitha Lajmi has held several exhibitions at international art galleries in Paris(France), London (United Kingdom)and Holland
Burt Bacharach	American Composer	Burt Bacharach won his 1st Oscar (Academy Awards, USA) in 1970 for the score of “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” and for the song “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head”.

January 2023

Name of the Personality	Field	Key Points
Manjula Subramaniam	State Chief secretary	She was the first woman chief secretary of Gujarat
Veteran film actress Jamuna	Film Industry	She acted in about 200 Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Hindi films and was a former Lok Sabha MP from Rajahmundry in 1989 from the Congress.
Dr. Balkrishna Doshi	Architect	He was awarded the most prestigious award in the field of architecture “Pritzker” in the year 2018. He was the first Indian to receive this honour.
Leopoldo Roberto Garcia Pelaez Benitez	Mexican Comedian	He is known as “Polo Polo”.
Prabhaben Sobhagchand Shah	Social Worker	Prabhaben Sobhagchand Shah was a social worker from the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman, and Diu. She was also known as “Daman ki Divya”.
Lucile Randon dies	…	After Tanaka’s (119 years old) death, 118-year-old Sister Lucille Randon became the oldest person in the world.
Ronald E. Asher	British linguist	He won a gold medal from Kerala Sahitya Akademi, Trichur, in 1983 and was honored by the Royal Society, Edinburgh in 1991.
RJD Leader Sharad Yadav	Politician (fro UP)	He served as the Union Minister for Civil Aviation, Consumer Affairs from 1999-2004.
Keshari Nath Tripathi	Former governor of Bengal	Born in erstwhile Allahabad, Tripathi was also a senior advocate at the Allahabad High Court.
Rehman Rahi	Poet	Prof. Rehman Rahi was the Kashmir’s first Jnanpith awardee. In 2007, he received the highest literary award in the country, the Jnanpith award for his collection ‘Siyah Rood Jaeren Manz’ (In Black Drizzle).
Tehemton Udwadia	Indian Surgeon and Gastroenterologist	He was the 1st surgeon in India to introduce laparoscopy in surgery in 1972, and the 1st to perform laparoscopic surgery in the developing world in 1990.
Rabindra Sangeet exponent, Sumitra Sen	Singer	Her legacy will be associated with her soulful performances of iconic songs such as Jokhon Porbe Na Mor, Sokhi Vabona Kahare Bole, and Mone Ki Dwidha.