2020 has been seen the demise of many a popular personality. From the 90-year-old Sean Connery to the 60-year-old Diego Maradona to many more much younger. Apart from coronavirus pandemic, we lost many celebrities who contributed a lot to the world.
2020 has been seen the demise of many a popular personality. From the 90-year-old Sean Connery to the 60-year-old Diego Maradona to many more much younger. Apart from coronavirus pandemic, we lost many celebrities who contributed a lot to the world.
Here we present a list of noted celebrities whom we’ve lost in 2020.
Sushant Singh Rajput (June 14, 2020)
The mysterious death of the rising Bollywood star Sushant Singh Rajput became the most popular topics for debate in 2020. He was found dead hanging from the ceiling fan at his home in Bandra, Mumbai on June 14, 2020. His mysterious death went from a tragedy to sensational controversy, and then became the matter of a Supreme Court and CBI investigation.
Rishi Kapoor (April 30, 2020)
Veteran actor Rishi Kapoor’s two-year-long battle from cancer ended with his passing. The untimely death left Bollywood fans across the country and the world in sorrow.
Saroj Khan (June 20, 2020)
The demise of the famous Bollywood choreographer Saroj Khan in the pandemic period has been a very shocking moment for the film industry. The three-time national award winner choreographed more than 2,000 songs, including many top Bollywood hits, and memorable songs in Hindi cinema.
The emotional tweets of some of their aficionados are testimony to the sad moment of their passing.
Irrfan Khan (April 29, 2020)
India’s most recognisable face in the West, and a reckoned name in acting, Irrfan Khan passed away fighting a colon infection on April 29, 2020. A man of lucid expression and few words and a strong soul, Irrfan fought many battles and emerged an iconic personality. The death of this rare talent and a brilliant actor left a void in Indian cinema.
One of the greatest survivors in Indian politics, President of the Lok Janshakti Party, and the Union minister for consumer affairs, food and public distribution, Ram Vilas Paswan died at the age of 74 after heart surgery. He was a prominent face of Dalit politics in the Centre and a socialist icon.
Jaswant Singh (September 27, 2020)
Jaswant Singh passed away due to cardiac arrest on September 27, 2020. He was a former union minister and a close aide of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He was from Rajasthan and had served as India’s foreign minister, defence minister and finance minister.
Pranab Mukherjee (August 31, 2020)
Former President and Congress leader Pranab Mukharjee passed away after undergoing treatment for around three weeks. He had to get admitted after testing positive for Covid-19, and he had to undergo surgery after the detection of a brain clot.
Rahat Indori (August 11, 2020)
Rahat Indori, the darling of shayri, died due to coronavirus. Indori earned worldwide name, and recognition with his couplets, and after his demise, he left a huge collection of writing as his inheritance.
Ahmed Patel (November 25, 2020)
Top strategist and senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel was one of the many victims of Covid-19 complications. The sudden demise of this veteran leader was a big loss to the Congress and India’s politics.
Motilal Vora (December 21, 2021)
Congress stalwart and former chief minister of undivided Madhya Pradesh, Motilal Vora passed away on December 21, 2021, just after celebrating his 93rd birthday. He held the post of All India Congress Committee treasurer for nearly two decades, and selected as the general secretary in charge in 2018.
Kobe Bryant (January 26, 2020)
NBA superstar and the producer of Oscar-winning short film Dear Basketball Kobe Bryant passed away on January 26 in a helicopter crash with eight other people.
A soccer genius, and former Argentine professional footballer, Diego Maradona left the world on November 25, 2020, putting his fans in a deep shock. He led Argentina to win the 1986 World Cup and became a global icon. Beyond the game, he was a larger-than-life persona. Smoking cigars with Fidel, hanging out with Chavez and the like, Diego went suddenly after brain surgery.
Chadwick Boseman (August 28, 2020)
The star of the blockbuster superhero Marvel film Black Panther, Chadwick Boseman died after having a four-year battle with colon cancer.
A well-known name in international cricket history, Dean Jones left the world at the age of 59. Former test and one-day batsman died at a hotel in India after suffering a cardiac arrest. The global cricket community affectionately call him Deano.
Sean Connery (October 31, 2020)
Bond, James Bond. The most popular character he played became the image trap which stayed with Sean Connery as long as he lived and in his death. The man with the baritone that could leave aflutter a thousand hearts with the first word died on October 31, 2020, at the age of 90. In his seven decades as an actor, the once-bodybuilder defined aura and style. He won an Oscar in 1988 for his role in The Untouchables, and remains in popular cinema as the more refined Henry Jones Sr from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.
John le Carré (December 12, 2020)
Smiley and Laemas’s creator. A spook who wrote elegant prose of the Circus, the Cold War and Checkpoint Charlie. David Cornwell aka Le Carré left the world at the age of 89. The characters of Le Carré were ordinary men who ran the world, unlike the very macho, licensed to kill corner that popular fiction painted spies into.
Astad Deboo (December 10, 2020)
In a world where politics has unmasked itself into a majoritarian drug, a man who stayed mute through his dance performances bid bye with cancer taking him into its stronger embrace. A pioneer of modern dance in a land of jhumka and thumkas of the popular silver screen, Astad Deboo and his passion left behind memories of performances and his well-wishers and admirers.
Soumitra Chatterjee (November 15, 2020)
Among the many deaths caused by the coronavirus, Ray’s hero Soumitra Chatterjee’s passing was saddening. Yes, all deaths are sad but it took a disease of this magnitude to snatch a talent like Soumitra Chatterjee at 85. He died a month after he tested positive for coronavirus, and reports noted the yo-yo nature of the illness.
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam (September 25, 2020)
The voice of several south Indian superstars and the man who gave voice to Salman Khan’s character in his debut Maine Pyar Kiya, S.P. Balasubrahmanyam was the colossus in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh (and Telangana) and Karnataka, who was as humble to his visitors as to his craft. Balu saar died on September 25, 2020, after his long fight with severe health issues due to the coronavirus infection.
Bhanu Athaiya (October 15, 2020)
India’s first Oscar winner and celebrated costume designer Bhanu Athaiya died at the age of 91. She got the look for Attenborough’s Gandhi spot-on, making the film itself a tour de force. Though often recalled as the first Oscar winner from India, Athaiya designed costumes for over 100 Indian films.
Chetan Chauhan (August 16, 2020)
In his second innings, Chetan Chauhan served as a cabinet minister in Uttar Pradesh. The former India opener had a cricketing career of 12 years, playing 40 Tests, 7 ODIs and was awarded the Arjuna honour.
Reacting apparently to Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge’s comment on poll promises, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday slammed the grand old party, saying they are badly exposed in front of the people.
In Karnataka, Congress is busier in intra-party politics and loot instead of even bothering to deliver on development, the Prime Minister said in a post on X. “Not only that, they are also going to roll back existing schemes,” he claimed.
The Congress Party is realising the hard way that making unreal promises is easy but implementing them properly is tough or impossible, Modi said. “Campaign after campaign they promise things to the people, which they also know they will never be able to deliver. Now, they stand badly exposed in front of the people!” the Prime Minister said.
Earlier, Kharge made the guarantees remark while pulling up Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar over his statement that the state government would review the ‘Shakti’ guarantee.
“If we do not go as per the budget, we will go bankrupt and there will be no money to even develop roads. If this government fails, there will be nothing left to pass on to the next generation (of Congress leaders) except for the bad name and the latter has to bear the brunt for another 10 years,” he said while interacting with reporters.
However, Shivakumar on Friday said his statement on the ‘Shakti scheme’ was distorted and presented as if the Congress government in the state wanted to withdraw it.
“Check any state where the Congress has Governments today – Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana- the developmental trajectory and fiscal health is turning from bad to worse. Their so-called Guarantees lie unfulfilled, which is a terrible deceit upon the people of these states,” PM Modi said.
The victims of such politics are the poor, youngsters, farmers and women, who are not only denied the benefits of these promises but also see their existing schemes diluted, he added.
“The people of the country will have to be vigilant against the Congress sponsored culture of fake promises! We saw recently how the people of Haryana rejected their lies and preferred a Government that is stable, progress oriented and action driven. There is a growing realisation across India that a vote for Congress is a vote for non-governance, poor economics and unparalleled loot. The people of India want development and progress, not the same old,” said PM Modi.
In Himachal Pradesh, salaries of Government workers are not paid on time, PM Modi claimed. The Prime Minister said, in Telangana, farmers are waiting for the waiver they promised.
Previously, in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan Congress promised certain allowances which were never implemented for five years, he said. The Prime Minister said there are numerous such examples of how the Congress works.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday paid the last rites of BJP leader Devender Singh Rana. Abdullah was accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary, Ministers Satish Sharma and Javed Ahmed Rana, and Party Treasurer Shammi Oberoi.
The 59-year-old Rana, BJP MLA from Nagrota and brother of Union Minister Jitendra Singh, passed away on Thursday at a private hospital in Haryana’s Faridabad.
Rana is survived by his wife, Gunjan Rana, their daughters Devyani and Ketki, and son Adhiraj Singh.
“The terrible news from late last night isn’t really sinking in. I know the last few years have been marked by our differences Devender but I prefer to focus on the fun times we shared together, the excellent work we did together & the memories. You have been taken from us all too soon & will be missed. May your soul rest in peace now DSR. My heart goes out to your family as I struggle to find the words to convey my condolences to them,” the Chief Minister posted on X.
Apart from Omar Abdullah, Jammu and Kashmir BJP chief Ravinder Raina and Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat were among those who attended the last rites of Rana.
On his demise, the National Conference party said: “JKNC President Dr. Farooq Abdullah and Vice President & Chief Minister Omar Abdullah are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Devender Rana, MLA Nagrota. They expressed their heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and supporters, acknowledging his dedicated service and contributions to the people of J&K. The JKNC leadership and party members stand in solidarity with his loved ones during this difficult time.”
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi mourned the demise of Rana and said he was a veteran leader who worked diligently towards Jammu and Kashmir’s progress.
“Shri Devender Singh Rana Ji’s untimely demise is shocking. He had just won the Assembly polls and had also played a noteworthy role in making the BJP stronger in J&K. In this hour of grief, my thoughts are with his family and supporters. Om Shanti,” PM Modi said on X.
In a post on X, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said Rana, who was always dedicated to the peace and development of Jammu and Kashmir and the interests of the people, made an invaluable contribution to the progress of the region. His demise is an irreparable loss for the BJP family, he added.
BJP chief JP Nadda also paid tribute to the party leader and said: “His dedication to public service and contributions towards the development of the people of Jammu & Kashmir will be remembered. His departure is an irreparable loss to the party”.
Rana’s elder brother and Union Minister Jitendra Singh posted on X, “Untimely demise of my brother Sh Devender Singh Rana is a deep personal loss, which is not only irreparable but painful and the void created will continue to haunt me for the rest of my life. I sincerely thank all those standing by me and the family in these testing times”.
After India-China disengagement, Indian troops start patrolling Demchok sector in eastern Ladakh
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said on Friday that he interacted with Chinese soldiers at Bumla Pass during Diwali celebration with Indian Army personnel in Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang district.
Two days after the disengagement between India and China, Indian troops started patrolling the Demchok sector in eastern Ladakh on Friday.
On Wednesday, both countries agreed to disengage and initiate coordinated patrols based on their understanding of the Line of Actual Control in the Demchok and Depsang sectors.
Patrolling by Indian troops in the Demchok sector of Eastern Ladakh kicked off Friday. Patrolling in the Depsang sector is expected to start soon, according to ANI. Coordinated patrolling means that both sides will be aware of each other’s patrol schedules.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said on Friday that he interacted with Chinese soldiers at Bumla Pass during the Diwali celebration with Indian Army personnel in Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang district.
Sharing a video of him interacting with the Chinese soldiers on X, Rijiju said: “After talking to Chinese soldiers and seeing the infrastructures, everyone will feel proud of India’s border development now.”
The Union Minister said he also celebrated Diwali at the Army Helipad in Tawang. “It felt proud to celebrate Diwali with brave soldiers. Our country is safe only because of their dedication and courage. Jai Hind!” the senior BJP leader said.
On Thursday, soldiers from India and China shared sweets at various border locations in the Ladakh sector to celebrate Diwali. The exchange occurred at Hot Springs, Karakoram Pass, Daulat Beg Oldi, KongkLa, and the Chushul-Moldo border meeting point.
Additionally, Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi emphasised that rebuilding trust along the LAC would be a gradual process, aiming to revert to the status quo of April 2020. He detailed that key measures—disengagement, de-escalation, and buffer zone management—are vital for alleviating tensions between the two nations. He also noted that this process would occur in phases, with each stage focusing on diminishing hostilities.
Chinese Ambassador to India Xu Feihong remarked that differences between neighboring countries like India and China are natural, but the critical aspect lies in how these differences are managed and resolved.
The border standoff began in eastern Ladakh in 2020 due to Chinese military actions and has led to prolonged tensions that have significantly affected relations between the two countries.
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