2011: Those who bid adieu--2

CHRISTOPHER HITCHENS (December 16): Author, essayist and polemicist, he had a remarkable journalistic career and wrote the provocative best-seller “God is Not Great”.

SOCRATES (December 4): Brazilian football legend, he was an elegant player on the field, led the legendary 1982 team at the World Cup and was also actively involved in his country’s politics.
 
MARIO MIRANDA (December 11): Renowned cartoonist, he drew his characters and themes mostly from his Goan background, his sketches populated with many human absurdities and humorous contradictions

DEV ANAND (December 4): The ‘Evergreen’ star romanced Hindi films for decades, first as actor and later director, and was one of Bollywood's greatest romantic heroes.

USTAD SULTAN KHAN (November 27): Sarangi maestro and Hindustani singer, he staged his first concert at the age of 11 and his soulful music played on for over six decades enthralling music lovers the world over

HAR GOBIND KHORANA (November 9): Indian-American biochemist, he won the Nobel Prize for medicine in 1968 for unravelling the nucleotide sequence of RNA and deciphering the genetic code.

BHUPEN HAZARIKA (November 5): A music legend who introduced to the rest of India and the world the mystical folk music and culture of Assam, he donned many hats as singer, composer, lyricist, litterateur, journalist and filmmaker.

GEORGE VARGHESE KAKKANADAN (October 19): One of Kerala’s greatest storytellers, Kakkanadan pioneered modernism in Malayalam novels and short stories

SRI SATHYA SAI BABA (April 24): Iconic spiritual leader, his divine powers, philosophy and teaching earned him millions of followers from around the world across social and religious lines. A philanthropist, he also helped build a number of charitable, educational and health institutions.

ELIZABETH TAYLOR (March 23): Legendary Hollywood actor and style-icon, Liz Taylor ruled the screen for five decades, winning two Academy awards. She also stayed in the limelight offscreen with her turbulent relationships that included eight marriages

ARJUN SINGH (March 4): Veteran Congress leader, he was twice union minister and Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh three times. Photo: San

ANANT PAI (February 24): Founder of the immensely popular comic series Amar Chitra Katha and Tinkle, 'Uncle Pai' enchanted generations of Indian children, bringing them closer to their roots and introducing a number of lovable characters. Photo: Special Arrangemen


  

BHIMSEN JOSHI (January 24): The legendary Hindustani vocalist strode the Indian musical scene as a colossus for decades with his unparalleled rendition of the Kirana gharana.

 
INDIRA GOSWAMI (November 29): One of India’s eminent contemporary writers and Assam’s beloved 'Mamoni Raisom', she was vociferous in her demands for the empowerment of women and the downtrodden. The Jnanpith Award winner also played a key role in the peace talks between the ULFA and the Centre