Obituary - Current Affairs for September, 2015

Senior BJP leader Ram Kapse passed away on 29th September 2015 after a prolonged illness at 82. He had been ailing for the past 8 years and his last rites were performed in Kalyan. Kapse was born on December 1st, 1933 and has served as Lt. Gov of Andaman and Nicobar islands.

Meghalaya’s oldest serving legislator who served for the longest period, Hoping Stone Lyngdoh has passed away on 26 September 2015 in Shillong at the age of 86. He was representing the Nongstoin constituency of West Khasi Hills district in the state legislative Assembly and he was the president of the Hill State Peoples Democratic Party. He has been a legislator from the time of inception of the state in 1972 to his death. Prior to the formation of Meghalaya. he was a legislator in the United Assam Legislative Assembly. He has never been defeated in his legislative career. He has also worked as a school teacher, social worker and agriculturalist. He fought against uranium mining in the state.

Governor of Manipur Dr. Syed Ahmed passed away on 26th September 2015. Dedicated to helping the advancement of minorities in Maharashtra and issues facing homeless and slum dwellers, he worked hard in this capacity as Minister for Housing, Slum Improvement, House Repairs and Reconstructions in State Government. He also worked to streamline the Haj pilgrimage process as the Chairman of the Maharashtra State Haj Committee. A scholar and a poet, he was known for his efforts towards poverty alleviation in the nation.

Renowned Odia lyricist Nizam passed away on 22nd September 2015 in Odisha’s capital city following heart attack and kidney failure at the age of 62. Nizam was born in Cuttack in 1952. Starting his career as an All India Radio artiste, he joined Odia Film Industry as a lyricist in 1977 and created a niche for himself. He had written songs for over 100 films in his 35 years of career. Some of his famous works are Hrudayara Eei Sunyata Ku Aaji Pachari Mu Jebe Sune, Needa Bhara Rati, Madhu Bhara Janha, Mu Je Eka Pagala Bhanra etc.

Sumit Sen, editor of TOI Kolkata passed away on the night of September 20 2015 following a battle with cancer at the age of 60. Sen had earlier worked as a journalist with The Statesman before moving on to The Hindustan Times in 2001 and The Times of India in 2003.

Well known Malayalam playback singer Radhika Thilak passed away in Kochi on 20 September 2015 from cancer at the age of 45 years. She sung around 70 songs for Malayalam movies and this includes Guru, Ottayal Pattalam and Deepasthambham Mahashcharyam. She performed on Doordarshan during the 1990s and was also a prominent face in AIR shows. Her notable film performances include Arunakirana deepam, Deva sangeetham, Maya manchalil, Kaithapoo manam, Thiruvathira thira nokkiya, Ente ulludukkum kotti and Ninte kannil.

Independent India’s first visually challenged MP has passed away at the age of 98. The veteran leader was born in Dhaka and became India’s first visually challenged Parliamentarian when he won from Kolkata SE constituency. Gupta held a degree in law from University of Calcutta and he was the first visually challenged Advocate General of WB. He was also the founder-president of the National Federation of the Blind and the first president of the Indian chapter of Disabled Peoples’ International.

Jackie Collins the author of bestselling novels has passed away at the age of 77 from breast cancer. Collins published novels in 1960s and 1970s. Her breakthrough came when she wrote the 1983 Hollywood Wives which sold 15 million copies and became a TV miniseries.

Veteran Marathi cricket commentator and writer Bal Pandit passed away in Pune, Maharashtra on September 17, 2015 at the age of 89. He popularised cricket through vernacular Marathi commentary in various media such as radio, books, magazines and newspapers. Pandit also authored 30 books on numerous aspects of cricket. He translated Sunil Gavaskar’s autobiography Sunny Days into Marathi. Pandit was also bestowed with Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Award in 1978 by the Maharashtra Government in recognition of his contribution to the game of cricket.

Frank D. Gilroy’s award winning piece on a veteran’s fraught return home “The Subject Was Roses” earned him the Pulitzer. He served in the army during the 1940s and was also a Tony Award winner. The Oscar nominated playwright was an alumnus of Yale Drama School and he wrote for the 1971 Shirley MacLaine drama “Desperate Characters”