From Irrfan Khan & SSR to Ahmed Patel & Citizen Mukherjee, personalities we lost in 2020

2020 was year of many firsts, and many t so pleasant. year began with violence in universities and protests around country against contentious CAA. As year unfolded,  gloom spre more and more with world literally being 'locked' due to Coronavirus pandemic. While lockdown anxiety affected one and all, shock of losing near and dear ones was felt closely in 2020. India has lost some well-kwn personalities this year, many to COVID-19. Here's a tribute to all of m and a look back at ir exceptional careers: 

Irrfan Khan

On April 29, actor Irrfan Khan passed away at Kokilaben Ambani Hospital in Mumbai d 53. actor was diagsed with cancer in 2018, h been mitted for a colon infection. Irrfan Khan h shot to fame with Mira Nair’s Acemy Award-minated Salaam Bombay in 1988.  turning points in his career, however, were critically acclaimed negative roles in Haasil and Maqbool at start of millennium. Irrfan Khan h won National Award for Best Actor for his work in Paan Singh Tomar. He was kwn for his numerous or acclaimed works in films like  Namesake, Lunchbox, Talwar, Piku and Hindi Medium that fetched him several awards. 

He was table for his work in Hollywood, with roles in films like Slumdog Millionaire,  Amazing Spider-Man, Life of Pi, Namesake and Infer. Irrfan was last seen in Angrezi Medium,  last major film to release before COVID-19 pandemic, and earned praises from celebrities after its digital premiere.

Rishi Kapoor

Just a day after Irrfan Khan's demise, legendary actor Rishi Kapoor passed away after a two-year battle with leukemia, at HN Reliance Hospital at of 67 on April 30. Rishi Kapoor was diagsed with cancer in 2018 and h gone to USA for treatment along with his wife Neetu Kapoor. He returned to India in 2019 and signed films like remake of Intern opposite Deepika Pukone and Sharmaji Namkeen alongside Juhi Chawla. Rishi Kapoor was last seen in film  Body opposite Emraan Hashmi. actor h an illustrious career spanning more than 55 years. His blockbuster hits include Karz, Bobby, Do Dooni Chaar Khel Khel Mein, Amar Akbar Anthony, Hum Kisi se Kam Nahi, Agneepath, Chandni, etc.

Sushant Singh Rajput

On June 14, Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput was found de in his Bandra home in Mumbai. While Police said that he h hanged himself, his fans, close friends and family demanded a probe and accused his girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty of abetment of suicide. Later, CBI entered fray and took over case and probe is still going on. Enforcement Directorate also started probing his death case after Sushant's far accused Rhea of embezzlement of funds from Sushant's account. A drug-angle also emerged in case and NCB began its own probe. Rhea was n arrested by NCB and is currently out on bail. 

Sushant h shot to fame with TV show Pavitra Rishta produced by Ekta Kapoor. After earning popularity with his role, he me his debut with Kai Po Che, directed by Abhishek Kapoor, an official aptation of Chetan Bhagat’s Three Mistakes of My Life. He n featured in Yash Raj Films’ Shuddh Desi Romance and a small role in Aamir Khan-Rajkumar Hirani blockbuster PK. Sushant n earned critical acclaim for his portrayal of iconic detective Byomkesh Bakshy. However, his career’s biggest hit came with MS Dhoni: Untold Story, in role of former Indian cricket captain. actor also featured in Kedarnath, in debut of Sara Ali Khan, which was a success. Dangal director Nitesh Tiwari’s Chhichhore in 2019 was among biggest hits of his career. He was last seen in Netflix film Drive and n, posthumously, was working on Dil Bechara, aptation of Fault in Our Stars.

Amar Singh

Kwn in political circles for his exceptional talent to man crises and controversy, former Samajwi Party leer and Rajya Sabha MP Amar Singh passed away on August 1 in a hospital in Singapore, at of 64. Singh h earlier undergone a kidney transplant in 2013. Amar Singh who was a close friend of Bachchans since 1990s, helped Amitabh Bachchan revive his debt-ridden Amitabh Bachchan Corporation Limited (ABCL) in 2003. Stepping in as vice-chairman of company, he was publically referred to as a 'younger bror' by Big-B. Singh also helped launch actor Jaya Bachchan's political career in Samajwi Party in 2004. actor was elected to Rajya Sabha and has since n held position.

Amar Singh was himself elected to Rajya Sabha four times - in 1996, 2002,2008 and 2016.  He held several posts on several parliamentary commissions since n but was best-kwn as SP's go-to man for swinging political support for party chief Mulayam Singh Yav in Delhi. He shot to fame when he saved UPA-1 government by pledging support of 39 MPs when it was reduced to a mirity as CPI withdrew its backing to coalition over proposed Nuclear Accord with United States. Moreover, Amar Singh h also mand to talk Mulayam Singh Yav out of supporting UPA-1's coalition in beginning when Dr. Singh h been named Prime Minister. Apart from making and breaking support for UPA, Singh is also credited with managing to convince US President Bill Clinton to attend a banquet in his hour in Luckw in 2005, elevating Mulayam Singh Yav's stature in Delhi. 

Former President Pranab Mukherjee

On August 31, former President Pranab Mukherjee passed away in New Delhi's Army RR hospital. former President was mitted to hospital in Delhi Cantonment on August 10 and was operated same day for removal of a clot in his brain, and also tested positive for Covid and was unable to recover. Mukherjee h been 13th President of India, from 2012 to 2017, and h enjoyed a glittering political career before that. 

Pranab Mukherjee was first elected to Rajya Sabha in 1969. Rising in former PM Indira Gandhi's cabinet, he was me Deputy Minister, Industry, Shipping and Transport, Steel and Industry and Minister of State for Finance in 1973-74 during Emergency era. He was first me Finance Minister in 1982 in Indira Gandhi cabinet and was Leer of House in Upper House of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) from 1980 to 1985. Later he was me Minister for Commerce from 1993 to 1995, Minister of External Affairs from 1995 to 1996, Minister of Defence from 2004 to 2006, Minister of External Affairs from 2006 to 2009 and Minister of Finance from 2009 to 2012, and Leer of Lok Sabha from 2004-2012, till he resigned to be me President of India. He was awarded Bharat Ratna- India's highest civilian hour in 2019.

S P Balasubrahmanyam

Popular playback singer S P Balasubrahmanyam passed away on September 25.  74-year-old Balasubrahmanyam, popularly kwn as SPB, was mitted to hospital on August 5, after testing positive for COVID-19. His health deteriorated for first time on August 13 and he was put on life support and moved to Intensive Care Unit. On August 19, he was put on ECMO besides ventilator. He underwent passive physiorapy and was fully awake and responsive during that phase, hospital said during end of August. Balasubrahmanyam has sung over 40,000 songs, in langus including Tamil, Telugu, Kanna, Malayalam and Hindi. 

Jaswant Singh

Retired Indian Army officer and former Union Minister Jaswant Singh passed away on September 27 at of 82. Jaswant Singh entered politics in late 1960s, but was minated to Rajya Sabha in 1980. He was sent on a BJP ticket to Rajya Sabha 5 times and won elections to Lok Sabha 4 times (1990, 1991, 1996 and 2009). He served as Finance Minister in Vajpayee's government in 1996 and later was appointed as Minister for External Affairs of India (December 5, 1998, to July 1, 2002). In 2002, he again became Finance Minister and served until BJP lost elections in May 2004.

Ram Vilas Paswan

Union Consumer Affairs Minister and LJP founder Ram Vilas Paswan passed away at a hospital in national capital on October 8. Born on July 5, 1946, Paswan completed a Masters' and a law degree besides passing Bihar civil service exam. However, he chose to join politics and was elected to Bihar Assembly in 1969 as a Samyukta Socialist Party candidate. He was one of prominent politicians who was jailed during Emergency. Since n, Paswan was a part of various parties including Janata Party and Janata Dal.

After Janata Dal split into two factions, he along with some or members formed LJP in vember 2000. From 1977 onwards, he was continuously elected to Lok Sabha barring 1984 and 2009. He served as a Union Minister in National Front governments (1989-90 and 1996-98), Atal Bihar Vajpayee-led NDA government (1999-2002), UPA government (2004-2009) and Narendra Modi-led government (2014-2020). 

Keshubhai Patel

Former Gujarat CM Keshubhai Patel passed away on October 29 at of 93 at a hospital in Ahmedab. 93-year-old veteran politician h tested positive for Coronavirus (COVID-19) on September 18. Patel, who formed first BJP government in Gujarat in 1995, was succeeded by Narendra Modi in 2001. Keshubahi Patel was elected first as Gujarat's CM in March 1995 and lasted a mere six months. He was CM again from March 1998 to October 2001. Patel, who was a six-time member of Gujarat Legislative Assembly, quit BJP in 2012 and floated 'Gujarat Parivartan Party' to contest polls. After a drubbing at polls, he later merged with BJP in 2014. He joined Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) as a pracharak. Entering politics in 1960s, he was one of founding members of Jan Sangh and was part of anti-Emergency movement, being imprisoned with several or leers in 1975. 

Soumitra Chatterjee

Veteran actor Soumitra Chatterjee bread his last at a private hospital in Kolkata on vember 15 at of 85. Pma Bhushan winner h earlier tested positive for COVID-19, but struggled with health complications since recovering from disease. Chatterjee was best-kwn for his work with Satyajit Ray and was often called 'Ray's actor'. He was  le actor in 14 of Ray's films and debuted in third movie of Apu trilogy, Apur Sansar, released in 1959. Chatterjee was awarded Pma Bhushan in 2004, Da Saheb Phalke Award, highest hour in Indian cinema, in 2012, and France's highest award - Legion of Hour, in 2018.

Tarun Gogoi

Three-time Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi passed away on vember 23, at Guwahati Medical College Hospital. He h multi-organ failure due to post-COVID complications. Tarun Gogoi - fondly called 'Punakon' -  joined politics in 1968 as a member of Jorhat Municipal Board. In 1971, Gogoi was elected to Lok Sabha from Jorhat for first time. He was re-elected to Lok Sabha in 1977, 1980 and n 1985 - serving under two Prime Ministers - Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi. During his time in Centre, he held a cabinet post - Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Food & Food processing later, between 1991-1995.

Inspite of being a 6-time Lok Sabha MP, he was perceived as a low-profile politician till he became Assam's CM. In 1997, he was elected to Assam Legislative Assembly from Margherita Assembly Constituency and took over reins of state on May 17, 2001, winning  Titabor assembly constituency which he held till 2016. 4-time MLA was re-elected as CM for three back-to-back terms from 2001 to 2016, thus becoming longest-serving Assam CM.

Ahmed Patel

Senior Congress leer and party's top strategist, Ahmed Patel passed away in a Gurugram hospital on vember 25,  due to multi-organ failure. He was suffering from complications related to COVID-19. Patel who was 71, was mitted to Medanta hospital in Gurugram on vember 15 after he developed complications. "AP" to his friends and "Ahmed Bhai" to colleagues, Patel was one of closest aides of Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and her political secretary for a long time. He was trouble-shooter of Congress and h steered party out of ticklish situations many a time. He was grand old party's pointsman for building consensus on key issues with or parties and leers, his last being successful alliance of Congress, NCP and Shiv Sena.

At time of his death, Patel was a member of Rajya Sabha from Gujarat. He was an eight-time parliamentarian -- five times in Rajya Sabha, three times in Lok Sabha. His last Rajya Sabha election in 2017 was contested very keenly amid charges of horse-tring. He was also Congress treasurer, a post that he occupied thrice. Patel began his political career by contesting local body polls in Gujarat's Bharuch district in 1976. He became a Lok Sabha MP in March 1977 and was a member of sixth, seventh and eighth Lok Sabha till 1989. He was elected to Rajya Sabha for first time in August 1993. Patel was a close confidant of Rajiv Gandhi and parliamentary secretary to n Prime Minister from 1985 to 1986. He later took charge of Congress's organisational structure both in Gujarat and at party high-command. 

Mahashay Dharampal Gulati

Mahashay Dharampal Gulati, owner of famous spice company MDH Masala, passed away on December 3 in a hospital in New Delhi. Gulati (97) was undergoing post-COVID treatment and suffered a cardiac arrest. Popularly kwn as "Spice King", Gulati was awarded Pma Bhushan, country's third-highest civilian award, in 2019. Born in Sialkot (w in Pakistan) on March 27, 1923, Gulati h moved to India after partition and set up his business in Delhi. 'Mahashian Di Hatti' (MDH) was founded by his late far Mahashay Chunni Lal Gulati.