The nation mourns the loss of luminaries that etched a mark on our nation’s history while seeing a shift in the paradigm of the zeitgeist of values, power relations, economic or developmental thought, etc. Striking poignancy of the loss of figures across the nation wreck the states of mind of lay people over a span of time. The month of August teemed with a flurry of obituaries as the news columns turned morose for the nation.
Below is the list of prominent dignitaries that left us with a lump in our throats and sunken hearts.
01 Aug 2018 – Bhishma Narain Singh
The first loss occurred on the very first day of the month when Bhishma Narain Singh was diagnosed with high grade B cell lymphoma with metastasis. He died on the eve of August 1 at Fortis Noida. Singh, who was also a Union minister and the former Governor of Meghalaya, died of septic shock with multi-organ failure. His contribution to Congress and Gandhian ways were always speculated and admired.
06 Aug 2018 – RK Dhawan
Rajinder Kumar Dhawan, breathed his last at the B L Kapur hospital, New Delhi. He ailed from sepsis and passed away following a prolonged illness. A close confidante of Indira Gandhi, he was known to be part of her inner circle during the Emergency years. He was 81 at the time of his death.
07 Aug 2018 – M Karunanidhi
M Karunanidhi, a five-time Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president for nearly 50 years, died at 6:10 pm on August 7 after battling infection and age-related ailments for 11 days at the Kauvery Hospital in Chennai. Affectionately called Kalaignar (artiste), he was 94. He shaped the Dravidian movement to become a lifelong warrior for Sri Lankan Tamil cause.
11 Aug 2018 – Sir VS Naipaul
Sir Vidiadhar Surajprasad Naipaul was a descendant of impoverished Indians and was shipped to the West Indies as a bonded labourer. The Trinidad-born Nobel laureate’s writing and brittle were equally celebrated while his provocative personality drew admiration and revulsion in equal measures. He died on Saturday at his London home, he was 85 at the time.
13 Aug 2018 – Somnath Chatterjee
Somnath Chatterjee, former Lok Sabha speaker died in Kolkata, he was 89 years old. The octogenarian politician was a 10-time parliamentarian. Chatterjee was suffering from a kidney-related ailment and was put on life support after he suffered a mild cardiac arrest. He was admitted to a private hospital in Kolkata after suffering a hemorrhagic stroke.
15 Aug 2018 – Ajit Wadekar
Former Indian cricket captain Ajit Wadekar led India to their first ever Test series victory in West Indies and England. He passed away at the age of 77 in Mumbai. Wadekar was reportedly suffering from cancer and breathed his last at the Jaslok Hospital in South Mumbai.
16 Aug 2018- Atal Bihari Vajpayee
One of India’s most respected political leaders and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee passed away at the age of 93 due to age-related ailments. He was admitted to AIIMS, New Delhi, for the last nine weeks. Apart from age-related issues, Vajpayee also suffered multi-organ failure, along with kidney tract infection and chest congestion. He was also a diabetic patient. In addition, his urine output was on the lower side. The Bharat Ratna awardee breathed his last at 5:05 pm at AIIMS in the national capital on August 16.
Also Read: Remembering Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee: 12 interesting facts