It’s never easy to say goodbye to someone. Indeed if a person dies they leave behind their teachings, works, discoveries, and memories indeed; it’s like we don’t lose them forever. Here we remember the celebrities, businessmen, politicians and other famous personalities who have said goodbye in the year 2019.
Siddaganga Shivakumara Swami
Also known as the walking god, Shivakumara Swami, a much-admired seer in Karnataka, died on 21 January 2019. He was 111 years old and was in a critical state and was put on life support at the mutt. Thousands of followers had assembled to take a final look at the spiritual leader. He was a celebrated Lingayat seer who was known for his social works in the state.
VG Siddhartha
The coffee baron and the founder of India’s largest coffee chain Cafe Coffee Day VG Siddhartha, mysteriously disappeared on July 29 this year, causing turmoil in the country. After 36 hours of research operation, the 60-year old’s body was found washed ashore in the Netravati river. He had left behind a note to his employees that revealed he was in deep debt.
Sushma Swaraj
Known as the bravest female politician, BJP’s veteran leader passed away at the age of 67 due to cardiac arrest. The former External Affairs Minister was brought to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) around 10 pm and taken to the emergency. While doctors tried to revive her for about an hour, she died at 10.50 pm.
Hours before her demise, Sushma Swaraj congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the government revoked the special status for Jammu and Kashmir, saying “I was waiting to see this day in my lifetime”.
Arun Jaitely
Arun Jaitley, the former finance minister and a stalwart of the Bharatiya Janata Party, passed away at the age of 66 on 24th August 2019 at AIIMS hospital in New Delhi. After complaining of breathlessness and restlessness, the minister was rushed to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on 9th August.
He was kept under observation at the Cardio-Neuro-Centre of the hospital, however, his condition kept on deteriorating. He died at 12.07 pm in the hospital and his last rites were performed at the Nigambodh Ghat in New Delhi.
Master Hirannaiah
A very famous Indian film actor in the Kannada film industry and a theatre artist died at the age of 85 due to age-related ailments. The veteran actor was admitted to BGS Hospital in Bengaluru on 28th April. However, he did not respond to treatment and passed away on 2nd May 2019. The whole Karnataka was in deep sorrow as it had lost the most precious jewel of the nation.
Kadri Gopalnath
The pioneers of Carnatic music and the saxophone magician passed away at the age of 69 due to frequent illness. He had been ill for three months and was admitted to the hospital on 10th October night. Gopalnathdied on 11 October 2019 due to cardiac arrest at the age of 69 at a private hospital in Mangalore.
Manohar Parrikar
The former Goa Chief Minister, who had been suffering from pancreatic cancer for over a year died on 17th March 2019 at the age of 63.
Venu Madhav
Popular Telegu actor and comedian Venu Madhav passed away at 39 in Hyderabad. The veteran actor was suffering from kidney-related illnesses for a while and was in critical condition on 24th September. He took his last breath at a private hospital in Secunderabad on 25th September. The Telugu film industry was in shock as they hear this sorrowful news.
L.S. Sheshagiri Rao
Kannada writer and critic L.S. Sheshagiri Rao passed away on 20th December at the age of 94. He was best known for his critical works and an English-Kannada dictionary that he compiled.
Girish Karnad
Jnanpith Award winner and recipient of the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan, Girish Karnad, one of the most noted playwrights in India passed away at the age of 81 on 10 June 2019. Karnad has written various plays in Kannada and is recognized as one of Kannada literature’s foremost playwrights. Certainly, the state and the nation have lost the most important jewel.
Sheila Dixit
Three-time Delhi Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Sheila Dikshit died in New Delhi on 20 July 2019 at the age of 81. Sheila Dikshit was ill for a long time. She was admitted to a hospital at around 10.30 am today. She died at 3.55 pm as she again suffered a cardiac arrest.
