#Thatwas2018: Remembering the Indian gems whom we lost this year
What's the story
This year, we mourned far too many times. We lost many phenomenal lives, from cine stars like Sridevi to noted politicians such as Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and veteran sportsmen like Ajit Wadekar, our heart ached with every loss. Their names will be inscribed in history, and they will always be remembered. Here, we pay homage to some famous ones who're no longer with us.
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India's first female superstar, Bollywood's jewel: Sridevi (1963-2018)
Legendary actor Sridevi passed away on February 24, after a cardiac arrest at 54. The actress and her family were in Dubai at that time attending the wedding of her nephew Mohit Marwah. Known for films like English Vinglish, Mr. India, and Chandni, Sridevi enjoyed success that spanned decades, winning our hearts throughout. She was last seen in Mom (2017), co-starring Akshaye Khanna.
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Outstanding political icon, wordsmith, orator: Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1924-2018)
Former PM and beloved politician, Atal Bihari Vajpayee breathed his last on August 16 in AIIMS, Delhi. He was 93. It's because of him that India is today a nuclear state. Vajpayee is also credited with launching the New Delhi-Lahore bus service in February 1999, which was aimed at improving ties with Pakistan. A renowned poet, Vajpayee was also known for his strong oratory skills.
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Tamil Nadu's Kalaignar, DMK patriarch: M Karunanidhi (1924-2018)
Veteran politician and DMK supremo, M Karunanidhi died in Chennai on August 7, due to age-related illness. He was a five-time Tamil Nadu CM, serving between 1969 and 2011. The Dravidian stalwart, who entered politics at just 14 years, was known for opening Tamil Nadu's doors to IT, and fighting for social injustice. He was popularly referred to as Kalaignar, meaning artist in Tamil.
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Emotional communist, acceptable to all: Somnath Chatterjee (1929-2018)
Former Lok Sabha speaker Somnath Chatterjee breathed his last on August 13 in Kolkata. He was 89. Chatterjee was a highly respected leader of the CPI (M), who began his political life in 1968. He was elected as speaker of Lok Sabha in 2004. In his over 50-year political journey, he has only lost one election, when Mamata Banerjee defeated him in 1984.
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Legendary cricket team captain, efficient manager: Ajit Wadekar (1941-2018)
Former Indian cricket skipper Ajit Wadekar died on August 15 in Mumbai. He was 77. One of the best Indian skippers, Wadekar left behind a rich legacy. He represented India in 37 Test matches and scored 2,113 runs at an average of 31.07. Wadekar had served as captain, manager, and Indian team selector and gracefully proved himself well in each of these roles.
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Delhi's ex-CM, one of BJP's best: Madan Lal Khurana (1936-2018)
One of India's greatest leaders, former Delhi Chief Minister Madan Lal Khurana died on October 27 in New Delhi, after being unwell for a while. He was 82. A veteran of the BJP, Khurana, ventured into politics as a student in 1959. He was the Chief Minister of Delhi from 1993 to 1996, and was appointed the Governor of Rajasthan in 2004.
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BJP's wall in Bengaluru, fierce loyalist: Ananth Kumar (1959-2018)
Senior BJP leader and cabinet minister HN Ananth Kumar breathed his last on November 12 in Bengaluru. He was 59. Kumar was very close to LK Advani, who even described the cabinet minister as an outstanding parliamentarian who had a forceful presence in the House. He held various portfolios in the governments headed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.