Current Affairs March 2018 - Deaths

1 - Veteran historian Prafulla Das died

Noted freedom fighter, Odia literateur and historian Prafulla Das passed away at the age of 91 years. He was known for his writings in Odia language. His famous literature 'Banhimana', the biography of freedom fighter Smt. Malati Chaudhury, owned him "Sarala Award" in 2014. He was honoured with Kendriya Sahitya Akademi award.

He authored various books on India’s freedom struggle and the role of Odisha. Some of his best writings were Kalapanira Angisikha’, ‘Agnujugar Aahwan’, ‘Bharatara Sasastra Mukti Sangram’, ‘Sahid Basu Bisnini’, ‘Kanika Prajaandolan Itihas’ and ‘Netaji Aao feri Nahanti’.

2 - Veteran actor Shammi passed away

Noted bollywood actress Shammi passed away at the age of 89. She worked in more than 200 films. She was popularly known as ‘Shammi Aunty’ but her real name was Nargis Rabadi. She had also worked in television shows like Dekh Bhai Dekh, Zabaan Sambhal Ke, and Shriman Shrimati.

Shammi made her debut in Bollywood in 1949 starring in Ustad Pedro. She worked in various films like Purab Aur Paschim, Samaj Ko Badal Dalo, Pehli Jhalak (1955), Bandish (1955), Azaad (1955), Halaku (1956), Son of Sinbad (1955), Raj Tilak (1958), Khazanchi (1958), Ghar Sansar (1958) and Aakhiri Dao (1958).

3 - Famous sufi singer Pyare Lal Wadali died

Famous sufi singer Pyare Lal Wadali died in Amritsar at the age of 66 years. He was the younger brother of Puran Chand Wadali of the Wadali brothers.

Wadali Brothers are famous for their Punjabi Sufi music. The duo began performing at Harballah temple in Jalandhar. They were born into the fifth generation of musicians. Wadali was honoured with several state and national level awards along with his elder brother.

4 - Noted film and television actor Narendra Jha passed away

Noted film and television actor Narendra Jha passed away at the age of 55 years. The actor is best known for his performances in films such as "Raees", "Kaabil" and "Haider".

Narendra Jha will reportedly be seen next in the upcoming Salman Khan starrer ‘Race 3’ which now turns out to be his last appearance on the silver screen. Jha began his acting career on TV with hit shows like "Shanti", "Ithihass", "Captain House".

5 - Renowned British scientist Stephen Hawking passed away

Renowned British scientist Stephen Hawking passed away at the age of 76 years. The theoretical physicist is known for his groundbreaking work with black holes and relativity. He was the author of several popular science books, including 'A Brief History of Time', which sold more than 10 million copies and was translated into 40 different languages.

Mr Hawking had won the Albert Einstein Award, the Wolf Prize, the Copley Medal, and the Fundamental Physics Prize. His life story was the subject of the 2014 film 'The Theory of Everything'.

6 - Eminent Hindi poet Kedarnath Singh passed away

Jnanpith awardee and renowned Hindi poet Kedarnath Singh passed away at the age of 84 years. Kedarnath won the Sahitya Akademi Award in Hindi in 1989 for his poetry collection Akaal Mein Saras and the Jnanpith Award in 2013.

Kedarnath Singh had been a professor and head of the Department of Hindi Language at Jawaharlal Nehru University's Indian Languages Centre. Some of his best-known works include "Bagh", "Abhi Bilkul Abhi", "Zameen pak Rahi Hai", "Yahan se Dekho", "Tolstoy aur cycle" among many others.

7 - Pulitzer Prize Winner Les Payne passed away

Pulitzer Prize winner journalist Les Payne passed away at age of 76. He served as an editor and columnist at Newsday. He won a Pulitzer Prize in 1974 for a 33-part series titled “The Heroin Trail.” He was known for his journalistic excellence that brought attention to problems, and sometimes helped solve those problems via Newsday reporting.

He was a founding member and the ex-president of the National Association of Black Journalists and a Vietnam War veteran.