Iconic Indians Lost in 2024 who will Live on in their Legacy

New Delhi: India, a country of 140 crore people, doesn’t have a dearth of talent. Yet, in this massive sea of humanity and diversity that comprises the nation, there are a few who became legends, inspirations and icons in their lifetime. As the year comes to a close, here’s a look at some of the iconic Indians we lost in 2024, but who will live on in the legacy they have left behind.

Dr Manmohan Singh: The ‘Accidental Prime Minister’, and the ‘Architect of India’s economic reforms’, are some of the names by which India will remember its economic wizard. An alumnus of Punjab University and University of Cambridge, he earned a doctorate in economics from the University of Oxford.

The economic foundation that this gentle soul and man of few words laid during his tenure as the two-time Prime Minister of India in the Congress-led UPA Government, made sure that Bharat came out of the economic crisis it was in when he came at the helm and breezed through the 2008 global economic meltdown as well.

Ratan Tata: A well-loved Indian business leader, a brand and trusted name in himself, the head of Tata Sons, Ratan Tata was an iconic industrialist and philanthropist who taught people the art of living a life where making money, nation-building and taking care of and uplifting the underprivileged went hand in hand. One of India’s most elegant, sought after and eligible bachelors for decades Ratan Tata in his sunset years became an inspiration and idol for the young generation of the country as he was an epitome of humanity, humility and business acumen.

Ustad Zakir Hussain: The famous tabla player, composer and actor who will always be remembered for his immense talent and cherubic face will be mourned by all who love Indian classical music and fusion. Zakir Hussain, who was the eldest son of the legendary tabla player Ustad Alla Rakha, took his father’s legacy even further and became world-renowned for his innovative contributions to music and collaborations with Pandit Ravi Shankar, George Harrison, John McLaughlin, L Shankar and TH Vinayakram. For those who are not so much into music, he will be remembered because of the eternal lines for Taj tea, “Aree huzoor, wah Taj boliye”.

Rohit Bal: One of India’s most legendary designers who dominated the fashion fraternity for decades through his flamboyant creations for men and women alike, Rohit Bal was known for designing clothes that incorporated the country’s rich sartorial traditions and stitched them into bespoke apparels that combined modern convenience with elegance and glamour.

Sitaram Yechury: Leader of India's largest communist party the CPI(M), Sitaram Yechury was a key figure in Indian politics for decades. As a student, he had a brilliant academic record and went on to study at St. Stephen’s College and later Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), but his attempts to complete a Ph.D. in Economics from the university were disrupted by his arrest during the Emergency days.

Pankaj Udhas: The ghazal singer with a soulful, magical voice mesmerised generations of Indians with his famous renditions and needs no introduction. It is a measure of his talent that he not only brought out 50 albums but also sang in the Hindi film industry. Which Indian has not cried, laughed or slow danced to his beautiful ghazals like ‘Chitti Aai hai’, ‘Chandi jaisa’ ‘Yeh halki si baarish’ ‘Mein nashe mein hoon’ and so on.

Ameen Sayani: The most recognised voice on radio, in an era where televisions were not even a distant dream for crores of Indians, was that of Ameen Sayani. With his cheerful greeting of “Ji haan bhaiyon aur beheno.

Sharda Sinha: Known as the nightingale of Bihar, Sharda Sinha will forever be remembered for her contributions to Chhath Puja through her devotional hymns. Even though her voice has been silenced by death, she will live on in the hearts and minds of the Purvanchali people who did not celebrate any wedding or festival without her soulful voice singing in the background.

Dr. Ram Narain Agarwal: Popularly known as the ‘Father of Agni Missile’ or the ‘Agni Man of India’, Dr Agarwal was born in Jaipur into a family of businessmen. However, in a departure from tradition he charted his own course in life and studied Aeronautical Engineering from the Madras Institute of Technology and did his Master's from the prestigious Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.

Anshuman Gaekwad: Indian cricketer of yesteryears Anshuman Gaekwad was the epitome of bravery in the face of adversity. The history of Indian cricket would be incomplete without the mention of his indomitable spirit and endless patience while playing test cricket for his nation, match after match. In the stuff of legends, Gaekwad batted an incredible 11 hours in a 1982 match in Jalandhar against rivals Pakistan.

Though these Indians, who made a name for themselves in their respective fields are gone, they will live on in the legacy they left behind. (IANS)

Also Read: A minuscule man & a giant persona: Dr. Manmohan Singh, PhD, as I knew him

Also Watch: