Farewells 2009

It's been a year of losses and some very untimely ones. We've had to bid farewell to a host of celebrities, in shock and disbelief. Each of them touched our lives in one way or another -- some in real, some through the reel. Here's fondly remembering some of those who left an indelible mark on the world in 2009.

1. YSR – AP chief minister

The untimely demise of YS Rajasekhara Reddy was the Congress party’s extreme misfortune. YSR was a true mass leader, one who ruled the hearts of people in Andhra Pradesh. A doctor by profession, YSR was very close to the public pulse and carved a niche for himself by taking up revolutionary public welfare schemes, which had become a model for other states in the country. Undoubtedly one of the most popular leaders Andhra Pradesh ever produced, YSR’s death in a chopper crash has not only created a vacuum in the state politics but dealt a major blow to the ruling Congress party.

2. Gayathri Devi

The feisty princess Ayesha, daughter of the erstwhile maharaja of Cooch Behar, shot her first panther at the age of 13, stunning everyone. Six years later, the beautiful woman who came to be known as Maharani Gayatri Devi stunned her family again by falling in love with prince Sawai Man Singh of Jaipur. Devi, who was once considered among the world's most beautiful women, was also an international style icon who featured in Vogue's 10 most beautiful list in the 60s. Gayatri Devi, who was maharani of Jaipur state from 1939 to 1970, was an excellent marksman, a tennis player and a keen rider, with a deep knowledge of horses. She was one queen who with her beauty and charm always reigned over the hearts of many Indians.

3. Michael Jackson

The death of Michael Jackson was arguably the biggest news event of 2009. Although the musician had a turbulent life, he was unrivaled not only in record sales for a solo artist, but in terms of his constant innovation, dedication, and mastery of the pop single. MJ's unique blend of soul, funk and rock made him the biggest pop act in the world. Jacko always lived up to his albums' success with his extravagant live shows, which saw him pull off stunning dance moves, including the 'moonwalk' in which he appeared to slide backwards across the surface of the stage. At the time of his death Michael was preparing for a phenomenal 50-date comeback residency at London's O2 arena - dubbed 'This Is It'.

4. Jade Goody

Jade Goody was a brash and oft-controversial British reality show star, whose ups and downs enthralled the nation till her dying day in the wee hours of Mothers Day. Goody climbed the high ladder to fame in 2002 as a contestant in Big Brother 3, becoming a figure of ridicule in the media, depicted as a pig by one tabloid newspaper and then denounced for being two-faced and ignorant. Later, in 2007, she was again in spotlight when she was accused of racism towards Shilpa Shetty in the UK version of Celebrity Big Brother. Goody's cancer diagnosis brought her back into the public eye, and she dedicated her last few weeks to raise as much money as possible so as to ensure her sons’ financial security for as long as possible, marrying Jack and getting herself and her boys christened.

5. Edward Kennedy

Sen. Edward Moore “Ted” Kennedy was one of the Democratic Party's most powerful members. A man of great faith and character, Kennedy is perhaps the most famous US politician who was never President of America. Perhaps the best way to remember Senator Kennedy lies in his own frequently repeated and inspirational words, "For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die." By the time of his death, he had come to be viewed as a major figure and spokesman for American progressivism.

6. David Shepherd

David Shepherd was an umpire par excellence. The good-humoured Englishman was known for his superstitions - most notably his little hop when scores reached 111 or a multiple thereof. He was a favourite with the players and was respected world over. Shepherd umpired three successive World Cup finals (1996, 1999 and 2003) and six tournaments overall, and will be fondly remembered for strictly observing cricket's Nelson tradition; giving a small hop whenever the score reached 111. Only Steve Bucknor and Rudi Koertzen have stood in more Tests than Shepherd.

7. Patrick Swayze

Patrick Swayze, the hunky actor who danced his way into moviegoers' hearts with "Dirty Dancing" and then broke them with "Ghost," personified a particular kind of masculine grace both on and off screen. Patrick Swayze's untimely demise has shocked Hollywood and his fans alike, with touching tributes from a number of celebrities. Mr. Swayze’s cancer was diagnosed in January 2008. Six months later he had already outlived his prognosis and was filmed at an airport, smiling at photographers and calling himself, only half-facetiously, “a miracle dude.”

8. Shakti Samanta

Bollywood has lost another veteran filmmaker in Shakti Samanta, known as the wizard of entertainment after giving pure entertainers like 'An Evening in Paris' and 'Kashmir Ki Kali'. Although Samanta started with making B-grade movies in the early 1950s, he became one of the most successful names in the business a decade later. What made Shakti Samanta different from many other successful filmmakers was that he never took recourse to cheap subjects to pander to the box office. His movies saw box office success by their own merits. After B.R. Chopra, Samanta's death is seen as another huge loss for the Hindi film industry.

9. Farrah Fawcette

Farrah Fawcett, the Charlie’s Angels star who emerged as the most potent sex symbol of the ’70s, lost her battle against cancer at the age of 62. Fit, tanned, blonde and smiling, Fawcett defined her California golden girl image most famously in a legendary red swimsuit poster that sold millions of copies. After Fawcett left Angels, she made futuristic sci-fi films Logan’s Run and Saturn 3, then shifted gears with a critically acclaimed dramatic turn in 1984 domestic abuse TV movie The Burning Bed. Earlier this decade, Fawcett redefined herself yet again with a series of wacky appearances on late-night talk shows.

10. Gangubai Hangal

A rebel who broke caste and gender barriers, a perfectionist and a singer par excellence - this is how Hindustani classical vocalist Gangubai Hangal will always be known to her numerous fans and fellow musicians. In her musical career, Hangal was almost reborn when she lost her voice after a brief illness but returned with a new masculine one that was considered more gifted than many of her contemporaries. Hangal was also ridiculed as a 'gaanewali' for being one of the few women trying to breach the male-dominated world of Hindustani classical singing.

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