Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi -Former Indian cricket captain nicknamed Tiger Pataudi died in New Delhi on 22 September 2011. He went on an impaired eye to become a visionary and pioneering captain of the Indian Test team. He was the youngest to become captain at the age of 21.Tiger Pataudi made his debut on 13 December 1961 in the test match against England played in New Delhi. Pataudi played 46 Tests between 1961 and 1975. He was honoured with the prestigious Arjuna Award in 1964. He was conferred upon the Padma Shri in 1967.
Burhanuddin Rabbani -Former Afghan President was killed by a suicide bomber in Kabul on 20 September 2011. As head of Afghanistan`s High Peace Council, Rabbani shouldered responsibility to find a political solution to the 10-year war with the Taliban. Rabbani was given the dangerous and difficult job of guiding the negotiations between the government and its opponents, including the Taliban. Rabbani regained political prominence almost a decade later, when he was named head of President Hamid Karzai`s peace council in October of 2010.
Wangari Maathai- Kenyan environmentalist & Nobel laureate died on 25 September 2011 in Nairobi. The first African woman to win a Nobel Peace Prize, Wangari Maathai had begun a movement to reforest her country by paying poor women a few shillings to plant trees. The Green Belt Movement organization founded by her in 1977 mentioned that she had been treated for ovarian cancer in the past year.
Major General (retd) BC Khanduri was appointed the sixth Chief Minister of Uttarakhand. He replaced Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank who resigned on 11 September 2011. Khanduri returned as CM two years after he stepped down following the 2009 general elections, when the BJP lost all five Lok Sabha seats in the state. Khanduri, a former army officer, has the image of an honest leader who commands a lot of respect among retired defence personnel in Uttarakhand.
Leila Lopes from Angola was crowned Miss Universe on 12 September 2011 in Sau Paulo, Brazil. Lopes, Angola’s first winner, outdid 88 other competitors to win the title during the 60th anniversary of the world’s biggest beauty pageant. She was crowned by Ximena Navarrete of Mexico winner of the 2010 Miss Universe pagant. The first runner-up was 23-year-old Olesia Stefanko of Ukraine and the second runner-up was Priscila Machado of Brazil.
Mullapudi Harischandra Prasad died on 3 September 2011. He was the Chairman and Managing Director of Andhra Sugars. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the industry in Andhra Pradesh, Prasad started Andhra Sugars in August 11, 1947 at Tanuku in West Godavari district. Andhra Sugars also contributed to India`s space programme. The company developed the propellant fuel for the rocket boosters of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).Harischandra Prasad started Andhra Petrochemicals Limited, which was amongst the first in the chemical sector. Harischandra Prasad served as the President of the Federation of Andhra Pradesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FAPCCI).
Ganapati Sthapati, Eminent sculptor, died on 6 September 2011 in Chennai. He had sculpted the famous Tiruvalluvar statue in Kanyakumari and Buddha statue in Hussainsagar.
Sumanth Misra, Former Davis Cupper and secretary of the All-India Lawn Tennis Association Sumant Misra died on 3 September 2011. Mishra who was India’s first national tennis champion was called Grandfather of Indian tennis.He represented the country at the Davis Cup between 1947- 1956 and also played in the Wimbledon and US Nationals in the pre-Open era in world tennis. Misra was one of the only three Indians to win the national title.
Nanduri Ramamohan Rao, Senior journalist, the former Chief Editor of Telugu newspaper Andhra Jyothi, passed away. Ramamohan Rao started his journalistic carrier as a sub-editor in Andhra Patrika, a Telugu daily. Later he worked in various Telugu dailies. He authored a series of child stories, Harivillu which were published in Andhra Patrika weekly during 1944-54.He penned several stories like Kanchana Deepam, Esaph stories, Naravatharam, Raju-Peda, Tamstya world tour, Vichitra Vyakthi. Viswa Darshanam and Viswa Rupam are some of his popular writings.