orbituaries

Chinese-Belgian-British Writer Han Suyin passed away

November 8th, 2012

Elizabeth Comber (Han Suyin) passed away.

Elizabeth Comber who was also know by her pen name “Han Suyin”, a Chinese-Belgian British author who came up as among the most influential voices that served as a link b/w China and the West in the 20th century , passed away.  Han had also served an ambassador for China-India relations after her marriage to an Indian colonel, Vincent Ratnaswamy. Han wrote in English and French. She was best known for her 1952 novel “A Many-Splendored Thing”.  It inspired Hollywood movie “Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing”. The film won 3 Oscars at 1956 academy awards. She became widely known after shestirred up controversy with her hagiographic view of China’s Cultural Revolution.

Han Suyin funded the Chinese Writers Association to create the "National Rainbow Award for Best Literary Translation" (which is now the Lu Xun Literary Award for Best Literary Translation) to help develop literature translation in China. She also set up “Han Suyin Award for Young Translators” which is sponsored by the China International Publishing Group.

Vedantam Satyanarayana Sarma – Died
• The first recipient of ‘Sangeetha Nataka Academy’ award and ‘Padmasri’.
• Eminent Kuchipudi dancer and the most famous male exponent of the female roles in the
Kuchipudi tradition.



K.C. Pant – Died
• Former Planning Commission Deputy Chairman and held various key positions in the Government such as
Minister of Defence, Finance, Steel, Home, Energy etc.
• He was also Chairman of the 10th Finance Commission.




Bal Thackeray – Died
• He was the founder of the Shiv Sena, a right-wing Marathi party.
• His followers called him the Hindu Hriday Samraat ("Emperor of Hindu Hearts").
• He was the founder of the Marathi-language newspaper Saamana and the Hindilanguage
newspaper Dopahar ka saamana.

Kamala Sadagopan the eminent Tamil Novelist and Writer Died

The eminent Tamil writer and novelist Kamala Sadagopan died on 14 November 2012. She is survived by her husband Sadagopan who is also a screenplay writer known by the name of Chitralaya Gopu and four sons. 

About Kamala Sadgopan

•    Kamala worked in a journal run by novelist Vai Mu Kothainayaki Ammal named Jaganmohini. 
•    As a delegate to All India Congress Committee she attended its Avadi Session In 1955 
•    Kadhavu a novel written by her bought her fame and for it she won Narayanasamy Iyer Award from Kalaimagal magazine.
•    Her novel Padigal won the State Government’s Prize in the year 1981 
•    She was a deputy editor in Mangayar Malar a women’s magazine

Savita Halappanavar: Died in Ireland Due to Denial of Abortion

Savita Halappanavar a woman of Indian Origin and dentist by profession died on 28 October 2012 in Ireland after doctors refused to perform an abortion. The doctors denied the abortion with a claim that Ireland was a Catholic Country. 

Savita the Indian dentist was suffering from miscarriage when she was 17 weeks pregnant and the Irish law at the University College Hospital Galway denied abortion to her. This led to septicemia (blood poisoning), multiple organ failure leading to her death.

IRISH LAW

According to the Person Act 1861 of Irish Law on abortion and offences, abortion has is considered illegal in the country. This denial on abortion that took life of Savita created a widespread outrage, to make the Irish Government take a clear stand on Irish Laws on Abortion.

Renowned Assamese Poet Hiren Bhattacharyya, who was fondly called Hiru-da by his admirers, passed away on 4 July 2012. He was 80. Hiren Bhattacharya was well known as Prem aru Rodalir Kobi (Poet of Love and Sunshine) in the Assamese literature.

Born in Jorhat district at Assam in 1932, Hiren Bhattacharyya went on to become the most celebrated author of Assamese language. The poems penned by Hiru Da had diversified colours of emotions such as love, patriotism, rebellion, loneliness and humanity. He also wrote several rhymes for the children. Lora Dhemali (1991) and Akon Dhemali (1991) were two of his most famous collections of children writing.

Some of his famous poetry works include: Roudro Kamona (1968), Kobitar Rod (1976), Xugondhi Pokhilaa (1981), Mor Desh aru Mor Premor Kobita (1972) and Bibhinno Dinor Kobita.

Hiren Bhattacharya was the recipient of numerous literary awards including Bishnu Rava Bota, (1958) Rajaji Puroskar ( 1984-85) awarded by Bharatiya Bidya Bhawan, Soviet Desh Neheru Bota (1987), Sahitya Akademi Award ( 1992), and Asom Upotyoka Sahitya Bota, (Assam Valley Literary Award) in 2000.

Anna Schwartz, who recently died was a famous ____ Economist





‘Ernest Borgnine’ – Oscar-winning American actor passes away
Ernest Borgnine (95), Oscar-winning American actor passed away. He won an Oscar in 1955 for his role in the
film Marty. Borgnine was also lauded for his roles in films The Wild Bunch and The Poseidon Adventure. His TV series
McHale’s Navy was also a great success in the United States.