General Awareness

PERSONS IN NEWS - December 2024

Dec 2024

Feb 26, 2026

Hollywood actor Robert Carradine dies at 71

Robert Carradine, a noted American actor, passed away at the age of 71 on 23 February 2026. Born 24 March 1954, Carradine built a diverse career spanning comedy, Westerns, and television. He is best known internationally for Revenge of the Nerds (1984) as Lewis Skolnick, and later appeared in family‑oriented productions and theatre work. Reports indicate he had battled bipolar disorder for several years. Carradine’s decades‑long filmography includes a mix of cult classics and mainstream roles. His death prompted an outpouring of tributes from fans and colleagues worldwide, reflecting his influence across multiple genres. (Source: Times of India obituary coverage)

Robert Carradine died on 23 February 2026
Born 24 March 1954; notable for Revenge of the Nerds (1984)
Had a broad acting career across film and television
Reportedly lived with bipolar disorder for years

Feb 25, 2026

Sachin Tendulkar featured again as UN road safety champion in latest campaign

Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar is highlighted again in a United Nations road safety campaign, titled to promote safer road use and reduce fatalities. Tendulkar, who previously announced as a UN Global Champion, appears in public service messages urging adherence to safety norms such as seat belt use, helmet wear, and avoiding distractions while driving. The initiative aligns with global efforts to meet road-safety targets by 2030 and leverages Tendulkar’s public stature to motivate citizens toward safer mobility practices. The campaign also showcases collaborations with national and international partners to improve road safety infrastructure and enforcement.

Tendulkar featured in ongoing UN road safety campaign.
Reiterates need for seat belts, helmets, alert driving.
Part of UN targets under the 2030 road-safety agenda.
Uses Tendulkar’s public profile to promote safer mobility.
Supports broader national and international road-safety efforts.

Sachin Tendulkar named UN Global Road Safety Champion

Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar has been designated a Global Champion for Road Safety by the United Nations. He released a video urging safer driving and emphasized habits such as wearing seat belts, using helmets, staying alert, and obeying traffic rules. Tendulkar’s selection aligns with UN road-safety efforts under the Decade of Action to reduce fatalities. In his message, he linked discipline in sports to road safety and highlighted the role of ordinary citizens in preventing deaths. The announcement elevates Tendulkar's public profile in global safety campaigns and underscores India’s engagement with international road-safety goals.

Tendulkar named UN Global Champion for Road Safety.
He released a safety-focused video message.
Campaign highlights seat belts, helmets, alert driving, and rule-following.
Part of UN Decade of Action to cut road fatalities.
Connects sports discipline with road safety advocacy.

Feb 24, 2026

Shashi Tharoor conferred honorary D.Litt by St Xavier’s University

Lok Sabha MP Shashi Tharoor was conferred an honorary Doctor of Letters (D.Litt) by St Xavier’s University, Kolkata, during its seventh convocation on 21 February 2026. Tharoor described the honour as deeply meaningful since it is his first honorary doctorate in India, despite multiple international recognitions. The ceremony was held at the Biswa Bangla Convention Centre, New Town, where over 1,000 students received degrees. Tharoor recalled his earlier role as convocation speaker for the university and noted that this distinction holds special significance as a former Xaverian.

Award: Honorary Doctor of Letters (D.Litt) to Shashi Tharoor.
Event date: 21 February 2026; venue: Biswa Bangla Convention Centre, Kolkata.
Context: Tharoor’s first honorary doctorate in India.
Background: previously invited as convocation speaker for St Xavier’s University.
Significance: recognition of contributions to public life and literature.

Feb 21, 2026

Renowned Bengali writer Mani Shankar Mukhopadhyay ('Shankar') passes away at 92

Mani Shankar Mukhopadhyay, popularly known as Shankar, a towering figure in Bengali literature, died at the age of 92 in a private hospital on the outskirts of south Kolkata. His body of work captured urban India's moral dilemmas, ambitions and social tensions, drawing condolences from political leaders across parties, including West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. A Sahitya Akademi Award recipient in 2021, Shankar also pursued a research-based project on Swami Vivekananda, reflecting his interest in philosophy and spirituality. His passing marks the end of an era in Bengali storytelling, with his writings continuing to influence readers and scholars.

Mani Shankar Mukhopadhyay (Shankar) dies at 92
Noted Bengali writer and Sahitya Akademi Award laureate (2021)
His works explored urban morality and social issues
Mourned by leaders across political lines, including Mamata Banerjee
Final major project was a Vivekananda-focused book
His death signifies a significant loss to Bengali literature

Feb 17, 2026

Odia Playback Singer Geeta Patnaik Passes Away at 73

Geeta Patnaik, a renowned Odia playback singer, died on 15 February 2026 in Cuttack at the age of 73 after suffering a brain stroke. She had been undergoing treatment at a private hospital following initial care at Capital Hospital. Patnaik’s extensive career spanned Odia cinema, devotional songs and contemporary music, earning admiration for a melodious voice and classical training. Her death prompted tributes from fans, fellow singers and cultural figures who highlighted her significant contribution to Odia music and cinema. The loss is widely mourned across Odisha’s cultural community and recording industry.

Date of death: 15 February 2026; age 73.
Cause: brain stroke; treatments at multiple facilities.
Prominent Odia playback singer with a long career.
Contributions to Odia cinema, devotional songs, and albums.
Tributes reflect her impact on regional music and culture.

David J. Farber, Internet Pioneer, Dies at 91

David J. Farber, renowned as the ’grandfather of the Internet,’ passed away on 7 February 2026 in Tokyo at the age of 91. Farber spent decades at Bell Labs and later taught at Keio University in Japan, shaping early networking concepts and mentoring leaders who helped build today’s Internet. His work bridged computing and telecommunications, advocating for interconnected systems that evolved into global data networks. Farber’s influence extended into academia and industry as he guided researchers who contributed to foundational protocols and architectures for networked communications. His death marks the loss of a pivotal figure in the history of information technology.

Date of death: 7 February 2026; age 91.
Pioneer nicknamed 'grandfather of the Internet'.
Affiliations: Bell Labs; Keio University, Tokyo.
Contributions: early networking concepts and mentorship.
Legacy: foundational impact on Internet infrastructure.

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