MARCH

  DEATHS

Ø  Lindia Brown who fought to end US school segregation, dies aged 75

Ø  Linda Brown, who as a Kansas girl was at the center of the landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling that struck down racial segregation in schools, has died aged 75. Brown is one of that special band of heroic young people who, along with her family, courageously fought to end the ultimate symbol of white supremacy – racial segregation in public schools.

Ø  Pulitzer Prize winner Les Payne dies

Ø  Les Payne, a Pulitzer Prize-winning American journalist and columnist for Newsday who fiercely championed racial equality has passed away. He was 76. He won Pulitzer Prize for “Heroin Trail” series in 1974.

Ø  Jnanpith awardee Kedarnath Singh passes away

Ø  Eminent Hindi poet and Jnanpith awardee Kedarnath Singh passed away in New Delhi following a prolonged illness. Kedarnath Singh was among India’s most prominent modern Hindi poets, besides being an essayist and a well-known critic. He was 84.

Ø  Stephen Hawking passes away

Ø  Scientist Stephen Hawking, passed away on March 14, 2018 in Cambridge. He was 76. He was a great scientist and an extraordinary man whose work and legacy will live on for many years. His courage and persistence with his brilliance and humour inspired people across the world.

Ø  Sufi singer Pyare Lal Wadali passes away

Ø  Pyare Lal Wadali, the younger brother of Sufi singer Puran Chand Wadali of the Wadali brothers, died of cardiac arrest. The Wadali brothers some years ago had taken the country by storm by their hit album featuring Sufi songs such as ‘Tu mane ya na mane dildara, aasan te tenu rab manya’.

Ø  Veteran Bollywood actor Shammi passes away

Ø  Veteran Bollywood actor Shammi has passed away after prolonged illness. She was 89. Fondly addressed as ‘Shammi aunty’ by Bollywood celebrities, Shammi, whose real name is Nargis Rabadi, started her film career with Malhar as a leading lady and later on moved to the comic genre.

Ø  Italy international footballer Davide Astori passes away

Ø  Italy international footballer Davide Astori has been found dead in his hotel room. Astori, who was captain of Fiorentina, passed away in his sleep overnight. Astori began his career at AC Milan, also playing for Cagliari and Roma before joining Fiorentina in 2015. He played 14 times for Italy.