2021, the year of heartbreak: From Bill Gates and Melinda to Aamir-Kiran, and Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Naga Chaitanya, couples who called it quits
Here’s a recap of all the splits and divorces of some newsmaker couples across the world.
By ET Online |
Agencies
From Bill Gates and Melinda French to Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao, here's a look at the most famous couples who ended their love saga this year.
2021 was full of surprises and a lot of heart breaks. While the wedding season took off towards the end of year, 2021 did see many relationships crumble to dust. This year, we saw many celebrity couples call it quits.
As we inch closer to a new beginning with 2022 waiting just around the corner, here’s a recap of all the splits and divorces of some newsmaker couples across the world.
From Bill Gates and Melinda French to Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao, here's a look at the most famous couples who ended their love saga this year.
1. Sushmita Sen and Rohman Shawl It was heartbreak December! On Christmas eve, Bollywood actress Sushmita Sen announced the end of her three-year-long romance with model-boyfriend Rohman Shawl.
Sen announced the break-up on her official Instagram account. The actress posted a picture with Shawl and said that the two, who started out as friends, will remain friends.
The break-up rumours kicked off on the Internet after fans noticed that the two unfollowed each other on social media earlier this month. In her confirmation post, the 46-year-old also said that their relationship was long over.
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In a previous interview, the actress had revealed that she met Shawl through Instagram DMs. The rumours about the two dating each other began in 2018 after the duo started appearing in each other's social media handles. Sen then confirmed dating Shawl.
2. Kiran Rao and Aamir Khan After 15 years of marriage, Bollywood actor Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao in July this year announced that they were ending their union as husband and wife.
In a joint statement, the couple said that they will co-parent their son, Azad Rao Khan, whom they will "raise and nurture" together.
Khan, 56 and Rao, 47, first met on the sets of the actor's 2001 hit film 'Lagaan' where the latter had been an assistant director to Ashutosh Gowariker. In December 2005, the two tied the knot, and welcomed their son Azad Rao Khan in December 2011.
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The actor was previously married to Reena Dutta with whom he has two children -- son Junaid Khan and daughter Ira Khan.
3. Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Naga Chaitanya The news of separation of a much- loved couple from the South, Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Naga Chaitanya, shook their fans. The stars announced their divorce on October 2.
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In a joint statement, the duo said that they will continue to stay friends as they have known each other for over a decade, but "will part ways to pursue their own paths."
The two met on the sets of Gautham Menon's iconic 2010 Telugu film 'Ye Maaya Chesave', and soon after started dating.
After dating for eight years, they got engaged in January 2017 and tied the knot later in October that year in Goa.
4. Kim Kardashian and Kanye West After almost 6.5 years of marriage, Hollywood's power couple Kim Kardashian West and Kanye West filed for divorce.
The reality TV superstar, 40, filed for divroce from her rapper husband, 43, in February this year.
Kardashian also sought joint legal and physical custody of their four children -- daughters North, Chicago, and two sons, Saint and Psalm.
Weddings Of 2021: Katrina-Vicky’s Royal Ceremony In Rajasthan; Jasprit Bumrah’s Fairytale Love Story; Rhea Kapoor’s Nuptials At Home
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2021 was a year of celebration of love.
The second year of the pandemic saw celebrities choosing to make their love official and start a new chapter.
From Katrina Kaif & Vicky Kaushal’s grand ceremony to Rhea Kapoor’s living room ‘shaadi’, celebrity weddings brought us some cheer.
Here’s a look at some of the weddings that filled our Instagram timelines.
2021 was a year of celebration of love.The second year of the pandemic saw celebrities choosing to make their love official and start a new chapter.From Katrina Kaif & Vicky Kaushal’s grand ceremony ..
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Bollywood actor Varun Dhawan kicked off the year with a bang. He tied the knot with long-time girlfriend Natasha Dalal on January 25 at The Mansion House resort in Alibaug.
The couple's close family and friends attended the intimate ceremony.
The 'October' star wore an ivory-gold sherwani by designer Manish Malhotra for his big day, and Dalal dazzled in an intricately-embroidered, pale-gold lehenga paired with diamond jewellery and an ivory chooda.
Starting with haldi and mehendi functions to sangeet and a bachelor's party, the pre-wedding festivities were spread over the weekend.
The childhood sweethearts had originally planned on getting married in May 2020, but had to push it due to the Covid pandemic outbreak.
Bollywood actor Varun Dhawan kicked off the year with a bang. He tied the knot with long-time girlfriend Natasha Dalal on January 25 at The Mansion House resort in Alibaug.The couple's close family a..
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Dia Mirza married investment banker Vaibhav Rekhi on February 15.
The couple tied the knot at Rekhi's Mumbai residence. From exchanging 'varmalas' and signing the marriage documents, the rituals were held in an intimate ceremony. The actress dazzled in a Raw Mango red Benarasi sari, and the groom opted for an ivory ensemble, designed by Raghavendra Rathore.
The highlight of their wedding was the female priest - Sheela Atta - who conducted the ceremony.
The couple welcomed a baby boy on May 14. Rekhi has a 12-year-old daughter, Samaira, from his first marriage to Sunaina.
The 'Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein' star ended her five-year-old marriage with producer Sahil Sangha in 2019.
Dia Mirza married investment banker Vaibhav Rekhi on February 15.The couple tied the knot at Rekhi's Mumbai residence. From exchanging 'varmalas' and signing the marriage documents, the rituals were ..
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Hollywood actor Nicolas Cage found love for the fifth time, and married Riko Shibata on February 16. The couple picked this date to honour Cage's academician- father August Coppola whose birthday falls on the same day.
The duo sealed their love in an intimate ceremony at a luxury hotel in Las Vegas. Cage met his 26-year-old wife in Shiga, Japan, over a year ago, and spent most of the pandemic apart.
In 2019, Cage ended his four-day marriage with Erika Kookie. Prior to this, he was married to Patricia Arquette (1995 to 2001), Lisa Marie Presley (2002 to 2004) and Alice Kim (2004 to 2016).
Hollywood actor Nicolas Cage found love for the fifth time, and married Riko Shibata on February 16. The couple picked this date to honour Cage's academician- father August Coppola whose birthday fal..
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Pink is the colour of love! At Team India cricketer Jasprit Bumrah and TV presenter Sanjana Ganesan’s fairytale wedding in Goa, it was a pink affair! The couple tied the knot on March 15 - just before the second Covid wave hit India.
The ceremony was attended by family and close friends due to the Covid restrictions.
After an elaborate Haldi and sangeet ceremony, the couple - dressed in hues of pink - tied the knot in a Sikh-style wedding. The duo had kept their relationship under wraps.
While the groom looked dapper in a pink sherwani with gold embroidery, the sports presenter was breathtaking in a matching-floral lehenga with traditional jewellery.
Pink is the colour of love! At Team India cricketer Jasprit Bumrah and TV presenter Sanjana Ganesan’s fairytale wedding in Goa, it was a pink affair! The couple tied the knot on March 15 - just befor..
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Leaving their fans surprised, singers Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton tied the knot secretly in the summer, away from the public eye. The ceremony was attended by close family and relatives.
A chapel was specially built for the couple.
The couple dated for five years before getting married.
While this was Stefani's second marriage after Gavin Rossdale (2002–2016), Shelton was previously married to Miranda Lambert (2011–2015) and Kaynette Williams (2003–2006).
Leaving their fans surprised, singers Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton tied the knot secretly in the summer, away from the public eye. The ceremony was attended by close family and relatives.A chapel w..
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Bollywood actress Yami Gautam tied the knot with film-maker Aditya Dhar on June 4 in Himachal Pradesh.
It was an intimate wedding attended by close family members.
The couple met during the shooting of 2019 blockbuster movie 'Uri: The Surgical Strikes', which was the start of their friendship. Their love blossomed during the promotions of the film.
After the ceremony, the actress updated her name on her social media handles as Yami Gautam Dhar.
Bollywood actress Yami Gautam tied the knot with film-maker Aditya Dhar on June 4 in Himachal Pradesh.It was an intimate wedding attended by close family members.The couple met during the shooting of..
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Movie producer Rhea Kapoor and her long-time boyfriend Karan Boolani got married on August 14 after dating for 12 years.
Parents of the bride - Anil and Sunita Kapoor - and the couple's close family and friends attended the intimate ceremony in shimmering finery.
The bride wore a white-and-gold Anamika Khanna saree with pearl jewellery and a net veil, and the groom kept it simple in a Kunal Rawal sherwani and pyjama.
Unlike any usual Punjabi wedding, the couple ditched pre-wedding festivities like 'mehendi' and 'sangeet'. Calling it a 'spiritual' affair, the duo got married in the living room of Kapoor's Juhu home.
Movie producer Rhea Kapoor and her long-time boyfriend Karan Boolani got married on August 14 after dating for 12 years.Parents of the bride - Anil and Sunita Kapoor - and the couple's close family a..
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After dating for 11 years, actor Rajkummar Rao and actress Patralekha took their wedding vows on November 15 in Chandigarh.
The intimate ceremony, held at The Oberoi Sukhvilas Spa Resort in New Chandigarh, was attended by close family and friends.
For the wedding ceremony, the couple wore Sabyasachi outfits. While Rao opted for an embroidered, raw-silk ivory jacket with a Bangalore silk kurta and churidar, the bride looked gorgeous in a classic red tulle embroidered buti sari.
Patralekha added a personal touch to her outfit with a customised veil with embellishments and a special inscription in Bengali. It read, "My heart is filled with love - I dedicate to you."
After dating for 11 years, actor Rajkummar Rao and actress Patralekha took their wedding vows on November 15 in Chandigarh.The intimate ceremony, held at The Oberoi Sukhvilas Spa Resort in New Chandi..
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The secret wedding of the year became the most-anticipated one of 2021.
Despite their attempts to keep the wedding private, the shutterbugs ensured daily updates about Katrina Kaif and Vicky Kaushal's grand wedding celebrations at the Six Senses Fort Barwara, Sawai Madhopur in Rajasthan.
After exchanging their wedding vows on December 9, the couple took to Instagram to share pictures from the wedding.
The actress paid homage to Kaushal’s Punjabi roots by wearing a custom-trimmed veil with handmade kiran for her wedding day. She also honoured her mother's British heritage during the pre-wedding festivities with a vintage-inspired couture Sabyasachi sari and a trailing veil.
For the big day, Kaushal wore an ivory silk sherwani with intricate marori embroidery, a silk kurta and churidar. He also carried a tussar georgette shawl with a zari marori embroidered pallu and borders. His gold Benarasi silk tissue safa was paired with a handcrafted kilangi.
Fashion designer Sabyasachi had created the wedding outfits for the couple.
The secret wedding of the year became the most-anticipated one of 2021.Despite their attempts to keep the wedding private, the shutterbugs ensured daily updates about Katrina Kaif and Vicky Kaushal's..
Before there was an official announcement, the media was already buzzing with split rumours.
The two began dating in 2012 and had their first child in 2013. West later proposed to Kardashian the same year using the giant screen at the empty waterfront ballpark of the San Francisco Giants, and the two made it official on May 24, 2014, in a ceremony at a Renaissance fortress in Florence, Italy.
5. Gigi Hadid and Zayn Malik The singer Zayn Mallik and supermodel Gigi Hadid broke up in October and ended their ‘on-again, off-again’ relationship after five years.
Reports of the two going their separate ways started making the rounds after the two broke up after the singer allegedly had an argument with Hadid's mom, Yolanda.
The couple, who first sparked dating rumours back in 2015, welcomed their child together in September 2020. Zayn and Gigi named their daughter Khai.
6. Elon Musk and Grimes The world's richest man, Elon Musk, broke up with lady love Grimes in September, a report in Page Six confirmed.
In his interview, Musk said that the reason behind the split was his work at SpaceX and Tesla which required him to be in Texas primarily or be traveling overseas, while Grimes is settled in LA.
The two started dating in 2018 and are parents to son X Æ A-Xii.
7. Bill Gates and Melinda French Business tycoon Bill Gates on May 3 announced that he and wife Melinda French were separating after 27 years of marriage.
"After a great deal of thought and a lot of work on our relationship, we have made the decision to end our marriage. Over the last 27 years, we have raised three incredible children and built a foundation that works all over the world to enable all people to lead healthy, productive lives," they said, referring to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
The two tied the knot in 1994 and share three children: Jennifer Katharine, 25, Rory John, 21 and Phoebe Adele.
8. Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello After two years of dating, the couple, Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello called it quits in November this year in a joint statement.
The singers were friends for many years before they started dating.
"We started our relationship as best friends and will continue to be best friends. We so appreciate your support from the beginning and moving forward," the two said.
9. Dua Lipa and Anwar Hadid The 'Levitating' singer Dua Lipa and Anwar Hadid are reportedly taking a break after dating for two years, according to a report in PEOPLE.
According to reports, the couple called it quits in early December and the reason behind the time- out is the distance between the two as they were constantly traveling and apart from each other.
The reports further said that the two are currently figuring things out.
10. Kaley Cuoco and Karl Cook The 'Big Bang Theory' star Kaley Cuoco in September announced her separation with husband Karl Cook after three years of marriage.
“Despite a deep love and respect for one another, we have realized that our current paths have taken us in opposite directions,” the couple said in a joint statement.
The actress started dating Cook, a professional equestrian in 2016 and got engaged the next year. The two tied the knot in a small ceremony in San Diego, California. 11. Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez In March this year, pop sensation Jennifer Lopez ended her engagement with Alex Rodriguez after four years together. The two got engaged in 2019 in the Bahamas.
In a joint statement, the duo said that they realised they were better off as friends and look forward to remaining so. "We will continue to work together and support each other on our shared businesses and projects. We wish the best for each other and one another's children," the statement read.
Initially in March, the two had announced that they were "working through some things" when they announced the end of their engagement.
Soon after ending relationship with Rodriguez, the 52-year-old Lopez rekindled her romance with ex-boyfriend actor-director Ben Affleck.
The couple got back together after almost 20 years.
In Memoriam: CDS Bipin Rawat, Dilip Kumar & Other Personalities We Bid Farewell To In 2021
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2021 has been a year marked by death and loss. As the pandemic dragged its feet, claiming lives and pushing us behind closed doors, there was hardly a household left untouched by dark clouds. . We lost people we loved or knew, colleagues we hadn’t seen for a while, or friends we didn’t get a chance to say goodbye to.
As a society, too, we suffered immeasurable losses, as 2021 took away from us several notable public figures and celebrities – people who had made immense contributions to our culture, literature and impacted our lives. The list of the departed has been longer this year, but lest we forget how intertwined they were with our everyday lives, here’s a flashback of all the famous people we said goodbye to, this dreadful year.
2021 has been a year marked by death and loss. As the pandemic dragged its feet, claiming lives and pushing us behind closed doors, there was hardly a household left untouched by dark clouds. . We lo..
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2021 began with the devastating news of Larry King’s death. King, a legendary interviewer and one of the most iconic faces of American television, died of Covid-19 on January 2. For 25 years, King hosted ‘Larry King Live’ on CNN, which helped the network garner international fame. He pioneered the conversational style of interviewing, and hosted every notable public figure on his show, including all sitting presidents of the United States – from Gerald Ford to Barack Obama. In his signature outfit - braces over a dress shirt - King was not only a sharp questioner but also a popular culture icon. His contribution to America’s broadcast television is unparalleled.
2021 began with the devastating news of Larry King’s death. King, a legendary interviewer and one of the most iconic faces of American television, died of Covid-19 on January 2. For 25 years, King ho..
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It isn’t every day that an actress can be both a Bond girl and a ‘Charlie’s Angel’, but Tanya Roberts managed this impossible feat, and catapulted to limelight in the 1980s. The actress played the role of the sultry blonde geologist - Stacey Sutton - with a breathy voice, in the Roger Moore-starrer Bond film, ‘A View to a Kill’ (1985). However, her first major break was in the 1980 TV series, ‘Charlie’s Angel’. Another memorable performance of Roberts was in the hit sitcom, ‘That ’70s Show’, in which she played the dimwitted but always charming housewife, Midge Pinciotti who is deeply dissatisfied with her boring life. Roberts breathed her last on January 4, 2021 after suffering from several health-related complications that had led to sepsis.
It isn’t every day that an actress can be both a Bond girl and a ‘Charlie’s Angel’, but Tanya Roberts managed this impossible feat, and catapulted to limelight in the 1980s. The actress played the ro..
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Despite losing his eyesight at the age of four due to cerebrospinal meningitis, Mehta, saw India more vividly than most writers do, and made our country visible to the West, especially America. For 33 years, the author worked at The New Yorker magazine writing on a plethora of topics, and had published several volumes of books in his life. Some of his most popular works include ‘Mahatma Gandhi and His Apostles’ (1976) and ‘Portrait of India’ (1970). It is said that Mehta never liked walking the city streets with the help of a cane or with guide dogs, and often shrugged off help offered by friends and strangers. Although it was his blindness, and the subsequent loneliness arising from it, that pushed him towards writing, he never wanted to be known as a ‘blind writer’ but merely as a writer who also happens to be blind. A true luminary, the author passed away on 9 January 2021, due to complications related to Parkinson's disease.
Despite losing his eyesight at the age of four due to cerebrospinal meningitis, Mehta, saw India more vividly than most writers do, and made our country visible to the West, especially America. For 3..
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Ironical as it may sound, Plummer hated his iconic role of naval officer Georg von Trapp, in the classic film ‘Sound of Music’ that had put him on the road to stardom. Despite the actor’s natural talent, versatility and undeniable charm, it was hard perhaps for him to be remembered for that one role that had the emotional range of teaspoon, but meaty roles, critical acclaim and awards came to Plummer much later in his career. At the age of 82, Plummer became the oldest person to win an Oscar for his role in the film ‘Beginners’. Plummer’s filmography boasts of 100 films, with memorable roles in later years of his career in cinematic outings like ‘A Beautiful Mind’, ‘Inside Man’ , ‘Barrymore’ and ‘The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’. His last major movie outing was ‘Knives Out’. The actor died at his home in Weston on February 5, 2021, at the age of 91.
Ironical as it may sound, Plummer hated his iconic role of naval officer Georg von Trapp, in the classic film ‘Sound of Music’ that had put him on the road to stardom. Despite the actor’s natural tal..
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A blunt-speaking naval officer who was Queen Elizabeth’s husband for more than seven decades, Prince Philip played a crucial role as her consort, always helping her steer the British monarchy through its various phases of crisis and ushering it into a new era. He was known to be irascible and salt-tongued, but he, along with his wife Elizabeth, offered stability to the British monarchy through turbulent times. He always walked a step behind the queen, in over thousands of ceremonial events that the two attended as a couple. Though Philip had no official role, the Duke of Edinburgh as he was known, was definitely one of the most prominent people of the British royal family. He died at the age of 99 on 9th April, due to old age. He passed away peacefully at Windsor Castle.
A blunt-speaking naval officer who was Queen Elizabeth’s husband for more than seven decades, Prince Philip played a crucial role as her consort, always helping her steer the British monarchy through..
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The woman India loved to hate, Shashikala became synonymous with the wicked mother-in-law characters early on in her career. Rising from bit parts, the actress got her first big break as the supporting actress in ‘Aarti’ for which she won a Filmfare. However, despite her talent, she struggled to fit into any Bollywood mould for female characters, and by her late 20s finally made her peace with playing the vamp on screen and for decades made a good career out of being bad. With her dramatic facial expressions, acerbic taunts, and evil and manipulative tricks, she tormented every leading lady of her time - be it Meena Kumari in ‘Phool Aur Patthar’ or Mala Sinha in ‘Apne Hue Paraye’. Two of her most memorable ‘sasuma’ (mother-in-law) roles are ‘Choti Bahu’, and ‘Gumrah’. However, the actress eventually grew tired of these vamp variations, and steered away from the film industry to focus on spirituality. The veteran actress breathed her last on April 4 at the age of 88.
The woman India loved to hate, Shashikala became synonymous with the wicked mother-in-law characters early on in her career. Rising from bit parts, the actress got her first big break as the supporti..
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Tamil actor Vivekh passed away at the age of 59 due to a heart attack, two days after taking the Covid-19 vaccine in a public event. Although a committee later concluded that the vaccine had nothing to do with the actor’s death, at the time of his demise, the actor’s family, fans and industry colleagues were thrown into a state of shock by the manner in which he died on April 17.Vivekh began his movie journey in 1987 and director K Balachander, who is known for finding superstars like Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan, became his guiding light early on. Over the years, the actor worked in a number of comedies, and films that carried a social message. Famous for his impeccable comic timing and unforgettable dialogue, Vivekh’s most popular films include ‘Puthu Puthu Arthangal’, ‘Run’, and ‘Dhool, Anniyan’. He was also the Tamil Nadu government-appointed ambassador against the use of plastic.
Tamil actor Vivekh passed away at the age of 59 due to a heart attack, two days after taking the Covid-19 vaccine in a public event. Although a committee later concluded that the vaccine had nothing ..
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Nandlaskar, a character actor seen in Rohit Shetty films like ‘Singham’ and ‘Simmba’ and most remembered for his performance in the Sanjay Dutt-starrer ‘Vaastav’, passed away at the age of 81 due to Covid-19 on April 20. Nandlaskar, in his lifetime acted in almost 40 plays, and more than 25 Marathi and Hindi movies, and irrespective of how minor the role was, Nandlaskar always managed to add authenticity, and layers to them. The veteran actor, who debuted in the Marathi film, 'Navare Sagle Gadhav', and acted in movies like ‘Bhavishyachi Aishi Taishi: The Prediction', 'Gaon Thor Pudhari Chor' and 'Jara Japun Kara' was also a part of more than 20 series.
Nandlaskar, a character actor seen in Rohit Shetty films like ‘Singham’ and ‘Simmba’ and most remembered for his performance in the Sanjay Dutt-starrer ‘Vaastav’, passed away at the age of 81 due to ..
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An eminent poet, Ghosh’s huge oeuvre of work made our lives as well as Bangla literature richer over the years. Despite being a contemporary of the ‘Hungry poets’, (who were part of an avant garde literary movement in Bengal in 1960s) Ghosh’s writing was markedly different from them. He complimented their flamboyance with restraint and nuance, with a romanticism that was undeniably tied with the idea of revolution. Ghosh, despite his soft-spokenness never shied away from speaking up, and always walked in front of protest marches and rallies, whenever he found that his political idealism was triggered by petty squabbles of politicians, and their realpolitik. Ghosh wrote political poems like ‘Jamunaboti’ as well as penned the passionate and romantic, ‘Dinguli Raatguli’. His ‘Sakalbelar Alo’, which talks about the Bengal partition is a wonderful introduction for young readers who are not yet familiar with his works. He was a dedicated professor too. Ghosh breathed his last, at the age of 86 on April 21. The poet died of Covid.
An eminent poet, Ghosh’s huge oeuvre of work made our lives as well as Bangla literature richer over the years. Despite being a contemporary of the ‘Hungry poets’, (who were part of an avant garde li..
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