Five continents, 15 countries, 52 flights and 2,500 points of interest — that’s my count for this year, all in the name of research and development as I travel around the world reporting for Bloomberg Pursuits. Many people travel all over the world for work, but I’m not sure many do it like us Travel Journalists do, three dinners per night and that’s it.

After all, I don’t claim to be an expert on every place I write about, whether it’s my two-night minimum city guides or longer features that delve deeper into emerging destinations. Instead, my job is to talk to as many people as possible and learn about the places where they live. I want to ask them what makes their city tick, what its moods and rhythms are, how it’s growing and changing, and, of course, what its under-the-radar gems are. Read this also From ‘flying naked’ to ‘sleeping divorce’: 5 viral travel trends that took over 2024

And then, after collecting hundreds of suggestions, it’s time for me to take the initiative and check them all myself – sometimes more than once – to find the best of the best. (You should see the noise of the pinpoints saved in my Google Maps.)

Here are some of the places I can’t stop thinking about on my travels throughout the year — along with the travel hacks and trends they reveal.

The best new restaurants aren’t restaurants at all

Many of my favorite meals in 2024 were created at casual eateries and supper clubs – a testament to how expensive running a traditional restaurant can be these days.

In Singapore, I enjoyed a heaping portion of char kway teow with Shen Tan at his micro-restaurant (just one table a night) operating out of an apartment in the country’s vast public housing system. He estimates there are about 3,000 businesses like his across the city-state, as the cost of local real estate has continued to rise over the past decade.

In Toronto, chef Ken Yau is also keeping real estate costs down in creative ways: after years of cooking under Heston Blumenthal at his restaurants around the world, he returned to his hometown to open a wildly popular weekend dinner club. Have come. It’s located in an unlikely place: his ceramics studio. When he’s not busy designing dishware for some of the city’s most notable restaurants, he’s crafting Asian-accented main dishes like a congee-esque onion soup with abalone as well as Madeira jus. Char-siu-style beef short rib. Read this also Peru travel warning: Beaches closed for New Year’s Eve amid huge waves, 91 ports closed

If I had to give out an award for the best meal of the year, it would go to a juicy piece of flame-grilled steak at the Uruguayan-style Rincon Escondido in Sao Paulo. By now you might not be surprised to hear that this isn’t any ordinary restaurant either: it’s a speakeasy churrascaria located in an enclosed garden off a side street in the city’s Villa Maddalena neighborhood. It is open approximately six to eight days per month with ticketed banquets, during which guests can watch the grillmasters in action.

Walking 10,000 steps can make 10,000 new friends.

Despite the abundance of communication devices at our fingertips, people are lonely – perhaps a relic of the pandemic. As a result, many of the activities people recommended in 2024 were easy-to-join, low-pressure workouts designed to build community.

For example, during my visit to Toronto, Matthew Jordan, founder of Hidden River Tours, told me that most of the people who join him on his urban rugged tours are locals looking for new friends. In Manchester, UK, Track Brewing hosts a weekly, no-judgment running club called One Foot Forward that starts and ends in the taproom. And in Melbourne, Run the Tan is a great option for runners to take a group stroll through the city’s lush botanical gardens. Of all of them, I found that breaking a sweat with strangers abroad or at home is actually one of the most enjoyable experiences.

The best souvenirs can fit in your carry-on

I’m a staunch minimalist, except when it comes to two things: books and ceramics. My home office is filled to the max with these two – these are the things I collect on every trip. Some of my favorite ceramics this year include some convex, nature-inspired vessels from Estudio Héloïsa Galvão and a small, wheel-spun cup covered with dimple-like carvings from Malecény Ceramics in Bogotá. At a time when checked luggage can cost you as much as a regional flight, this type of shopping seems like the easiest way to support local artists while fitting your luggage into a carry-on-only lifestyle.

A few nights ago I stayed at Hachimonjiya, famously Kyoto’s (and probably Japan’s) dirtiest bar, with piles of torn literature and a toilet that hasn’t been cleaned since. It’s a popular hangout spot for the city’s creatives who gather to pay homage to the owner, Kai Fusayoshi, a prodigious local photographer – many of the books scattered about are compilations of his own work. A bound collection of photographs of people reading (very fittingly) is coming home with me. Read this also What shows Indian travel blogger Bali gets you £1,000: ‘a budget traveller’s dream’

The best hybrid work situation is also the tastiest

The “work from hotel” version of “WFH” is never as comfortable as hoteliers would like you to believe — even after many of them made pandemic-era upgrades to their room desk setups. So, when the deadline approaches, I usually hide in a “third place” like a coffee shop. The advantage of that approach is that it’s possible to make do with pastries and a coffee crawl wherever I go. This is a method I highly recommend—one that can also highlight a city’s culture.

Manchester gets the award for the most hangout spots per capita, largely due to its growing student population. I loved working at Polen while snacking on their signature “cruffins” (croissant dough baked in muffin tins and filled with curd filled with swirled fruits like cherries or blueberries) – beware, Dominique Ancel! I had to stop going to the nearby sip shop because their glazed donuts were so delicious—I could never eat even one. The city’s incredible heritage of libraries should not be forgotten; The membership-only Portico Library was my favorite ritual – there’s a great non-member area just below the huge stained glass oculus.

If I lived in Bogotá, Tropicalia would be my usual haunt, where cherry-brightened coffee is served under a sun-drenched rattan umbrella amid heaps of palm fronds. All classes of well-heeled Bogotanos congregate here: yoga moms pushing strollers (with dogs), fashionistas taking a break from perusing the boutiques next door, and jet-setters perusing deals on their laptops. Are doing. It’s the perfect place to get work done and enjoy the local flavor at the same time.

Additional shoutouts go to Indianapolis’ chic Café Patachou, which has been re-established in the former headquarters of the Stutz Motor Car Company. Its fun, self-dubbed “student union for adults” mantra really rings true as there’s a bustling brunch hour of regulars who all know each other’s names—even the servers’. I also loved the energy of Fleur Fugle in Copenhagen’s emerging Nordwest neighbourhood. It is housed in a converted auto repair garage that now serves as a communal space dedicated to the spread and preservation of democracy – very Danish.

the suburbs are in

As travelers become increasingly interested in getting off the beaten path, the hottest new thing is heading to the suburbs. Not really.

In Reykjavik, avoid the throngs of tourists by heading to Hafnarfjord, a small port complex featuring brightly painted aluminium-sided dwellings and old wooden ships wobbly in the harbour. (It’s a 15-minute drive from Hallsgrimskirkja church.) Inside a working greenhouse, fine dining is up-and-comer Sól, where diners sit at tables in the same garden beds that supply the kitchen. .

In Manchester, reverse-travel to Altrincham, a suburb at the end of the municipal tramline near the international airport. This is where you’ll find the adorable 735-year-old Altrincham Market, which is packed with produce and craft vendors and features a domed food hall.

The ‘burbs are also where you’ll find real-deal Cantonese and Sichuan food in Toronto. The staff at excellent restaurant Sunny’s Chinese maintains a directory of their favorite spots in Markham and Scarborough; It’s at the bottom of the menu here on their website. Consider this a cheat sheet worth bookmarking.

The best pizza isn’t in New York City or Italy anymore.

Yes, you should always focus on the local foods of the countries you visit: ajiaco chicken soup in Bogotá or goya champur stir-fried noodles in Okinawa. But when you need to avoid dining outside your comfort zone, your move is no longer to order a club sandwich from room service. It’s all about pizza these days. In fact, the best slices I had this year weren’t in Italy or New York City (gasp!): Ronan in Los Angeles, Savoy in Tokyo, and Yoroshiku in Kyoto all showed off their faithful Neapolitan execution and perfectly seared Blown me to pieces.

New Delhi (India), : World cricket witnesses plenty of talent emerge every year. While some talents turn out to be one-match or one-series wonders, plenty of them still end up instilling hope in fans for another generation of enthralling cricketing action, game-changing skillsets and performances. 2024 was no different as plenty of seasoned veterans called curtains on their career and a new generation is taking shape with every passing day.

Asia continues to produce some of the most promising talent in the world, two of which could form the future generation of ‘Fab Four’ batters, replacing legendary names like Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, Joe Root and Kane Williamson, who are in the final stages of their career. Some promising talent has also been unearthed from England as they seek to rebuild following disappointing runs in ICC World Test Championship, ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 and ICC T20 World Cup 2024. New Zealand and West Indies also saw some talent making a name for themselves amid largely disappointing ICC World Test Championship and T20 World Cup outings. With the ICC Champions Trophy to be held next year and almost every major team in a transitional phase, expect these young talents to finally show what they are truly made of.

Here are some fine talents who had a breakout 2024:

-Tristan Stubbs

The big-hitting Protean, who captured everyone’s attention with a 28-ball 72 against England back in 2022, could not convert his versatility and talent into consistency. The year 2024 marked a complete turnaround in fortunes for the youngster who can switch gears with the bat effortlessly, bowl some useful off-break spin and keep wickets.

During Cricket South Africa domestic four day competition Division 1, he compiled a triple century for Warriors against KwaZulu-Natal Inland, making 302* in 372 balls, with 37 fours and six sixes. Not only did he stay unbeaten for such a marathon effort, but also showed that red-ball cricket is just as safe as a T20 match for a modern-day batter to truly apply their audacity and stroke range.

Stubbs also did a phenomenal job in franchise leagues, starring in Sunrisers Eastern Cape second successive SA20 title win with 301 runs in nine innings at an average of 60.20, strike rate of over 168 and three half-centuries, top-scoring for the team. A much-better outing took place in the Indian Premier League with Delhi Capitals , scoring 378 runs in 13 innings at an average of 54.00, a strike rate of 190.00 and three fifties and taking three wickets.

Coming to international cricket, Stubbs is displaying a diverse array of strokes and ability to shift from one format to the other not seen since the days of AB de Villiers. Both his reverse ramps, sweeps and marathon Test knocks remind fans of their most beloved cricketer and they look at him as a heir apparent to ‘Mr 360′. A middle-order batter in white-ball who can finish with some fireworks, Stubbs is shaping up to be Proteas’ next ever-reliable number three batter who can weather any storm.

In 33 international matches this year, he has made 1,173 runs at an average of 39.10, with three centuries and three fifties in 37 innings. His best score is 122*.

-Kamindu Mendis

Since the retirements of legends Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene, the Lankan Lions have been looking for someone who can replicate the hunger for runs these generational superstars of the ‘Golden Age’ and tire out the opposition with their determination and ability to soak up balls.

Kamindu it seems, meets this profile perfectly. While he has delivered very few notable performances in white-ball cricket, his Test form suggests that it is only a matter of time before the left-handed finds comfort in coloured clothing too.

In nine Tests this year, Kamindu took the cricketing world by storm due to his unbelievable conversion rate, scoring 1,049 runs in 16 innings at an average of 74.62, strike rate of over 66. He scored five centuries and three fifties, with best score of 182*.

He tied with legendary Aussie batter Don Bradman as second-fastest player to reach 1,000 Test runs in just 13 innings. Kamindu also scored a fifty-plus score in eight successive Tests, which also were first eight of his career, becoming the first player to do so.

Overall in 33 matches and 36 innings this year, he made 1,451 runs at an average of 50.03, with five centuries and five fifties, with best score of 182*.

-Yashasvi Jaiswal

After having made a century on his Test debut, Jaiswal showcased immense promise in both the longest and shortest format of the game last year. But this year, the left-hander went a notch further, making his wicket a highly coveted one at the age of just 23.

Jaiswal started off his year with a blockbuster series at home against England, top-scoring with 712 runs in five matches and nine innings at an average of 89.00, with two double centuries and three fifties, making a mockery of legendary James Anderson. While a mixed IPL 2024 season followed, with 435 runs at an average of 31 with just one century and fifty in 15 innings, he later went on to be a part of the ICC T20 World Cup winning Indian squad, bringing the cup back home after 17 years.

In later Test tours against Bangladesh, New Zealand and Australia, Jaiswal grind it out against some of the world’s best bowlers in difficult conditions when the rest of the team were not in their best form, particularly seniors Rohit Sharma and Virat. To a large extent, he has succeeded, top-scoring for India in international cricket this year, with 1,771 runs in 23 matches and 37 innings at an average of 52.08, with three tons and 11 fifties.

A major highlight knock was against Australia at Perth, a marathon knock of 161 runs during which he took the Aussies to cleaners, indulging in audacious hitting and banter against Mitchell Starc. He is India’s highest run-getter in the series so far, with 359 runs in four Tests, one century and two fifties at an average of above 51.

-Jamie Smith

After a poor series against India, in which ‘Bazball’ approach of England cricket was defeated by Jasprit Bumrah, Indian spinners and skipper Rohit Sharma-led batch of youngsters, England had a Jonny Bairstow-sized hole to fill, who was failed by the philosophy of attacking ‘see ball, hit ball’ cricket that also gave him one of his career’s best patches.

Enter Jamie during the season-starting series against West Indies. The 24-year-old proved to be quite an upgrade over Bairstow, offering not only a fast scoring rate, brute six hitting, but also a fine ability to bat with tailenders. In nine Tests, he scored 637 runs in 15 innings at an average of 42.46, with a strike rate of 72.30. He scored a century and four fifties, with best score of 111.

In seven ODIs as well, he has made 133 runs at an average of 22.16, with best score of 49 in six innings.

In 18 first-class matches this year, Jamie scored 1,314 runs at an average of 48.66, with a strike rate of above 74, with three centuries and nine fifties in 27 innings. His best score is 155 while playing for Surrey.

-Jacob Bethell

England has a fine pool of all-round talent across all forms of the game, with 21-year-old, blonde-haired Jacob Bethell being the latest edition to it. Within four months, the youngster made his debut across all formats for Three Lions and has makings of a future star, averaging above 50 in Tests and T20Is so far.

Handed a debut in New Zealand Test series without a first-class cricket century, Bethell proved his doubters wrong with some audacious strokeplay and level-headed temper beyond his age, smashing three half-centuries in the series which England won.

Overall in 18 international matches and 19 innings, Bethell has made 600 runs, averaging 42.00 and with a strike rate of over 91. He has scored six fifties so far with best score of 96. With his useful spin bowling, Bethell has also taken seven wickets, with best figures of 3/72.

Bethell came into the team after a brilliant T20 Blast season with Warwickshire, making 361 runs in 12 innings at an average of 36.10 and a strike rate of above 153, with four half-centuries. His best score was 71*. He also took six wickets at an average of 14.33.

After his initial international exploits, a good run with Royal Challengers Bengaluru , who got him for ₹2.6 crore in the auction, will only expand Bethell’s repute as a serious hitter and help him develop a massive fanbase.

-Saim Ayub

Amid conversations of players like Babar Azam and Mohammed Rizwan dragging Pakistan cricket down with a highly-conservative, milestone-oriented brand of cricket, this left-handed stroke-player in his early 20s could very well be the answer his nation needs.

Some strong outings in Pakistan Super League with Peshawar Zalmi in 2023 and 2024 and a breakout Caribbean Premier League season with Guyana Warriors in 2023 with 478 runs and four half-centuries in 13 matches, averaging 43.45, striking at over 142, Ayub was handed his debut last year.

Despite averaging just above 17 and striking at 123 with no fifty in his first eight T20Is, Ayub was not binned. Rather, he received a strong backing from seniors. The result is a breakout year in 2024, with notable moments across all formats.

In 35 international matches this year, Ayub has scored 1,254 runs at an average of 33.00, strike rate of over 89, with three centuries and five fifties in 41 innings and his best score being 113*. He has outdone star batter Babar and is the second-highest run-getter for Pakistan.

Its his ODI stats that look the most attractive. In nine matches, he has made 515 runs at an average of 64.37, with a strike rate of above 105. He has scored three centuries and a fifty, with best score of 113*, with two of them coming in South Africa that paved away for a landmark clean sweep for Pakistan under Rizwan.

-Abhishek Sharma

For long, India have prayed for an aggressive, throw-bat-on-everything opener who can maximize the powerplay. In a fresh and welcome change from accumulating ways of the past by Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul, this 24-year-old opener from Punjab has the talent and hitting to dismantle any bowling attack.

After a breakthrough, title-winning Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy for Punjab in 2023 for Punjab , Abhishek truly unlocked and showcased his six-hitting during IPL 2024, forming a successful opening duo with Australia’s Travis Head that tore apart many records in the league.

Abhishek was Sunrisers Hyderabad’s second-highest run-getter and overall 10th, with 484 runs at an average of 32.26, with three half-centuries in 16 innings, best score of 75* and strike rate of above 204. His six count of 42 was also the highest in the tournament and he overtook legendary Virat Kohli’s record for most sixes by an Indian in a single IPL.

Since then, he has made his international debut with his first series being against Zimbabwe after IPL, in which he smashed a quickfire ton withi 47 balls. However, his returns have been inconsistent, standing at 256 runs in 11 innings at an average of 23.27, strike rate of over 171, with a century and a fifty and just three scores of 20 or more.

Shining bright in T20s, he ended 2024 as India’s second-highest run-scoring batter in the format with 1,129 runs in 38 innings at an average of 31.36, with strike rate of 198.07, two centuries and six fifties. His best score is 106*.

While Abhishek has a long way to go in other formats and even in T20s with regards to consistency, performance against pacers and grounded game, India should invest in him as their next opener as he could very well be their best bet for leading a new, attack-oriented generation of T20Is, where scoring rates and sixes are top two priorities.

-Gus Atkinson

Though Gus Atkinson got some white-ball experience last year last year ahead of the ICC Cricket World Cup in India, the young pacer truly arrived this year when he was included in the West Indies series.

The home series against West Indies was the farewell series for legendary James Anderson, who retired after the first Test at Lords’ bringing his career to full circle. In a passing of touch performance, Atkinson took the baton from the 42-year-old, taking 12 wickets in his debut Test, taking not one, but two five-wicket hauls in a Test innings at Lord’s, a ten-wicket match haul. Later, during Sri Lanka series, he scored an attacking 118 in 115 balls, with 14 fours and four sixes, becoming the part of elite company to take five-wicket haul, ten-wicket haul and a century at Lord’s.

Later, during the New Zealand series away from home, a hat-trick made him the fastest player to secure a five-wicket haul, ten-fer, century and hat-trick in Tests in just 10 Tests.

Now in 11 Tests this year, Atkinson took 52 wickets at an average of 22.15, with best figures of 7/45. He secured three five-wicket hauls and one ten-fer. With the bat, he has made 352 runs in 16 innings, averaging 23.46, with a century to his name. His strike rate is 79.10.

-William O’Rourke

With the golden generation of Kiwi pacers: Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Neil Wagner and Matt Henry slowly riding into the sunset, Kiwis have a worthy heir to these stars in form of William O’Rourke, the 23-year-old, six-foot-six inch tall pacer who took 40 wickets in 13 Tests at an average of 24.45, with best figures of 5/34. He took two five-wicket hauls this year, against South Africa and Sri Lanka. Also a very crucial spell of his, figures of 4/22 against India in Bengaluru set up the tone for Kiwis first-ever series win in India and India’s first Test series loss at home in 12 years, a historic 0-3 whitewash. In 10 Tests, he took 36 wickets at an average of 24.80.

-Nitish Kumar Reddy

The 21-year-old all-rounder’s rise has been one of the heartwarming stories of this year. With his parents, particularly his father, sacrificing heavily on personal and professional front for their son’s cricket, Reddy has paid them back in plenty during his first few months as an international player.

After a breakout IPL 2024 season with Sunrisers Hyderabad, scoring 303 runs in 13 matches with two fifties and taking three wickets, Nitish made his India debut against Bangladesh in October, slamming 74 of 34 balls, with four boundaries and seven sixes in his second match.

After being selected into the Indian squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy despite his inexperience and not-so-exciting red-ball stats, he proved his doubters wrong with a dream series so far, having made 294 runs in four matches and seven innings at an average of 49.00 and three wickets, including some fiery cameos and a memorable century at Melbourne Cricket Ground during the Boxing Day Test with his family watching him from the stands.

Whether Nitish emerges as a strong pace-bowling all-round back up to Hardik Pandya is something only time will tell, but there is a lot of promise.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.

TeaThe year 2024 was full of unbearable pain as the country bid farewell to stalwarts who left a mark that shaped the country. Among the most loved and famous personalities we lost were musicians, politicians, doctors, poets and writers. They are very lively and lively through their actions.

Here, we take a moment to remember these icons and their contributions to society.

Photo: The Hindu

Rashid Khan (died January 9): Hindustani classical singer and music maestro Ustad Rashid Khan (55) passed away in Kolkata. Khan was an exponent of Rampur-Sahaswan Gayaki (a style of singing), which is closely related to the Gwalior Gharana. This type of singing involves medium-slow tempo, full-throated voice, and complex rhythmic playing.

Photo: The Hindu

NK Desam (died February 4): Famous poet and critic NK Desam passed away at the age of 87. He has written more than 10 poetry collections. Some of his works include ‘Kanyahridayam’ and ‘Appoppanthadi’.

Photo: The Hindu

Amin Sayani (died February 20): Amin Sayani passed away at the age of 91 and his voice was much loved in the world of radio. The iconic radio presenter became a household name in the 1950s with Binanka Geetmala. The audience remained connected to the program due to Sayani’s magic.

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Manohar Joshi (Died on February 23): Former Maharashtra CM and former Lok Sabha Speaker Manohar Joshi passed away at the age of 86. He was one of the important leaders of Shiv Sena and became the Chief Minister of the state. , He served as a Union Minister in the Vajpayee government in 1999–2002.

Photo: S_ANANDHAN

Kumar Shahani (died 24 February): He was acclaimed as the pole star of the parallel cinema movement in India. His notable works include Maya Darpan (1972), Tarang (1984) and Qasba (1990).

Photo: PTI

Pankaj Udhas (died February 26): Pankaj Udhas passed away at the age of 72 and had a soulful voice that would comfort broken hearts. Moving away from the classical form, he liberated the romantic form from Persianized Urdu to express his pain in a simple poem.

Photo: The Hindu

Daniel Balaji (died March 29): Tamil actor Daniel Balaji passed away at the age of 49. Balaji’s limited, yet illustrious filmography included titles starring him alongside some of the stalwarts of Indian cinema. Her role in the cult classic soap opera ‘Chitthi’ has left its mark in history. While working in various fields within the film industry she also acted in another serial titled ‘Alaigal’ for the same channel.

Photo: Kumar SS

N. Pugazhenthi (died April 6): DMK MLA from Vikravandi constituency died at the age of 71 after fainting during a public meeting. He started his political career in 1973 and held various positions in the Villupuram district unit of the DMK.

Photo: The Hindu

KG Jayan (died April 16): Famous Carnatic musician passed away at the age of 90. Jayan and his brother KG Vijayan were known as the ‘Jaya-Vijaya’ duo in the music world. Together, they gave life to more than 1,000 compositions in films, plays and devotional albums.

Photo: PTI

Narayanan Vaghul (died 18 May): Narayanan Vaghul, renowned Indian banker and founder-chairman of ICICI Limited, started his career with State Bank of India in 1955. It was under him that ICICI Limited turned into India’s second largest private sector. Commercial Bank.

Photo: The Hindu

Ramoji Rao (died June 8): Media mogul and founder of Eenadu Group, Ramoji Rao passed away at the age of 87. He is credited with revolutionizing Telugu media with the newspaper Eenadu. He further launched ETV. Ramoji Film City remains a major tourist attraction and a film shooting location for India’s top producers.

Photo: The Hindu

MS Valiathan (died July 17): Dr. Marthanda Varma Shankaran Valiathan, renowned cardiac surgeon and founder-director of SCTIMST. His remarkable career as a cardiac surgeon and his significant contribution in laying the foundation of the country’s indigenous medical technology development has been written in golden letters throughout history.

Photo: PTI

Anshuman Gaikwad (died July 31): Former Indian cricketer Anshuman Gaikwad passed away at the age of 71. Gaikwad played 40 Tests and 15 ODIs for India. He was also the coach of the Indian team that finished runner-up in the 2000 ICC Champions Trophy.

Photo: The Hindu

Buddhadeb Bhattacharya (died August 8): Former Chief Minister of West Bengal and veteran communist leader Buddhadeb Bhattacharya passed away at the age of 80. Bhattacharya became the Chief Minister of the state in 2000 after the famous Jyoti Basu stepped down due to ill health. After that, Bhattacharjee led the CPI(M) Left Front to power for two terms in 2001 and 2006.

Photo: The Hindu

Natwar Singh (died on August 10): Former Foreign Minister K. Natwar Singh died at the age of 95. A prolific writer and historian, he started his career as an IFS officer in 1953 and took early retirement in 1984 and moved on. To become a Lok Sabha MP. He further served as a Minister of State under the Rajiv Gandhi government.

Photo: PTI

Sitaram Yechury (Died 12 September) Veteran leader of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), Sitaram Yechury passed away at the age of 72. Yechury was serving his third term as general secretary of the CPI(M), a post to which he was elected in 2015. Both united in Yechury. He was both a Marxist thinker and a communist agitator.

Photo: PTI

Baba Siddiqui (died 18 August): Baba Siddiqui of Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) was shot dead in Mumbai’s Bandra area. He was a former minister and three-time MLA. He was a man who used to organize grand iftar parties and was considered an integral part of the Bollywood circle.

Photo: The Hindu

AG Noorani (died September 2): Abdul Ghafoor Noorani, one of India’s finest intellectuals, renowned constitutional expert, eminent lawyer and political analyst, passed away at the age of 94. He was in the process of writing a new book. On the Supreme Court’s Babri Masjid decision, when death snatched it away. A trained lawyer, he began his writing career in the early 1960s and wrote long and passionately. He called Narendra Modi the “Tughlaq” of our times for his Central Vista project in 2020.

Photo: Getty Images

Ratan Tata (died October 9): Tata Group Chairman and veteran industrialist Ratan Tata passed away at the age of 86. Under the visionary leadership of Ratan Tata, the group became a global power. His contributions span across various fields from engineering to technology. Apart from his successful ventures with the Tata Group, he was known for his empathy and humility.

Photo: Getty Images

Rohit Bal (died November 1): Designer Rohit Bal is a pioneer who helped put Indian fashion on the global map and dressed celebrities at home, in Bollywood and elsewhere. He combined flamboyance, elegance and brilliance in his work and also in his personality. He made his last public appearance only last month.

Photo: PTI

Sharda Sinha (died 5 November): Popular folk singer Sharda Sinha was known among her fans for folk songs like “Karthik Maas Ijoriya” and “Koyal Bin”. Padma Bhushan recipient, Sharda was synonymous with folk songs in Bhojpuri, Maithili and Magahi languages.

Delhi Ganesh (died November 9): Famous Tamil actor Delhi Ganesh acted in more than 400 films during his illustrious career. His supporting roles and character transformations in films like Payasam, Sindhu Bhairavi and Nayagan remain in the memories of film lovers.

Photo: PTI

Shashi Ruia (died November 25): Founder and chairman of Essar Group passed away at the age of 81. Ruia’s entrepreneurial journey began in 1969 with the construction of an outer breakwater at the Chennai Port in Chennai. He was among the first to take advantage of the opportunities open to the private sector in important sectors.

Photo: The Hindu

SM Krishna (died December 10): The former Chief Minister of Karnataka aspired to rebuild Bengaluru on the lines of South Asian economic giant Singapore. Bengaluru’s presence on the global map as a hub of technology and IT is attributed to his foresight.

EVKS Elangovan (died December 14): Former Tamil Nadu Congress Committee chief and former Union Minister of State, EVKS Elangovan represented Erode (East), a seat held by his son E. Thirumahan Evra, who died in January 2023. Went. A prominent political family and also the grandson of E. V. Ramasamy or Periyar.

Photo: ANI

Ustad Zakir Hussain (died 15 December): Tabla player Zakir Hussain died due to complications arising from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Hussain has received four Grammy Awards in his career. One of India’s most renowned classical musicians, the percussionist received the Padma Shri in 1988, the Padma Bhushan in 2002, and the Padma Vibhushan in 2023.

Photo: ANI

Om Prakash Chautala (died December 20): Five-time Chief Minister of Haryana and Indian National Lok Dal supremo Om Prakash Chautala was one of the veteran leaders of his time. He was the leader of the opposition for almost eight years and raised his voice against the anti-people policies of various regimes. Chautala, a former Rajya Sabha member, passed his Class 10 and 12 exams in jail, taking inspiration from the Bollywood film.

Photo: AFP

Shyam Benegal (died 23 December) He was a legend of Indian cinema and one of the guiding stars of the parallel cinema movement. He died at the age of 90. He was known for heart-touching and powerful films like Ankur, Nishant, Mandi, Manthan and Zubaida.

Photo: The Hindu

(Died 25 December): MT Vasudevan Nair, one of India’s all-time great writers, passed away at the age of 91. He was also an extraordinary screenwriter who revolutionized the art of screenwriting in Malayalam cinema and wrote several landmark films. Some of those films were directed by MT himself. His first film as a director, Nirmalyam, actually won the National Award for Best Film in 1974.

Photo: PTI

Manmohan Singh (died 26 December): Manmohan Singh, who was twice Prime Minister in the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government from 2004 to 2014, was in poor health for the past few months. As Finance Minister under former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao, he was the architect of economic reforms in 1991 that changed the direction of India’s economic trajectory.