PERSONS FEBRUARY 2014

PERSONS FEBRUARY 2014

• Dinesh Sarraf---- Dinesh Sarraf appointed as next Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC). The Public Enterprises Selection Board (PSEB) recommended Dinesh K Sarraf as the next head of the country's most valuable company ONGC. Dinesh Sarraf will replace Sudhir Vasudeva who will be due to retire on 28 February 2014.Sarraf is currently working as the head of OVL. He had successfully transformed ONGC Videsh Limited (OVL) into an aggressive overseas firm, stitching 4 deals worth over 11 billion dollar since taking charge of the company.
  
• Janumaddi Hanumath Sastry (88)---- Well-known Telugu author Janumaddi Hanumath Sastry passed away at Kadapa on 28 February. He was a founder-member of CP Brown Library. Sastry had played a key role in the establishment of the Library in Kadapa town. Because of his efforts, he was also fondly known as ‘Brown Sastry’ by his contemporary authors and those close to him. The octogenarian had authored several English and Telugu literary works. Sastry is known for his biographies and translation works. His works included ‘Maa Seema Kavulu,’, ‘Natya Kala Prapurna Ballary Raghava’, ‘Kasturi Kanna Sahitya Saurabham,’ and ‘Nirajanam’ and several other documentaries. Hanumath Sastry was a recipient of ‘Kavitraya Jayanthi Puraskaram’ twice, the Gadicherla award, ‘Sarvadhari Ugadi Puraskaram’. He was also awarded a honorary doctorate by the Potti Sri Ramulu Telugu University.
  
• Prokash Karmakar (81)----Eminent painter, passed away in Kolkata. Influenced by the works of Picasso and the classic impressionists, he had won many prestigious awards including the Lalit Kala Akademi National Award in 1968. His paintings reflected the degenerating society and the confusion that prevails in modern India. Karmakar's works are part of famous galleries like the National Gallery of Modern Art, Lalit Kala Akademi in Delhi and Lucknow, and Academy of fine Arts in Kolkata.
  
• Kapil Sibal-----Music album entitled Raunaq, written by Kapil Sibal, the Union Minister of Communications and Information Technology was launched by Salman Khan on 27th February 2014. The album was composed by music maestro AR Rahman. Raunaq is a video album with seven songs, all songs have been penned down by Kapil Sibbal. Songs sung by artists from the music industry including Lata Mageshkar (Laadli), Shreya Ghosal (Kismat se), Jonita Gandhi (Aa Bhi Jaa) and Rahman (Laadli and Boondein). As per Kapil Sibal, "these songs are a reflection of the current social scenario of India and reflects his view of the world that how things touched him."
  
• Abdul Basit---- Pakistan appointed Abdul Basit as Pakistan’s high commissioner to India on 17 February 2014. He will replace Salman Bashir. Salman Bashir relinquishes charge of office on 28 February 2014.Basit will take charge of office in March 2014. He is currently working as ambassador to Germany. He had previously served at Pakistan’s missions in Moscow, New York, Sana’a, Geneva and London.
  
• Sid Caesar (91) ---- who pioneered TV sketch comedy during the 1950s as the star died on 14 February. He was the creative force of "Your Show of Shows," a launch pad for the likes of Mel Brooks, Carl Reiner and Woody Allen and an inspiration to generations of comedians. Caesar, in failing health for at least a year, died at his home in Beverly Hills. With a career on TV, film and stage that spanned six decades but was marred by years of substance abuse, he is best-known for his work with comedienne Imogene Coca on the landmark "Your Show of Shows." NBC aired the show from February 1950 to June 1954.
  
• Amar Kant(89)----- Hindi writer, died due to ill health at his residence in Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh on 17 February 2014. His short stories and novels portray the common people’s life and often his works were being compared with the legendary Prem Chand. Amar Kant prominent novels are Inhin Hathiyaron Se, Katili Raah Ke Phool, Sookha Patta, Kale Ujle and Beech ki Deewar. Kant received the 45th Jnanpith Award in 2009 along with Shree Lal Shukla, Hindi satirist of Raag Darbari fame. He also won Sahitya Akademi Award in 2007. He won Sahitya Akademi Award for his novel Inhi Hathiyaron Se, a voluminous work set against the backdrop of Quit India Movement.
  
• Rishang Keishing(94)---- The oldest Parliamentarian of India decided to retire on 21 February 2014. He joined politics as the member of the first Lok Sabha in 1952 after being elected from Socialist Party. He had served the nation for seven decades. He joined Congress in 1962.The present term of Rishang Keishing of Rajya Sabha is due to ends in April 2014.
  Till now, he had served as four time Chief Minister of Manipur, two tenure in Rajya Sabha and two tenures in Lok Sabha.
  
• Kiran Kumar Reddy---- Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister (CM), Kiran Kumar Reddy resigned from the post on 19 February 2014. He also quitted from the membership of the State Assembly and the Congress Party as a protest to the decision to bifurcate the Andhra Pradesh State.
  
• R.K.Tiwari ---- R.K.Tiwari was appointed as the new chairman of Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) on 9 February 2014.The appointment was approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC). Mr. Tiwari is a 1976-batch Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer. He is currently working as the Member of Legislation and Computerization Department in the CBDT. He will take the charge from 1 March 2014. He will succeed Chairperson Sudha Sharma who is scheduled to retire on 28 February 2014. The CBDT is a part of Department of Revenue in the Ministry of Finance. The Central Board of Direct Taxes is a statutory authority functioning under the Central Board of Revenue Act, 1963. The CBDT is a seven-member body including the Chairman and it is the apex authority for policy planning and administrative control over the I-T department and collection of direct taxes in the country.
  
• Balu Mahendra (75)----Renowned film director Balu Mahendra died in Chennai on 13 February 2014 due to cardiac arrest. Mahendra was an award winning film director and cinematographer. Some of his masterpieces are Azhiyatha Kolangal, Moondram Pirai, Sandhiyaa Raagam, Vanna Vanna Pookal. He won the national award for best cinematography in 1983 for Moondram Pirai, which was the first national award in acting for Kamal Haasan
  
• Marco Lambertini---- the global conservation organisation, WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) on 6 February 2014 appointed Marco Lambertini as Director-General (DG) of the WWF International. His new role as the DG will start from 1 May 2014.At the time of this appointment; he was serving Bird Life International as its chief executive. He will succeed James P. Leape, who was appointed as the DG of WWF International in 2005.World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) at the time of establishment was known as World Wildlife Fund. It was established as an international non-governmental organization that works on issues regarding the conservation, research and restoration of the environment on 29 April 1961
  
• Satya Nadella---- Satya Nadella was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Internet Giant Microsoft by the Board of Directors of Microsoft on 4 January 2014. Satya Nadella will succeed Steve Ballmer as the third CEO of the Microsoft. Bill Gates is the founder and first CEO of Microsoft. Nadella is the first Indian to head the Microsoft in its 38-year history. Nadella prior to his appointment as CEO served Microsoft as the Executive Vice President of Microsoft’s Cloud and Enterprise group. Microsoft also announced that Bill Gates, previously Chairman of the Board of Directors, will assume a new role on the Board as Founder and Technology Advisor, and will devote more time to the company, supporting Nadella in shaping technology and product direction. Besides, John Thompson, lead independent director for the Board of Directors, will assume the role of Chairman of the Board of Directors and remain an independent director on the Board. Nadella was born in Tirupathi, India and joined Microsoft in 1992. Satya is a proven leader with strong engineering skills, business vision and the ability to bring people together.
  
• Juthika Roy (93) ---- Legendary bhajan singer Juthika Roy passed away in Kolkata on 6 February 2014. She was a favourite of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi. Gandhi would listen to her bhajans every day before his prayers. She was then known as the Adhunik Meera after Meera Bai. The first performance of Jhutika Roy for the All India Radio (AIR) was made when she was seven. Kazi Nazrul Islam was her first mentor and her first album was released at the age of 13. Later, Kamal Dasgupta became her mentor and she soon rose to fame. She was awarded with Padma Shri in 1972.
  
• R. Sridharan----The Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI), has elected R. Sridharan as its new President and Vikas Y. Khare as its Vice-President. Mr. Sridharan succeeds S. N. Ananthasubramanian with immediate effect. He was elected uncontested as President of the ICSI with effect from February 7.