Ad industry doyen Piyush Pandey dies after brief illness
Mumbai, Oct 24 (PTI): Piyush Pandey, advertising industry legend who was behind a number of iconic campaigns, died in the early hours of Friday, his family said. He was 70.
His sister Ila Arun, an actor, said Pandey breathed his last at 5.50 am on Friday at a private hospital in Mumbai, where he was undergoing treatment for the last few days after complaining of respiratory complications.
"He was very fond of sports and used to describe our family as a team of 11, including nine siblings and our parents. Piyush was the naughtiest among all and the wittiest," Arun told PTI.
Pandey, who represented the Rajasthan cricket team in the Ranji Trophy, was behind a number of iconic campaigns, including those for brands such as Cadbury, Asian Paints, and Fevicol. He is credited to have advised on the communication strategies for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 2014 election campaign.
He was awarded the Padma Shri -- the country's fourth highest civilian honour -- in 2016 in recognition of his achievements.
"He made a monumental contribution to the world of advertising and communications," the PM wrote in a condolence message on the microblogging site X.
"I will fondly cherish our interactions over the years," the PM added.
Tributes for Pandey, who had also penned the iconic 'Mile Sur Mera Tumhara' song celebrating the rich diversity of the country, flowed in from all across.
Billionaire Gautam Adani, the second richest Indian, said Pandey was more than just an advertising legend.
"He was the voice that made India believe in its own story. He gave Indian advertising its self-confidence, its soul, its 'swadeshi' swagger," Adani wrote on his X account.
Union ministers Nirmala Sitharaman and Piyush Goyal condoled the death of the creative genius.
Calling Pandey a "titan and legend" of Indian advertising, Sitharaman said he transformed communication by "bringing everyday idioms, earthy humour and genuine warmth".
Stating that she had interacted with Pandey on various occasions, the Finance Minister said his legacy will continue to inspire generations.
Her Union Cabinet colleague Goyal said Pandey was a phenomenon in the world of advertising and his creative genius redefined storytelling.
"To me, he was a friend whose brilliance shone through his authenticity, warmth, and wit," Goyal, who handles the commerce portfolio, said.
Industrialist Anand Mahindra said Pandey has left "gigantic footprints" on the ad industry, recollecting that the adman's "hearty laughs and irrepressible zest for life" will be remembered more than the brands he built.
Uday Kotak, the richest Indian banker, recalled his association, saying the Kotak Mahindra Bank was launched in 2003 with a campaign made by Pandey, who had described banking as "common sense".
"Amazing out of the box thinker and a humble person. He weaved creativity with an Indian context," Kotak wrote on X.
The Jaipur-born Pandey was advising his agency Ogilvy for the last few years, having taken a break from an active role. Pandey and his wife used to reside in central Mumbai's Shivaji Park neighbourhood.
His last rites will be performed at the Shivaji Park crematorium at 10.30 am on Saturday, Ila Arun added.
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Veteran Congress leader Shamanuru Shivashankarappa laid to rest with full state honours
Bengaluru (PTI): Veteran Congress leader Shamanuru Shivashankarappa was laid to rest with full state honours on Monday.
The 94-year-old former minister, who passed away at a private hospital in Bengaluru on Sunday, was cremated at the Kalleshwara Mill premises, following Veerashaiva-Lingayat traditions.
Earlier in the day, Shivashankarappa's mortal remains were brought to his native Davanagere, where they were kept at the high school grounds for the public, his followers, and well-wishers to pay their last respects.
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Expressing deep sorrow over his demise, the Karnataka government ordered that his last rites be performed with full state honours.
Both the Karnataka Legislative Assembly and Council also mourned his passing, adjourning their sessions for the day after paying tributes.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy CM D K Shivakumar, AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, veteran BJP leader B S Yediyurappa, several ministers, opposition leaders, legislators, and political figures paid their respects.
A number of seers from the Veerashaiva-Lingayat community also attended the last rites.
Shivashankarappa represented the Davanagere South Assembly constituency. He had been undergoing treatment at the hospital for some time before succumbing to age-related ailments.
The senior-most legislator in Karnataka, Shivashankarappa, was also one of the longest-serving lawmakers in the country, sources said.
He is survived by three sons, including S S Mallikarjun, the Karnataka Minister for Mines, Geology, and Horticulture, and four daughters. His daughter-in-law, Prabha Mallikarjun, is the Member of Parliament from Davanagere.
A six-time MLA, Shivashankarappa also served as a minister and an MP.
He was a prominent educationist, establishing several educational institutions, and was an industrialist.
Additionally, he served as the treasurer of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) for decades and was the president of the All India Veerashaiva Mahasabha, the apex body of the influential Veerashaiva-Lingayat community.
