Photos: 2021, an unforgettable year remembered in images

By Paroma Mukherjee

Published on Dec 31, 2021 05:03 pm IST

A year of loss, pain, oxygen shortage, of another lockdown and opening up in phases. A year of the indomitable spirit of health care workers, frontline workers and Olympics medalists. A year also of farmers, protests, and three repealed laws; of state elections; and a military tragedy that shocked the country. As the Covid-19 national vaccination programme was rolled out, with the first shot administered in Delhi, long lines snaked outside vaccination centres as people queued up to get their first dose. There was a glimmer of hope, and a sight of the old normal. But the brutal wave of Covid-19 saw hospitals short of beds, patients short of oxygen, and families with little space to lay their loved ones to rest. As the year ends, we look at some of the images that defined this year, through the lens of HT photographers.

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1 / 24

Redevelopment work at the Central Vista avenue in the heart of Delhi picked up steam this year. The project aims to revamp and modernize iconic structures in central Delhi, as well as give the country a new Parliament. The new building is also likely to be ready before the winter session of Parliament in 2022. In fact, the Republic Day parade on January 26, 2022, will take place on the revamped avenue.(Ajay Aggarwal / HT Photo)

Published on Dec 31, 2021 05:03 pm IST

Redevelopment work at the Central Vista avenue in the heart of Delhi picked up steam this year. The project aims to revamp and modernize iconic structures in central Delhi, as well as give the country a new Parliament. The new building is also likely to be ready before the winter session of Parliament in 2022. In fact, the Republic Day parade on January 26, 2022, will take place on the revamped avenue.(Ajay Aggarwal / HT Photo)

2 / 24

Nishan Sahib being hoisted near the Indian tricolour at Red Fort in New Delhi, on January 26. On Republic Day, thousands of farmers protesting against the three farm laws (now repelled) drove a convoy of tractors into the capital. The tractor rally took an unsavoury turn that ended in violence, with one group storming the Red Fort in Delhi. (Sanjeev Verma / HT Photo)

Published on Dec 31, 2021 05:03 pm IST

Nishan Sahib being hoisted near the Indian tricolour at Red Fort in New Delhi, on January 26. On Republic Day, thousands of farmers protesting against the three farm laws (now repelled) drove a convoy of tractors into the capital. The tractor rally took an unsavoury turn that ended in violence, with one group storming the Red Fort in Delhi. (Sanjeev Verma / HT Photo)

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A man carries an oxygen cylinder marked with a Covid-19 positive patient's name, at Mayapuri industrial area, in New Delhi, on May 8. The Capital, like several other cities across the country, grappled with a severe shortage of medical oxygen and health care infrastructure was overrun among a seismic rise in Covid-19 infections, fuelled by the Delta variant of the coronavirus.(Arvind Yadav / HT Photo)

Published on Dec 31, 2021 05:03 pm IST

A man carries an oxygen cylinder marked with a Covid-19 positive patient's name, at Mayapuri industrial area, in New Delhi, on May 8. The Capital, like several other cities across the country, grappled with a severe shortage of medical oxygen and health care infrastructure was overrun among a seismic rise in Covid-19 infections, fuelled by the Delta variant of the coronavirus.(Arvind Yadav / HT Photo)

4 / 24

Funeral pyres of people who died of Covid-19 at the Ghazipur crematorium in New Delhi, on April 26. India’s deadly second wave of the coronavirus not only created shortages of oxygen, medicines and hospital beds, but also of wood for funeral pyres, hearses and crematorium slots, forcing people to pay exorbitant amounts to perform the last rites of loved ones.(Raj K Raj / HT Photo)

Published on Dec 31, 2021 05:03 pm IST

Funeral pyres of people who died of Covid-19 at the Ghazipur crematorium in New Delhi, on April 26. India’s deadly second wave of the coronavirus not only created shortages of oxygen, medicines and hospital beds, but also of wood for funeral pyres, hearses and crematorium slots, forcing people to pay exorbitant amounts to perform the last rites of loved ones.(Raj K Raj / HT Photo)

5 / 24

Climate activist Disha Ravi was produced at Patiala Court in connection with the “Toolkit case” in New Delhi, on February 19. She was arrested on February 13 for alleged involvement with an online toolkit related to Greta Thunberg and the farmers' protests.(Amal KS / HT Photo)

Published on Dec 31, 2021 05:03 pm IST

Climate activist Disha Ravi was produced at Patiala Court in connection with the “Toolkit case” in New Delhi, on February 19. She was arrested on February 13 for alleged involvement with an online toolkit related to Greta Thunberg and the farmers' protests.(Amal KS / HT Photo)

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Empty oxygen containers loaded on train rakes at the Indian Railways Kalamboli Goods Yard, ahead of being transported to three Indian states for refilling, in Navi Mumbai, on April 19. In Maharashtra, the daily requirement of oxygen touched 1,800 Metric Tonnes (MT) in April; at the time, the production capacity was 1,300 MT daily from 32 firms. The shortfall was made up by acquiring oxygen from other states.(Bachchan Kumar / HT Photo)

Published on Dec 31, 2021 05:03 pm IST

Empty oxygen containers loaded on train rakes at the Indian Railways Kalamboli Goods Yard, ahead of being transported to three Indian states for refilling, in Navi Mumbai, on April 19. In Maharashtra, the daily requirement of oxygen touched 1,800 Metric Tonnes (MT) in April; at the time, the production capacity was 1,300 MT daily from 32 firms. The shortfall was made up by acquiring oxygen from other states.(Bachchan Kumar / HT Photo)

7 / 24

Manish Kumar, a sanitation worker at Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences, was administered the first Covid-19 vaccine dose on January 16 as the nationwide inoculation programme kicked off. Since then, over 1.4 billion doses have been administered across the country, and more than 596 million people have been fully protected against the coronavirus. (Amal KS / HT Photo)

Published on Dec 31, 2021 05:03 pm IST

Manish Kumar, a sanitation worker at Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences, was administered the first Covid-19 vaccine dose on January 16 as the nationwide inoculation programme kicked off. Since then, over 1.4 billion doses have been administered across the country, and more than 596 million people have been fully protected against the coronavirus. (Amal KS / HT Photo)

8 / 24

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee rallies on a wheelchair on Nandigram Divas ahead of the WB Assembly election, in Kolkata, on March 14. The Trinamool Congress (TMC), led by India’s only woman chief minister Banerjee — swept the West Bengal assembly polls of 2021 for a third time, in a sign of the continued assertion of regional parties in Indian politics, and in a major setback to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). (Samir Jana / HT Photo)

Published on Dec 31, 2021 05:03 pm IST

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee rallies on a wheelchair on Nandigram Divas ahead of the WB Assembly election, in Kolkata, on March 14. The Trinamool Congress (TMC), led by India’s only woman chief minister Banerjee — swept the West Bengal assembly polls of 2021 for a third time, in a sign of the continued assertion of regional parties in Indian politics, and in a major setback to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). (Samir Jana / HT Photo)

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A boatman uses an oar to break a sheet of ice on Dal Lake in Srinagar on January 9.(Waseem Andrabi / HT Photo)

Published on Dec 31, 2021 05:03 pm IST

A boatman uses an oar to break a sheet of ice on Dal Lake in Srinagar on January 9.(Waseem Andrabi / HT Photo)

10 / 24

Sea waves crash onto the site of the coastal road project during high tide at Marine Drive, in Mumbai, on June 10. The coastal road project measuring around 10km between the Princess Street flyover and Worli-end of Bandra-Worli sea link is expected to be ready by July 2023.(Anshuman Poyrekar / HT Photo)

Published on Dec 31, 2021 05:03 pm IST

Sea waves crash onto the site of the coastal road project during high tide at Marine Drive, in Mumbai, on June 10. The coastal road project measuring around 10km between the Princess Street flyover and Worli-end of Bandra-Worli sea link is expected to be ready by July 2023.(Anshuman Poyrekar / HT Photo)

11 / 24

A teacher conducts an online class inside an empty classroom, in Sector 45, Noida, on July 6. Schools across the country remained closed for most of the year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.(Sunil Ghosh / HT Photo)

Published on Dec 31, 2021 05:03 pm IST

A teacher conducts an online class inside an empty classroom, in Sector 45, Noida, on July 6. Schools across the country remained closed for most of the year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.(Sunil Ghosh / HT Photo)

12 / 24

Saira Banu, actor and wife of the legendary actor Dilip Kumar watches the mortal remains of the latter being laid to rest with full state honours, after he died at the age of 98 due to prolonged illness, at the Juhu Qabrastan, in Santacruz, Mumbai, on July 7.(Vijay Bate / HT Photo)

Published on Dec 31, 2021 05:03 pm IST

Saira Banu, actor and wife of the legendary actor Dilip Kumar watches the mortal remains of the latter being laid to rest with full state honours, after he died at the age of 98 due to prolonged illness, at the Juhu Qabrastan, in Santacruz, Mumbai, on July 7.(Vijay Bate / HT Photo)

13 / 24

Anganwadi workers raise slogans during the Vidhan Sabha gherao rally, in Shimla, on March 9.(Deepak Sansta / HT Photo)

Published on Dec 31, 2021 05:03 pm IST

Anganwadi workers raise slogans during the Vidhan Sabha gherao rally, in Shimla, on March 9.(Deepak Sansta / HT Photo)

14 / 24

The mortal remains of Reuters photojournalist Danish Siddiqui being brought for funeral prayers before his burial, at Jamia Nagar in New Delhi, on July 18. Siddiqui was killed in crossfire in the bazaar at Spin Boldak, a hotly contested Afghan border crossing with Pakistan during the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. (Sanchit Khanna / HT Photo)

Published on Dec 31, 2021 05:03 pm IST

The mortal remains of Reuters photojournalist Danish Siddiqui being brought for funeral prayers before his burial, at Jamia Nagar in New Delhi, on July 18. Siddiqui was killed in crossfire in the bazaar at Spin Boldak, a hotly contested Afghan border crossing with Pakistan during the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. (Sanchit Khanna / HT Photo)

15 / 24

Commuters travel by local train after Maharashtra government relaxed lockdown restrictions for fully vaccinated people, at Kurla station, in Mumbai, on August 16. In February, just before the second wave struck, services were reopened to all, but with timing restrictions. However, as cases surged, the government rolled this back. It reopened local trains for fully vaccinated people in August as it also began to ease the lockdown restrictions imposed in the wake of the second wave of the pandemic.(Pratik Chorge / HT Photo)

Published on Dec 31, 2021 05:03 pm IST

Commuters travel by local train after Maharashtra government relaxed lockdown restrictions for fully vaccinated people, at Kurla station, in Mumbai, on August 16. In February, just before the second wave struck, services were reopened to all, but with timing restrictions. However, as cases surged, the government rolled this back. It reopened local trains for fully vaccinated people in August as it also began to ease the lockdown restrictions imposed in the wake of the second wave of the pandemic.(Pratik Chorge / HT Photo)

16 / 24

A flood victim carries a child after disembarking from a boat while heading to higher grounds for shelter, at Digha Ghat, in Patna, on August 17. According to preliminary estimates in early September, 53 people died and 2 million people, spread across 1652 villages in 83 blocks of 16 districts, were affected by this year’s floods while 219,000 residents were evacuated.(Santosh Kumar / HT Photo)

Published on Dec 31, 2021 05:03 pm IST

A flood victim carries a child after disembarking from a boat while heading to higher grounds for shelter, at Digha Ghat, in Patna, on August 17. According to preliminary estimates in early September, 53 people died and 2 million people, spread across 1652 villages in 83 blocks of 16 districts, were affected by this year’s floods while 219,000 residents were evacuated.(Santosh Kumar / HT Photo)

17 / 24

Passengers disembark from Indian Air Force's C17 Globemaster at Hindon Air Force Station after being evacuated from Kabul, in Ghaziabad, on August 21. India along with many other countries evacuated scores of Afghans amid the the Taliban takeover crisis.(Sakib Ali / HT Photo)

Published on Dec 31, 2021 05:03 pm IST

Passengers disembark from Indian Air Force's C17 Globemaster at Hindon Air Force Station after being evacuated from Kabul, in Ghaziabad, on August 21. India along with many other countries evacuated scores of Afghans amid the the Taliban takeover crisis.(Sakib Ali / HT Photo)

18 / 24

One of the SUVs that allegedly ran over the farmers and killed them, was set ablaze by an angry mob in Tikunia, Lakhimpur Kheri, on October 4. Four farmers and a journalist died when an SUV owned by Ajay Mishra ran over farmers from behind in Lakhimpur Kheri on October 3. In the ensuing violence, three more people -- two of whom were Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers and one was the driver of the car -- were killed. (Deepak Gupta / HT Photo)

Published on Dec 31, 2021 05:03 pm IST

One of the SUVs that allegedly ran over the farmers and killed them, was set ablaze by an angry mob in Tikunia, Lakhimpur Kheri, on October 4. Four farmers and a journalist died when an SUV owned by Ajay Mishra ran over farmers from behind in Lakhimpur Kheri on October 3. In the ensuing violence, three more people -- two of whom were Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers and one was the driver of the car -- were killed. (Deepak Gupta / HT Photo)

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A view of the Dadar Flower market ahead of Dashera, in Mumbai, on October 14. In December, cases of Covid-19 begin to surge again and Maharashtra now leads the country in the number of reported instances of Omicron, a new variant of concern, the debate on responsible behaviour during a pandemic, despite eased restrictions, resumes.(Pratik Chorge / HT Photo)

Published on Dec 31, 2021 05:03 pm IST

A view of the Dadar Flower market ahead of Dashera, in Mumbai, on October 14. In December, cases of Covid-19 begin to surge again and Maharashtra now leads the country in the number of reported instances of Omicron, a new variant of concern, the debate on responsible behaviour during a pandemic, despite eased restrictions, resumes.(Pratik Chorge / HT Photo)

20 / 24

A view of the Red Fort shrouded in a dense layer of smog, in New Delhi, on December 1. Delhi’s average AQI as of December 27 was 344, higher than December 2020 (331) and 2019 (337). (Sanchit Khanna / HT Photo)

Published on Dec 31, 2021 05:03 pm IST

A view of the Red Fort shrouded in a dense layer of smog, in New Delhi, on December 1. Delhi’s average AQI as of December 27 was 344, higher than December 2020 (331) and 2019 (337). (Sanchit Khanna / HT Photo)

21 / 24

Aryan Khan, son of Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan, was released from Mumbai’s Arthur Road jail on October 30, two days after the Bombay high court granted him bail and after spending 22 days behind bars in the cruise drugs bust case. The NCB eventually admitted in court that no drugs were found on him, leading to his release on bail. (Satish Bate / HT Photo)

Published on Dec 31, 2021 05:03 pm IST

Aryan Khan, son of Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan, was released from Mumbai’s Arthur Road jail on October 30, two days after the Bombay high court granted him bail and after spending 22 days behind bars in the cruise drugs bust case. The NCB eventually admitted in court that no drugs were found on him, leading to his release on bail. (Satish Bate / HT Photo)

22 / 24

Prime Minister Narendra Modi pays homage to CDS General Bipin Rawat and others at Palaim airport, in New Delhi, on December 9. India's first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Raje Singh Rawat, and 11 others were killed in an Indian Air Force (IAF) chopper crash near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu.(Sanjeev Verma / HT Photo)

Published on Dec 31, 2021 05:03 pm IST

Prime Minister Narendra Modi pays homage to CDS General Bipin Rawat and others at Palaim airport, in New Delhi, on December 9. India's first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Raje Singh Rawat, and 11 others were killed in an Indian Air Force (IAF) chopper crash near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu.(Sanjeev Verma / HT Photo)

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A member of the Sanyukt Hindu Sangharsh Samiti (SHSS), an umbrella organisation of Hindu bodies leading the protests against namaz in open spaces, faces off against a Muslim devotee in Gurugram, on December 3. On December 24, namaz was offered peacefully for the first time in several months. (Vipin Kumar / HT Photo)

Published on Dec 31, 2021 05:03 pm IST

A member of the Sanyukt Hindu Sangharsh Samiti (SHSS), an umbrella organisation of Hindu bodies leading the protests against namaz in open spaces, faces off against a Muslim devotee in Gurugram, on December 3. On December 24, namaz was offered peacefully for the first time in several months. (Vipin Kumar / HT Photo)

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Tokyo 2020 Olympics gold medalist Neeraj Chopra arrives at the IGI T3 airport, in New Delhi, on August 9. Chopra scripted history as he became the first track and field athlete to win a gold medal (javelin throw) for India at the Olympics.(Sanjeev Verma / HT Photo)

Published on Dec 31, 2021 05:03 pm IST

Tokyo 2020 Olympics gold medalist Neeraj Chopra arrives at the IGI T3 airport, in New Delhi, on August 9. Chopra scripted history as he became the first track and field athlete to win a gold medal (javelin throw) for India at the Olympics.(Sanjeev Verma / HT Photo)

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