Eminent Indian columnist, humorist, writer and playwright, Taarak Mehta, best known for the Gujarati column “Duniya Ne Undha Chasma”, passed away today on March 1, 2017, after a prolonged illness. He was 87.
Taarak Mehta was a well known figure in the Gujarati Theatre and in his lifetime had translated and adapted several comedies into Gujarati. He was also the inspiration behind the television serial Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah that is based on his column. The serial has been doing very well and has become the flagship of the channel featuring it, SAB TV; and he became a a household name across the country.
Family sources issued a statement saying, “The writer died at 87 after a prolonged illness due to age-related problems at his residence in the city.” The family has decided to donate the mortal remains of Taarak Mehta for medical research.
Achievements
Best known for “Duniya Ne Undha Chasma”, Taarak Mehta’s humorous weekly column was first published in Chitralekha in March, 1971. The column deals with contemporary issues in a different perspective.
Taarak Mehta also has 80 books published to his name, three of which are based on the columns he wrote in the Gujarati newspaper Divya Bhaskar, while the rest are a compilation of stories from Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah.
A Padma Shri awardee, the fourth highest civilian award of India, Mehta also received prestigious awards including the Sahitya Gaurav Puraskar in 2011 and Ramanlal Nilkanth Hasya Paritoshik in 2017.
India has indeed lost one of the most creatively oriented minds today. May Shri Tarak Mehta’s soul rest in peace.