Taarak Mehta, Playwright And Inspiration For Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, Dies At 87

New Delhi: Gujarati playwright Taarak Mehta died on Wednesday morning after prolonged illness, his family confirmed to news agency IANS. The 87-year-old columnist wrote Duniya Ne Undha Chasma, which inspired the hit television show Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah. Mr Mehta's relative Atul Bhatt, who is also a doctor, told news agency IANS: "He died of old age." Mr Mehta's family may also to donate Mr Mehta's body to science, they told IANS. Born on December 26, 1929, Mr Mehta was honoured with Padma Shri in 2015. Prime Minister Narendra Modi remembered Mr Mehta in a series of tweets and wrote: "Taark Mehta never gave up on writing satire. I had the fortune to meet Mr Mehta many times including when he was give the Padma Shri Award. Taarak Mehta's plays capture the theme of unity in diversity in India."

Here's what he tweeted:
 

सुप्रसिद्ध नाटककार और हास्य लेखक तारक मेहता जी को श्रद्धांजलि। उन्होंने जीवन भर व्यंग्य और कलम का साथ नहीं छोड़ा। pic.twitter.com/FRRpA3raYW

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 1, 2017

 

मुझे तारक मेहता जी से कई बार मिलने का सौभाग्य मिला। जब उन्हें पद्मश्री से सम्मानित किया गया, तब भी उनसे मिलने का अवसर मिला।

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 1, 2017

 

तारक मेहता जी के लेखन में भारत की विविधता में एकता की झलक दिखती है । टप्पू समेत कई किरदार लोगों के दिलों में बस गये।

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 1, 2017

Mr Mehta wrote satire humour column Duniya Ne Undha Chasma for a Gujarati daily. Later the stories from his column were adapted into a play of the same name and many of them were used as episodes on television show Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah. Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah is one of television's popular shows. Dilip Joshi, Disha Vakani, Shailesh Lodha, Amit Bhatt and Neha Mehta headline the show's cast.

Taarak Mehta was married twice. Mr Mehta is survived by his daughter, Ishani (from his first wife) and grandchildren, Kushaan and Shailee.

Taarak Mehta has also authored plays like Aa Duniya Panjarapole, Action Replay (half), Albelun America Vanthelun America, Champaklal Tapuni Jugalbandhi and Betaj Batali Baj Popatlal Taraj.

(With IANS inputs)