PM Narendra Modi condoles popular Gujarati playwright Taarak Mehta's demise, hails his diverse writings!

Pic Courtesy: ANI/Twitter

New Delhi: Popular Gujarati playwright and writer Taarak Mehta breathed his last this morning, leaving behind a void in the literary and creative field. Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter and expressed his grief about the same.

The PM 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

Mehta was reportedly suffering from a prolonged illness and was 87-year-old. The noted writer was awarded Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award of India, in 2015. His weekly column first featured in Chitralekha in March 1971. He has around 80 books published and written on various pressing issues.

The popular comic series 'Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah' is a television adaptation of Padma Shri Taarak Mehta's column 'Duniya Ne Undha Chasma'.