Noted Hindi writer Kamleshwar dead

Renowned Hindi writer and Padma Bhushan awardee Kamleshwar died in New Delhi on Saturday night of a massive heart attack.

He was 75 and is survived by his wife and a daughter.

Kamleshwar, who was ailing for sometime, died around 8.30 pm following a heart attack, his family sources said.

He had suffered a heart attack earlier and had undergone a bypass surgery, the sources said.

The 20th century writer, who won the Sahitya Akademi award in 2003 for his book Kitney Pakistani, had penned 30 books and several short-story collections.

Born in Mainpuri, Uttar Pradesh, in 1932, he did Masters in Hindi from Allahabad University in 1954.

The noted writer, who started his career as a scriptwriter for Doordarshan, had a meteoric rise that saw him become its additional director general.

The Padma Bhushan in 2005 for Hindi literature was his cronwing glory.

He was also editor of Dainik Jagaran, Dainik Bhaskar and the once popular, but now defunct Hindi magazine Sarika.

The writer-par-excellence had penned 10 TV serials like Darpan, Ek Kahani, Chandrakanta and Yug, apart from producing and directing various TV programmes and documentaries.

Kamleshwar, who also wrote film scripts, had popular films such as Sara Aakash, Aandhi, Mausam, Rajnigandha, Choti Si Baat and Mr Natwarlal to his credit.