Well-known English litterateur Mulk Raj Anand died in Pune on Tuesday morning, family sources said. He was 99. He is survived by his wife and a daughter.
Anand had been residing at Lonawala-Khandala in Pune district. He was admitted to Jehangir Hospital on September 17. He died at around 8.30 am, hospital sources said.
Born, in Peshawar in 1905, Anand was a leading light of the Indian English literature scene with Untouchable and Coolie being his more popular novels.
He had been conferred with many awards, including the Padma Bhushan for his contribution to English literature. He has bequeathed his property to the Sarvodaya Trust, which he had set up.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Maharashtra Chief Minister Sushilkumar Shinde called up and spoke to Anand's family members, said litterateur's caretaker Ram Gohar who was present when the writer breathed his last.
