Noted litterateur Manohar Shyam Joshi passes away

New Delhi, Mar 30 (UNI) Senior Hindi litterateur and journalist Manohar Shyam Joshi, who became a household name with his Indian television's first soap opera ''Hum Log'' in 1980s, died here this morning.

Seventy three-year-old Joshi, was admitted to the National Heart Institute in south Delhi on March 25 with acute respiratory problems. He breathed his last at 0640 hrs today, family sources said. He is survived by wife and three sons.

His demise has shocked Hindi literary and film fraternity as the versatile writer, besides penning long-running and immensely popular serials like 'Hum Log', 'Buniyad', 'Mungeri Lal Ke Hasin Sapney','Kakaji Kahin', 'Hamrahi', 'Zameen Aasman' and 'Gatha', had also been script writer for Hindi movies like 'Hey Ram', 'Papa Kahte Hain', 'Apu Raja' and 'Bhrashtachar'.

An author of several novels which dealt with a range of subjects, from everyday dilemmas faced by the common man to political satire, Joshi was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award this year for his novel 'Kasap', which reflects a sensitive portrayal of the Kumaoni traditions of his home-state Uttaranchal. He was born on August 9, 1933 in Almora district of Uttar Pradesh (now in Uttaranchal).

His other literary works include 'Kuru Kuru Swaahaa', 'Hariya Hercules Ki Hairaani', 'Netaji Kahin', 'Baaton-Baaton Mein', 'Mandir Ghaat ki Pauriyaan', 'Kaise Kissago', 'Ek Durlabh Vyaktitva', 'Ta Ta Professor Kyaap' and 'Hamzaad'.

Besides being awarded the 'Sahityakar Samman' by the Hindi Akadmi, he also received various awards including those given by the Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh governments.

He had also been the editor of the Morning Echo weekly brought out by the Hindustan Times in the late seventies and also edited Hindi weekly 'Saptahik Hindustan' as also 'Weekend Review'.

The cremation took place at Nigambodh Ghat here at 1200 hrs, family sources said.

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