Haryana: Padma Shri awardee poet Kashmiri Lal Zakir passes away

Chandigarh, Sep 1: Noted poet, novelist and short story writer Kashmiri Lal Zakir passed away on Wednesday, a state government release said. He was 97.

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar condoled the death of Zakir who was also the Chairman of Haryana Urdu Academy. Khattar said, "With the death of Dr K L Zakir, a Padma Shri awardee, Urdu and Hindi literature have lost a doyen.

"He had been conferred with the honour of Fakhr-e-Haryana by the state government. His contribution to the world of literature will be remembered for long. My heartfelt condolences to the members of the bereaved family.

May his soul rest in peace." Zakir's career, which started with his first ghazal published in Adabi Duniya in the 1940s a publication from Lahore, encompasses novels, dramas, short stories and travelogues.

He served the Punjab Education Department during British rule.

PTI