Padma Shri recipient Punjabi poet Surjit Patar passed away on Saturday morning at his residence near the Barewal Colony in Ludhiana. He was 79.
Patar died in his sleep, his family members said.
His wife, Bhupinder Kaur, tried to wake him up around 6:30 am, but he did not respond. He was declared dead by a doctor, they said.
Patar is survived by his wife and two sons, one of whom lives in Australia.
Gurbhajan Gill, a close associate of Patar, said cremation is likely to be performed on Monday after Patar's son arrives from Australia.
Many political leaders, actors and singers, including Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, expressed grief over the demise of Patar and said it is a big loss for the Punjabi literary community.
Patar's poetic works include 'Hawa Vich Likhe Harf', 'Hanere Vich Sulagdi Varanmala', 'Patjhar Di Pazeb', 'Lafzaan Di Dargah' and 'Surzameen'.
In 2012, he received the Padma Shri in literature and education. Patar was the president of the Punjab Arts Council and the Punjabi Sahit Akademi.
The poet and writer has received the Sahitya Akademi Award, Panchnad Puruskar, Saraswati Samman, and the Kusumagraj Literary Award.
Patar has also translated the three tragedies of Federico Garcia Lorca, Girish Karnad's play Nagmandala, and poems of Bertolt Brecht and Pablo Neruda into Punjabi.
In a post on X, Chief Minister Mann said he was deeply saddened by Patar's passing.
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