New Delhi, June 8 (IANS) Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit Monday mourned the death of veteran theatre personality Habib Tanvir, who passed away in Bhopal after prolonged illness.
Dikshit described Tanvir as one of the most popular Hindi playwrights.

Tanvir died at about 6.30 a.m. Monday at the National Hospital at Bhopal, where he had been admitted about 20 days ago after developing respiratory problems. He was 85, family sources said.

Dikshit, who is in Nanital in Uttarakhand, spoke to the daughter of Tanvir to convey her personal condolences and grief.

The chief minister said that the country has lost a “legend” with the demise of Tanvir.

Tanvir was a popular Hindi playwright, theatre director, actor and poet and wrote plays like “Agra Bazar” (1954) and “Charandas Chor” (1975). In 1959, he founded a theatre company called the Naya Theatre.

He was a recipient of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1969, Padma Shri in 1983, Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship in 1996, and the Padma Bhushan in 2002.

Tanvir was also nominated as a member of the Rajya Sabha (1972-1978). His play “Charandas Chor” got him the Fringe Firsts Award at the Edinburgh International Drama Festival in 1982.