Indian columnist, humorist, writer & playwright, Taarak Mehta dies at the age of 87

New Delhi: Taarak Mehta, an Indian columnist, humorist, writer and playwright, died at the age of 87 in Ahmedabad. He was best known for the column Duniya Ne Undha Chasma in the Gujarati language. He had translated and adapted several comedies into Gujarati, and had been well-known figure in the Gujarati theatre. Taarak Mehta had two wifes-Indu and Ila. His first wife, Ila who later married Manohar Doshi, (died 2006). He is survived by his daughter from his first marriage, Ishani, and second wife. Ishani stays in US and has two children, Kushaan and Shailee. In SAB TV in 2008, a popular entertainment channel started a show Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah that is based on his column and soon it became the flagship show of the channel. In 2015, he was awarded Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award of India.