Poet Kashmiri Lal Zakir passes away

Chandigarh, Aug 31 (PTI) Noted poet, novelist and shortstory writer Kashmiri Lal Zakir passed away this evening, astate government release said. He was 97. Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar condoled thedeath of Zakir who was also the Chairman of Haryana UrduAcademy. Khattar said, "With the death of Dr K L Zakir, a PadmaShri awardee, Urdu and Hindi literature have lost a doyen. "He had been conferred with the honour of Fakhr-e-Haryanaby the state government. His contribution to the world ofliterature will be remembered for long. My heartfeltcondolences to the members of the bereaved family. May hissoul rest in peace." Zakir’s career, which started with his first ghazalpublished in Adabi Duniya in the 1940s a publication fromLahore, encompasses novels, dramas, short stories andtravelogues. He served the Punjab Education Department duringBritish rule. PTI SUN RCB IKARCB