Taarak Mehta, noted Gujarati writer, passes away; columns inspired Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah

Noted Giujarati writer, humorist and playwright Taarak Mehta passed away in Ahmedabad on Wednesday morning, 1 March 2017. He was 87.ANI reported that Mehta had been suffering from a prolonged illness in the months leading up to his death.Mehta was best known for his popular column Duniya Ne Undha Chasma, written in Gujarati. The columns would form the basis for SAB TV's long-running show Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah.Mehta was awarded the Padma Shri back in 2015. His weekly column first featured in Chitralekha in March 1971, and he has published over 80 books.