DW BUREAU / Chandigarh

The doyen of the Punjabi and Hindi literary world Padma Shri Dr. Rattan Singh Jaggi today left for his heavenly abode. He was 98 years old. He had not been keeping well for some time. He has left behind a rich legacy of his precious creations for the literary firmament which would always be a source of inspiration for the future generations. He is survived by his wife Dr. Gursharan Kaur Jaggi (Retd. Principal, Government College for Women, Patiala), and a Son Malwinder Singh Jaggi (Retd. I.A.S.).

Dr. Rattan Singh Jaggi was a prolific author who authored more than 150 books. Besides being counted amongst the distinguished scholars in Punjabi and Hindi literary circles, he was an authority on the subjects of 'Gurmat' and 'Bhakti Movement'. It was due to his immensely valuable contribution to the literature and academic spheres that he was honoured with the Padma Shri & Sahitya Akademi Award by the Government of India apart from Punjabi Sahit Shiromani Puraskar by the Government of Punjab. His long list of felicitations also comprises the bestowal of honours by the Governments of Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh & Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC). The Punjabi University, Patiala and Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar conferred D. Litt degrees on Dr. Jaggi who was also awarded Gyan Rattan Puraskar by Panjab University Chandigarh. He also got the Language Department's first award 8 times besides numerous honours bestowed by various academies, educational, literary, religious institutions and Government & Non-Government organizations.

(editor@dailyworld.in)