Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, Nov.15: Padma Vibhushan Babasaheb Purandare, a noted historian and writer, passed away on Monday morning at around 5 a.m. He was 99 years old.
After being admitted a few days ago for age-related problems, he was placed on ventilator support at a private hospital in Pune.
Uddhav Thackeray, the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, has arranged a state funeral for Babasaheb.
Many people, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, were saddened by his death.
The PM took to Twitter and said, “I am pained beyond words. The demise of Shivshahir Babasaheb Purandare leaves a major void in the world of history and culture. It is thanks to him that the coming generations will get further connected to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. His other works will also be remembered.”
“Shivshahir Babasaheb Purandare was witty, wise and had rich knowledge of Indian history. I had the honour of interacting with him very closely over the years. A few months back, had addressed his centenary year programme. Shivshahir Babasaheb Purandare will live on due to his extensive works. In this sad hour, my thoughts are with his family and countless admirers. Om Shanti,” he added.
Babasaheb was born Balwant Moreshwar Purandare and dedicated his life to history and research. He produced many works on Chhatrapati Shivaji.
In 2019, he received the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian award, and in 2015, he received the Maharashtra Bhushan award.
He wrote and directed the play “Jaanta Raja,” which has been seen by over 200 people and has been translated and acted in five languages.