Padma Sachdev, famed Dogri poet, passes away

Jammu, August 4

Noted author and Padma Shri awardee Padma Sachdev, the first modern woman poet of Dogri language, passed away at a Mumbai hospital on Wednesday, an official of the J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages said here.

Sachdev (81), who was born in Purmandal area of Jammu in 1940 in the house of Sanskrit Scholar Prof Jai Dev Badu, was hospitalised after she developed some complications on Tuesday evening.

B-town journey

• Padma wrote song Mera chhota sa ghar baar for the 1973 Hindi film Prem Parbat
• She penned two songs for 1978 flick Aankhin Dekhi, including Sona re, tujhe kaise milun

She authored many books in Dogri and Hindi, and her poetry collections, including Meri kavita mere geet, won her the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1971. She received the Padma Shri in 2001 and was awarded the Kabir Samman for poetry for 2007-08 by the Madhya Pradesh government.

She worked with All India Radio, Jammu and Mumbai and shifted base to New Delhi and Mumbai after marrying singer Surinder Singh.

Arvinder Singh Aman, Additional Secretary, J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, said Sachdev will also be remembered for her key role in the struggle for getting Dogri added to the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.

Meanwhile, Lieutenant Governor expressed grief. “Saddened to learn about the passing away of the celebrated writer, poetess and novelist. She made rich contributions to Dogri and Hindi Literature. My thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved family members, well-wishers,” he tweeted. — PTI