Habib Tanvir passes away : IPTA Raigarh pays tribute

Veteran director, playwright and actor, Habib Tanvir

Veteran director, playwright and actor, Habib Tanvir, passed away at a hospital in Bhopal, following respiratory problems. He was 85 and is survived by his daughter, Nageen. IPTA Raigarh mourns his sudden demise.

He was admitted to the National Hospital three weeks ago after he complained of breathing problems. He was put on a ventilator.

Born on September 1, 1923 at Raipur, Tanvir began his career as a journalist and went on to become a highly renowned playwright. Tanvir is the writer of plays such as, Agra Bazar (1954) and Charandas Chor (1975). e founded in 1959, the Naya Theatre, theatre company in Bhopal. He was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1969, Padma Shri in 1983, Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship in 1996, and the Padma Bhushan in 2002. Apart from that he has also been nominated as a member of the Upper House of Parliament (1972-1978). His play 'Charandas Chor' got him the Fringe Firsts Award at Edinburgh International Drama Festival in 1982.

IPTA Raigarh had earlier conducted a theatre festival 'Prasang Habib' in January 2002. Habib Tanvir brought Chhattisgarh and its theatrical rituals to the limelight, and this loss would certainly be a big loss to theatre and his native state.