Padma Vibhushan Babasaheb Purandare died at 5 am on Monday morning at Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital in Pune. He was 99 years old and on life support.
Dr Dhananjay Kelkar, the medical director of the hospital, said, “He passed at about 5.10 am due to ailments associated with old age and pneumonitis. He was on ventilator support since last evening.” His mortal remains were shifted to his residence in Parvati area where loved ones and admirers are paying their last respects. The last rites are to be performed at the Vaikunth Crematorium at 10 am.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his deep condolences and wrote on twitter, “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 will live on due to his extensive works. In this sad hour, my thoughts are with his family and countless admirers. Om Shanti,” he tweeted further.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has announced state funeral for the notable historian and author Babasaheb Purandare, according to a statement by the Chief Minister's Office.
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Balwant Moreshwar Purandare, popularly known as Babasaheb Purandare, was an Indian writer, historian and theatre personality from Maharashtra, India. He was awarded with Padma Vibhushan, India's second-highest civilian award on 25 January 2019. His works are mostly based on the events related to the life of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the 17th-century founder of the Maratha Empire; as a result he is termed as Shiv-Shahir.
Purandare also conceived and directed the theatrical history extravaganza on Shivaji Maharaj’s life titled Jaanta Raja in the mid-1980s.