The pioneer of the soap opera in India, Manohar Shyam Joshning passed away early morning today in Delhi.

Manohar Shyam Joshi

The author and litterateur who had penned pathbreaking shows like Buniyaad, Hum Log and Mungeri Lal ke Haseen Sapne among others, had also been a dubbing artiste of repute. He dubbed for films like Appu Raja and Hey Ram.

In an interview given to a news channel, Kiran Joneja, who played Veeravali in Buniyaad mourned the loss of the man who created the charcater that made her a household name. "A jewel has left us. It's nature's cycle that he who has come into the world, must leave it too, but I can't help but feel sad about it," said Joneja, who's also the wife of Buniyaad producer, Ramesh Sippy.

Sippy too has immense respect for Joshi. In a press conference not so long ago to relaunch Buniyaad on Sahara One, the producer had highlighted the genius of the writer. He said that Joshi deserved all the praise for penning such a show as Buniyaad and it's his passion that made the show such a success.

Prabhat Ranjan who is currently researching the works of Joshi had only praise for the man. "He has made his mark on every genre -- be it novels or dubbing for films. He set standards for content on television and his works are a milestone that many strive to achieve," he pointed out.

Manohar Shyam Joshi is also known for his novels which have dealt with varied topics ranging from Kumaoni Traditions (Kasap) to political satire like Netaji Kahin . He was one of the first post modernist authors in modern Hindi literature, as evidenced in his novel Kuru kuru Swaahaa and his novella Hariya Hercules ki Hairaani .
He has had a long stint as a journalist , both in the broadcast and the print media. He served as the editor of Saptahik Hindustan and Weekend Review . His journalistic writings have covered a wide range of topics from popular science to political intrigues .

JOSHI'S WORKS AT A GLANCE