The eminent Hindi writer Vidya Sagar Nautiyal died on Sunday following prolonged illness, family sources said. He was 79. Srilal Shukla Memorial IFFCO Sahitya Award was recently given to Vidya Sagar Nautiyal in New Delhi by Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar. The function was attended by eminent critic of Hindi literature Nambar Singh , IFFCO Managing Director U S Awasthi , among others.
Nautiyal was the first recipient of the award which was instituted in the memory of Shri Lal Shukla, the litterateur of Rag Darbari fame.
Nautiyal died at a Banglore hospital early this morning, they said.
His body will be cremated at Haridwar on Monday after being brought here, his native place, they said.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister B C Khanduri has expressed grief over the demise of Nautiyal.