Renowned English poet and former IPS officer Keki N Daruwalla passed away at 87 after battling illness and pneumonia in a Delhi hospital. Survived by two daughters, sons-in-law, and grandchildren, he will be laid to rest at Parsi Aramgah near Khan Market. Daruwalla, a police and R&AW veteran, was widely acclaimed for his literary works, including the award-winning “Under Orion” and “Apparition in April”.
His Sahitya Akademi Award was returned in 2015 to protest against violence on authors. Despite his successful career in law enforcement, Daruwalla’s poetic genius brought him national and international acclaim. Born in Lahore in 1937, he was a graduate of Government College, Ludhiana, and served as special assistant on international affairs to PM Charan Singh. The funeral is scheduled for 4.30 pm today, marking the end of an era in Indian literature.