Taarak Mehta

Taarak Mehta Biography

Taarak Mehta is a prolific writer associated with Gujarati literature. He is quite popular as a columnist, humorist, writer and playwright. The cult classic comedy sitcom, Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah aired on SAB TV since 2008 is based on his popular column in the Gujarati newspaper, Divya Bhaskar with the same name. His column Duniya Na Undha Chasma, made his an established columnist in Gujarati language. His humorous columns are quite popular. In 2015, he was honoured with Padma Shri. In the popular show, Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, his character ‘Taarak Mehta’ was portrayed by the noted comedy actor, Shailesh Lodha. Quite coincident, Lodha is a writer too, specialized in satire works, preferably poems.

He was born in Ahmedabad, Gujarat in December 1929. He was born into a Jain family. He has married twice. He was first married to Ila Doshi and had one daughter in this wedlock. The daughter is currently settled in US with two kids. After separation he married Indu and Ila married Manohar Doshi. Yet they shared a good friendship for 30 years till Ila committed suicide in 2006 jumping from the building. After Doshi’s death Ila slipped into depression and the Mehta couple insisted Ila to move to Ahmedabad. The couple even helped her to find a home in the apartment in Ambawadi where they lived. They three together attended social functions and even dined together. Ila was suffering from depression during her last days. She jumped from the same building where she and Mehta couple were staying. He has no children from the second marriage.

As a columnist, his first column got published in the year 1971 in Chitralekha. He writes satire columns on contemporary issues which made him a popular writer. Apart from 80 published books, he has several columns and translation works to his credit. Action Reply ½, Albelun America Vanthelun America, Aa Duniya Panjarapole, Champaklal Tapuni Jugalbandhi and Betaj Batali Baj Popatlal Taraj are a few more popular works.

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Updated: February 20, 2016