Former Madhya Pradesh minister Pawan Diwan dies

Religious leader-poet and former Madhya Pradesh minister Pawan Diwan died today at the age of 71.
Chhattisgarh Governor Balramji Das Tandon and Chief Minister Raman Singh condoled his death here.
Diwan passed away at Gurgaon-based Medanta Hospital this morning where he was being treated for brain hemorrhage.
"Saint Diwan had dedicated his life to serve people. He was a sensitive poet and a humanitarian personality. He walked the path of spirituality and guided others towards the light. His contribution to Chhattisgarh is unforgettable," Tandon said.
Singh said Diwan's "sudden death has created a vacuum in the spiritual and cultural fields" and he had contributed a lot to the creation of Chhattisgarh state.

Through his poems in Hindi and Chhattisgarhi he expressed his emotions for the humanity at large and educated the masses about the need for separate Chhattisgarh state, Singh said, adding that Diwan spread "Bharatiya" culture among the masses through his preachings on Ramayan and Bhagawat.

The Chhattisgarh Assembly also paid a tribute to Diwan.
Chief Minister Singh, Deputy Speaker Badrinath Diwan, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ajay Chandrakar, Leader of Opposition T S Singhdeo, state Congress chief Bhupesh Baghel and others paid tributes to Diwan.
His body was brought here by a special chartered flight from New Delhi and the final rites will be performed tomorrow at Rajim town with full state honours, official sources said.

Diwan was born on January 1, 1945 at village Kirwai in (the then) Rajim district. He was well-versed in Sanskrit, Hindi and English, and had been a minister in the undivided Madhya Pradesh from 1977 to 1989, apart from being an MP two times.