New Delhi: Veteran poet and lyricist Gopaldas Saxena 'Neeraj’ passed away in Delhi AIIMS on Thursday night struggling with prolonged illness. He was 93 years old. ‘Neeraj’ was a prominent poet and author in Hindi literature and a famous poet of Hindi Kavi Sammelan. His style was easy to understand and considered to be high-quality Hindi literature.

He has contributed many songs to the Hindi film industry and earned reputation as a prominent song-writer. His superhit works include songs like Phoolon Ke Rang Se, Rangeela Re, Dil Aaj Shayar hai Gum Aaj Nagma Hai, Aaj Madhosh Hua Jaaye re, Swapn Jhare Phool Se, Likhe Jo Khat Tujhe, Ae Bhai Zara Dekh Ke Chalo, Khilte Hain Gul Yahan, Jeevan Ki Bagiya Mehkegi and many more.

 A still from the song Rangeela Re, written by late lyricist Gopaldas Neeraj

He has written songs for Bollywood movies like Nai Umar Nai Fasal, Mera Naam Joker, Gambler and Prem Pujari among others.

Neeraj won three Filmfare awards in the best song category.

He was conferred the prestigious Padma Shri award in 1991 and was awarded Padma Bhushan in 2007.

Hailing from Uttar Pradesh the renowned poet was born on January 4, 1925. He was born in the village of Purvali near Mahewa in UP.

Gopaldas Saxena adopted the pen name ‘Neeraj’ when he started writing poems.

Besides writing, Neeraj earned his living teaching in a college.