New Delhi: Sanskrit scholar, writer and grammarian Satya Vrat Shastri passed away in New Delhi yesterday. He was 91.

He has written three ‘Mahakavyas’, three ‘Khandakavyas’, one ‘Prabandhakavya’ and one ‘Patrakavya’ and five works in critical writing in Sanskrit.

He was awarded with the Jnanpith in the year 2006, along with Ravindra Kelekar for his contributions to Sanskrit literature. He was the first writer from Sanskrit literature to receive this award.

He was serving as an honorary professor at the Special Centre for Sanskrit Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. His great contributions to Sanskrit literature include  ‘Ramakirtimahakavyam’, ‘Brahattaram Bharatam’, ‘Sribodhisattvacharitam’, ‘Vaidika Vyakarana’, ‘Sarmanyadesah Sutram Vibhati’, and ‘Discovery of Sanskrit Treasures’.

He has received Sahitya Academy award in the year 1968. He is a highly decorated personality and scholar in Sanskrit literature. In 2010, he received the Padma Bhushan Award.

Shastri was born on September 29, 1930. He received his early education under his father, Shri Charu Deva Shastri. Later he moved to Varanasi for further studies in Sanskrit. He received his B.A. Honours and M.A. in Sanskrit from the Punjab University. He did Ph.D from Banaras Hindu University. Then he joined Delhi University and worked there for 40 years.

He was the Vice-Chancellor of Shri Jagannath Sanskrit University, Puri and was a Visiting Professor of many Universities worldwide. Germany, Thailand, Canada and Bangkok were among those leading names. He has written the Thai version of Ramayana and has done many such translations of Sanskrit Indian books.