Nek Chand, creator of the iconic Rock Garden who has amazed people for decades with his unique sculptures made from waste, died on Friday at PGIMER here after a prolonged illness.
Suffering from diabetes, hypertension and cancer, Nek Chand had been hospitalised for the past few days.
The Padma Shri awardee, whose 90th birthday was celebrated by the UT Administration and the city residents on December 15 last, had millions of fans across the globe. The UT Administration declared a holiday in its offices for a day as a mark of respect to the world-acclaimed architectural genius.
Born at Shakargarh, now in Pakistan in Gurdaspur district, Nek Chand and his family after partition settled in Punjab. He was a road inspector in a construction project in Chandigarh in the 1950s and 60s. Nek Chand developed the art of creating figures from waste material discarded by people and secretly set up his laboratory in a forested area in north Chandigarh.
located in Sector 1 here, Rock Garden – an epitome of imagination and originality spreads over an area of over 40 acres and is well known around the globe.
Nek Chand was conferred the Padma Shri award in 1984 but the Nek Chand Foundation believes his contribution to Indian art deserved a greater award. Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled his death. "Nek Chand-ji will always be remembered for his artistic genius and fabulous creation that is cherished by many. May his soul rest in peace," Modi tweeted.
Politicians, artists and people from other fields also condoled Nek Chand's death.
A spokesperson of the UT Administration said that Nek Chand’s cremation will take place on Saturday evening. The mortal remains of Nek Chand will be kept at the Rock Garden from 10 am to 4 pm on Saturday for the public to pay homage to the departed soul.
The public can also pay their last respect to late Padma Shri Nek Chand during the funeral procession that will be carried out from Rock Garden at 4 pm, passing through road between Sector 8, 9, 17, 18, 21, 22, 23 and from Sector 23/24 light point to Sector 25 cremation ground here, he added.