He was 72 and is survived by his wife. There would be no cremation as Bawra had expressed the desire to donate his body which would be taken to government J J Hospital here.

In his 42 years of film career, he penned popular songs like ‘Yaari hai imaan mera yaar meri zindagi’, ‘Sanam teri Kasam’, ‘Agar tum na hote’, ‘Aati rahengi baharein’ and ‘Jeevan ke har mod par mil jayenge humsafar’ etc. He received the Filmfare award for ‘Yaari hai imaan mera’ song. Born in present Pakistan, the lyricist had moved to India after partition.