Ram Nath Shastri
Padma Shri Ram Nath Shastri, known as the "Father
of Dogri" for his pivotal role in the revival and Ram Nath Shastri
resurgence of the Dogri language, was born on 15 Born 15 April 1914
April 1914. Jammu, India
Died 8 March 2009 (aged 94)
In 2001, he was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Jammu, India
Fellowship, awarded by the Sahitya Akademi, India's Occupation Dogri writer · playwright · poet
National Academy of Letters, the highest literary Spouse Sushila Khajuria
honour conferred by the Government of India.
Early life and career
Prof. Shastri's father, Vaid Gauri Shankar, was an Ayurvedic doctor and originally belonged to a small
village Marhi in Reasi tehsil of Udhampur district (now Reasi district). For better prospects, he moved to
Jammu. Initially, he wanted Ram Nath to adopt the same profession and instructed him to learn Sanskrit.
All ancient scriptures being in Sanskrit, it would be immensely helpful as an Ayurvedic doctor. He joined
Ranbir Sanskrit Pathshala at the Ranbir High School. After which, he did post graduation in Sanskrit and
Prabhakar in Hindi. He started his career as a high school Sanskrit teacher for 5 years and later he became
a college lecturer.
In 1944, on the day of Basant Panchami, along with a few friends, he established the Dogri Sanstha.
Every upcoming writer in the Dogri language would first enroll himself in the Sanstha. He also edited the
Dogri literary periodical Nami Chetna of the Sanstha. In 1970, on the occasion of the Silver Jubilee
Celebration of Dogri Sanstha, he edited the RAJAT JAYANTI GRANTH in which research oriented
articles on Dogra life, art, culture, literature and history were put together.
In 1970, he retired as a professor in the J&K State Education Department. From 1970 to 1975 he has been
a Senior Fellow of Dogri in the University of Jammu.
From 1977 to 1985, as Chief Editor in J&K Cultural Academy he edited the 'Dogri – Dogri Dictionary′.
He died on 8 March 2009, in Jemmu.[1]
Books
Dharti Da Rin
Badnami Di Chhan (1976)
Talkhiyan
Kalamkaar Charan Singh
Naman Gran- Dogri Play (with co-authors Dinu Bhai Pant and Ram Kumar Abrol)
Bawa Jitto
Jhakdian Kiran
Duggar De Lok Nayak
Translations
Six Upanishads
Bhartrharis's NEETI SHATAK
Shudraka's Mricchakatikam (1989)
Four short plays of BHASA
Rabindranath Tagore's Gitanjali, Balidan, Malini and Dakghar
Mahatama Gandhi's autobiography –My experiments with Truth
Vinoda Bhave's Gita Pravachan
C.Rajagopalachari's Ramayana
Dharamveer Bharati's Andha Yug
Gorki's Lower Depths
Honors and awards
2001—59th Sahitya Akademi Fellowship-highest literary honour conferred by the
Government of India for his contribution to Dogri Language[2]
1990—Padma Shri Award, India's fourth highest civilian honour for Literature & Education[3]
1994—D.Litt. (Honoris Causa) from University of Jammu
1977—Sahitya Akademi Award for his short story collection – Badnami Di Chaan
1991—State Akademi Award for the collection of Dogri gazals – TALKHIYAN
1989—Sahitya Akademi Translation Prize in 1989 for the Dogri Translation of the Sanskrit
Drama, Mrichakatika as Mitti Di Gaddi.
1981—State Academy Award for his Dogri prose work – Duggar De Lok Nayak.
References
1. "Soz condoles Dogri writer's demise" (http://www.newstrackindia.com/newsdetails/72040).
Newstrack. 9 March 2009.
2. "Fellows & Honorary Fellows" (https://web.archive.org/web/20170701054145/http://sahitya-a
kademi.gov.in/sahitya-akademi/fellows/fellows_and_honorary_fellows.jsp). Sahitya Akademi.
Archived from the original (http://sahitya-akademi.gov.in/sahitya-akademi/fellows/fellows_an
d_honorary_fellows.jsp) on 1 July 2017. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
3. "Padma Awards Directory (1954–2009)" (https://web.archive.org/web/20130510095705/htt
p://www.mha.nic.in/pdfs/LST-PDAWD.pdf) (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs. Archived from
the original (http://www.mha.nic.in/pdfs/LST-PDAWD.pdf) (PDF) on 10 May 2013.
External links
seminar on life of Prof. Ram Nath Shastri commences, December 9, 2010 (https://archive.to
day/20130412232533/http://www.statetimes.in/news/three-day-seminar-on-life-of-prof-ram-n
ath-shastri-commences/Three-day)
Jammu Writers & Authors (https://web.archive.org/web/20080514111328/http://www.jammuti
mes.com/authors-writers.htm)
Two decades of Dogri literature --- Shivanath (https://books.google.com/books?id=rXruaMZ
6FKAC&q=two+decades+of+dogri+literature)
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