Ram Nath Shastri

Padma Shri Ram Nath Shastri (15 April 1914 - 8 March 2009) was known as the "Father of Dogri" for his pivotal role in the revival and resurgence of the Dogri language.

In 2001, he was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Fellowship, awarded by the Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters, the highest literary 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 five years and later became a college lecturer.

In 1970, he retired as a professor in the J&K State Education Department. In 1970, he retired as a professor in the J&K State Education Department. From 1970 to 1975, he was a Senior Fellow in Dogri at the University of Jammu.

Important works Naman Gran (1956) — Dogri play, co-authored with Dinu Bhai Pant and Ram Kumar Abrol Bhartrihari's Niti Shataka and Vairagya Shataka 2001 — Sahitya Akademi Fellowship, the highest literary honour conferred by the Sahitya Akademi 1994 — Honorary D.Litt., University of Jammu 1989 — Sahitya Akademi Translation Prize for the Dogri translation of Shudraka's Sanskrit drama Mricchakatika as Mitti Di Gaddi. Shastri was the inaugural recipient of the Sahitya Akademi Translation Prize for Dogri. 1989 — Saraf Award

Legacy In 2014, on the occasion of Shastri's birth centenary, his family in collaboration with the Dogri Sanstha instituted the annual Prof. Ram Nath Shastri Memorial Award (also known as the Ram Nath Shastri Smriti Puruskar) to encourage emerging writers in Dogri. The award is conferred each year on a Dogri writer for a first book published within the preceding five years, and consists of a cash prize of ₹21,000 along with a shawl and a memento. The award ceremony is traditionally held on or around 15 April, Shastri's birthday. Ashok Ambar (for Nama Savera, 2022), Promila Manhas (for Phullen Ladoi Raat Rani, 2023), Pawan Verma (for Jo Katteya So Maahlein, 2024), Earlier recipients have included Ashok Angurana, Raz Manawari, Ashok Dutta, Susheel Begana, Rajeshwar Singh "Raju", and Shailender Singh.