Kashmiri poet, writer, linguist, and critic, Shafi Shauq, received the prestigious Padma Shri award ahead of India’s 77th Republic Day. Shauq expressed gratitude for the recognition, emphasizing its significance for Kashmiri literature and culture. The Padma Shri is a notable civilian award in India, acknowledging exceptional contributions across various fields.
Shafi Shauq, born in 1950 in Jammu and Kashmir, is a renowned figure in Kashmiri studies with a distinguished academic background. Throughout his career at the University of Kashmir, spanning over three decades, he authored numerous influential works in Kashmiri, Urdu, Hindi, and English. Shauq’s contributions, such as the ‘Keeshur Lugaat’ and ‘Kaeshir Zaban ti Adibuk Tawaariekh,’ are highly regarded in academic circles.
Having retired as the Dean Faculty of Arts in 2010 after serving at the University of Kashmir for thirty-three years, Shafi Shauq’s dedication to literature and language remains exemplary. Despite his academic focus on English literature, Shauq ultimately embraced Kashmiri as his primary mode of expression, showcasing his multilingual proficiency and literary prowess.
