Ram Nath Shastri

Padma Shri Ram Nath Shastri, known as the "Father of Dogri" for his pivotal role in the revival and resurgence of the Dogri language, was born on 15 April 1914.

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 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.

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
 * 1990—Padma Shri Award, India's fourth highest civilian honour for Literature & Education
 * 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.