Dogri writer Lalit Magotra, who fought for constitutional recognition for language, among Padma winners

His collection of essays, ‘Cheten Di Galliyan’, won him the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award in 2011.

Other works of his, like ‘Hello Maya’ and ‘Janeen’, a collection of Dogri short stories, were also awarded by the J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages in 2000 and 2011.

As a celebrated writer, he was Convenor of the Dogri Advisory Board, Dahitya Akademi, New Delhi, for two terms, apart from being president of the Dogri Sanstha, Jammu, for a long time.

Having completed MSc in Physics from Kashmir University, he did his PhD in Physics from Jammu University in 1974.

He served as a professor and Head of the Department of Physics and Computer Sciences, as well as Dean Faculty of Sciences, at Jammu University.