The Padma Shri recipient from Kashmir: Mohammad Shafi Shauq, academic, author and a champion of local language
After his retirement from the University of Kashmir, Professor Mohammad Shafi Shauq focused his energies on developing a comprehensive Kashmiri dictionary
Distinguished Kashmiri academic, author, poet and linguist, Professor Mohammad Shafi Shauq, was on Sunday announced as a Padma Shri awardee for his contribution to education and literature.
Originally from South Kashmir’s Shopian, Shauq taught at the University of Kashmir in Srinagar till his retirement in 2010.
Now 75 years old, Shauq was born in the remote Kapren village of Shopian in 1950. He completed his Bachelor’s degree in Science from Anantnag Degree College. But his love for Art and Literature took him in a different academic direction, and he completed his Master’s in English Literature from Kashmir University, before going to get a doctorate in the subject. However, he is most known for his major contribution to his mother tongue, Kashmiri.
Professor Shauq was first appointed at the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages (JKAACL) as a junior fellow, where he worked on a project to develop a Kashmiri dictionary.
He was then appointed at the University of Kashmir, where he rose to become the Head of the Department of Kashmiri from 1997 to 2009. In 2009, he was appointed as the Dean of the Faculty of Arts. He retired a year later.
Shauq also emerged as a prominent author, having an authoritative hold on both prose and poetry. He penned many poetry collections and stories in English, Urdu and Kashmiri. Having a hold on multiple languages, he has penned, edited and translated around 100 books.
After his retirement, Professor Shauq focused his energies on developing a comprehensive Kashmiri Lughat, or dictionary. The 1,400-page book is seen as a reference book for the Kashmiri language.
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Shauq has been conferred with several awards in the past. In 2006, he was awarded the Sahitya Academy Award for creative writing, followed by the Sahitya Academy Award for Translation a year later.
Bashaarat Masood is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express. He has been covering Jammu and Kashmir, especially the conflict-ridden Kashmir valley, for two decades. Bashaarat joined The Indian Express after completing his Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University in Kashmir. He has been writing on politics, conflict and development. Bashaarat was awarded with the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards in 2012 for his stories on the Pathribal fake encounter.
Expertise and Experience
Two Decades of Frontline Reporting: Bashaarat has spent 20 years documenting the evolution of Kashmir, from high-intensity conflict and political shifts to socio-economic development.
Award-Winning Investigative Journalism: He is a recipient of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award (2012). This honor was bestowed for his reporting on the Pathribal fake encounter, a series of stories that highlighted his ability to handle sensitive human rights and security issues with investigative rigor.
Specialized Beats: His authoritative coverage spans:
Political Transitions: Tracking the shift from statehood to Union Territory, electoral dynamics, and the pulse of local governance.
Security & Conflict: Providing nuanced reporting on counter-insurgency, civil liberties, and the impact of the conflict on the civilian population.
Development: Documenting the infrastructure, healthcare, and educational landscape within the Valley.
Academic Background: He holds a Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University of Kashmir, providing him with a localized academic and professional foundation that is rare in regional reporting. ... Read More
