Jammu, Oct 25: For 85-year-old Pandit Shiv Dutt Nirmohi, Padam Shree, writing is as important as breathing. He strongly believes that a lot still needs to be done to do justice with the literature of the region.
This is the reason the octogenarian has been publishing 3 books every year now against his routine of publishing between one to two books per year from a fixed part (10-20%) of his pension dedicated to his writings.
Having written 41 books thus far on different subjects particularly anthropology, folklore, linguistics, art and archaeology, culture, and history of Jammu region, Prof. Shiv Dutt Upadhyaye (retired), who is popularly known by his pen name Shiv Nirmohi by the acclaimed writers and authors of India, has been awarded by two former Prime Ministers including Chandershekhar, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and the current Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former President Ramnath Kovind for his immense contribution to the literature of the Jammu region.
Born on April 19, 1937 in Painthal village of Reasi District, Prof. Nirmohi began his professional career as a primary school teacher in the year 1956 and retired in 1995 as Professor of Government Degree College (Women) Udhampur.
Nirmohi began his writing career in 1958. Initially he wrote short stories and poetry but gradually started writing dramas as well. In the year 1958 itself, one of his dramas, “Bharat Cheen Da Takrav” (India-China’s confrontation) was staged in a theatre in Reasi. The money that was generated from this drama was donated to National Defence Fund by the writer.
In the year 1972, Prof. Nirmohi was awarded with the State Award for best teacher. Eight years later, he was awarded with the Bal Sahitya Award by then Chief Minister Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah in the year 1980.
A former expert in UPSC for Dogri language, three of Prof. Nirmohi’s books—Duggar Ki Lok Gathaen (Jammu’s folk tales), Duggar Ka Lok Sahitya (Jammu’s folk literature) and Kishtwar-Sanskriti Aur Parampara (Kishtwar’s culture and tradition) have been awarded with best books award by J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages.
Two of his books—Duggar Ki Sanskriti (the traditions of Jammu) and Paddar: Lok Aur Sanskriti (Paddar: people and traditions) have been awarded by Central Hindi Directorate, New Delhi in the years 1990 and 2003. The awards were presented to him by former Prime Ministers Chandrashekhar and Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Prof. Nirmohi has been awarded with several other acclaimed national and international awards by different reputed organisations for his contribution to the promotion of language, heritage, and literature of Jammu region.
He was awarded Padam Shree in the year 2020 and Lifetime Achievement Award by J&K government in the year 2021.
Prof. Nirmohi has published over 100 research papers on the topics of history, culture, literature, and heritage of Duggar (area inhabited by Dogras) in regional and national magazines, newspapers etc.
Radio Kashmir Jammu has broadcasted his more than 60 talks on the topics of regional history, and culture. DD Kashmir and DD Jammu among several other national media organisations have also telecasted his talks on different subjects.
He has also discovered many places of heritage relevance and started a movement for the preservation of natural as well as cultural heritage.
Prof. Shiv Dutt Nirmohi has also discovered the intimate regional relationships on Himalayan culture ranging from Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand to Nepal through his books.
Prof. Shiv Dutt Nirmohi has documented through his 41 books all major subjects including Jammu’s folk tales, Jammu’s folk literature, religious places of Jammu, Jammu’s traditions, Jammu’s languages, Jammu’s freedom fighters, Jammu’s demigods, Jammu’s godheads (Devtas), Jammu’s anecdotes, Jammu’s history, Paddar’s people and traditions, Jammu’s forts, Jammu’s cave shrines, Jammu’s folk songs, Jammu’s temples, Jammu’s famous women personalities, Jammu’s dervishes, Jammu’s saints, Jammu’s towns, Jammu’s rivers, Jammu’s Upadhyayes, Panchairi: people and traditions, Kishtwar: culture and traditions, Jammu’s princely palaces, Jammu’s war memorials, Jammu’s historical graves, Jammu’s lakes, Jammu’s ponds, Jammu’s springs, Jammu’s castes: a study, story of Kashmir and several other subjects.
To get a detailed account of Jammu’s history, art, culture, heritage, tradition and languages, Prof. Nirmohi’s works are a perfect material to study by the young literature lovers. This is the reason he is also known as a “living encyclopaedia of Jammu” by the art and culture enthusiasts.
