Honouring a life devoted to the Kashmiri language, letters and identity
When President Droupadi Murmu conferred the Padma Shri on Professor Shafi Shauq at Rashtrapati Bhavan, the honour travelled far beyond the gilded hall of the Civil Investiture Ceremony. It reached the classrooms of Kashmir University, where he taught for decades, the modest village of Kaprin in Shopian, where he was born in 1950, and the homes of countless readers who discovered their language and literature anew through his work. This recognition is not just a personal milestone; it is an affirmation of Kashmiri language and culture at the national stage. Prof Shauq’s journey traces the arc of modern Kashmiri literary consciousness. Trained in English literature; BSc, MA, MPhil and PhD from the University of Kashmir, he chose to place his formidable scholarship in the service of his mother tongue. Over 33 years at the university, rising to Head of Department and Dean, he shaped generations of students, many of whom now carry forward the work of research, criticism and creative writing in Kashmiri and allied languages. What sets Prof Shauq apart is the sheer breadth of his contribution. Author, editor, lexicographer, translator and scriptwriter, he has worked tirelessly to build the intellectual infrastructure without which a language struggles to survive in the modern world. His Kaeshur Lughat, a monolingual Kashmiri dictionary, and Kaeshur Grammar are foundational tools, while works such as Kaeshri Adabuk Tawaariekh and Zabaan ti Adab document and interpret the literary and linguistic tradition for new readers. Equally significant is his work as a bridge-builder. Through his translations in the series The Best of Kashmiri Literature and his engagement with national projects such as Medieval Indian Literature and the Encyclopedia of Indian Literature, Prof Shauq has brought Kashmiri writing to wider audiences in English and Hindi. His scripts for television and films have further extended the reach of Kashmiri narratives, taking them into popular culture. This Padma honour comes after a long list of awards, including the Sahitya Akademi Awards for both poetry and translation and the Bhasha Samman from CIIL Mysore—underlines a truth we in Kashmir sometimes forget: our finest scholars are already part of the larger Indian and global conversation. The onus is now on our institutions and society to ensure that this moment is not reduced to a ceremonial photo-op. Prof Shauq’s Padma Shri should spur a renewed commitment to language education, support for serious publishing in Kashmiri, and investment in research, translation and archiving. Celebrating one distinguished scholar is not enough; we must build an ecosystem in which many more can flourish. That would be the most meaningful tribute to a life spent in the quiet, patient service of words.