By Ravi Rohmetra
Jammu has been blessed with many illustrious sons and daughters whose noble deeds have made the Dogras proud. Known as the “City of Temples,” Jammu has produced kings and emperors celebrated for their heroism, thinkers and scientists who shaped intellectual life, as well as saints and sages who guided people towards a civilized existence. Social reformers have also emerged from time to time, enriching the cultural fabric of Duggar land. With its brilliant and unique history, this region has given birth to academicians, social workers, singers, actors, leaders of calibre, writers, and poets. Among these distinguished personalities, one of the most prominent is Padma Shri Dr. Jitendra Udhampuri.
A renowned Dogri, Hindi, and Punjabi poet, writer, and critic, Dr. Udhampuri was born to Jagan Nath Gupta and Krishna Gupta in Udhampur on 9 November 1944. His father, a matriculate, served in the Central Cooperative Bank at Banihal, while his mother was a homemaker. Remarkably, Dr. Udhampuri completed his matriculation at the young age of 14 in Udhampur and later joined GGM Science College, Jammu.
Dr. Jitendra Udhampuri is an erudite scholar, distinguished writer, enterprising broadcaster, and a pioneering figure in the Dogra cultural movement. His dedication to Dogri, Hindi, Urdu, and Punjabi literature has been a constant source of inspiration for younger poets, writers, and artists. His progressive outlook has significantly influenced the course of Dogri literary development, while his extensive work reflects a kaleidoscope of vignettes from contemporary life. His contributions to the preservation and advancement of Dogri and Hindi languages and literature remain unparalleled. Over the course of three decades at Radio Kashmir Jammu (now AIR Jammu), he never allowed professional responsibilities to overshadow his passion for literature and culture.
Eminent across multiple fields, Dr. Udhampuri is a household name in Jammu and Kashmir. After rendering 30 years of meritorious service in broadcasting, he retired as Deputy Director General, All India Radio. Under his leadership, Radio Kashmir Jammu regained its credibility and popularity. More than a dozen new programmes launched and supervised by him achieved phenomenal success even during the turbulent, militancy-affected years in Jammu and Kashmir. The appreciation for his work extended across the Line of Control as well. His reputation within the media fraternity remains one of immense respect.
Dr. Udhampuri is also among the most highly qualified scholars in the Union Territory. His academic credentials include M.A. degrees in History, Urdu, and Hindi; an M.Ed.; Honours in Urdu, Hindi, and Dogri; a Post-Graduate Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication; and a Ph.D.
Besides being a distinguished broadcaster, he has spent more than five decades enriching Dogri, Hindi, Urdu, and Punjabi literature. He is the author of 40 books across these languages, including History of Dogri Literature, History of Dogra Culture, the great epic Jitto, A Dewan of Ghazals, Duggar Naama, Geet Ganga, Thehra Hua Kohra, De Do Ek Vasant, Dil Darvesh, Tanhaiyaan, Kehkashan, and Sailaab. His body of work also includes numerous research papers and more than 250 radio features. Several of his acclaimed works have been translated into English, Kashmiri, Nepali, Czech, and other languages. A trendsetter in modern Dogri poetry, he introduced innovative themes and experimented with fresh styles that helped shape the contemporary Dogri literary landscape.
The honours and awards bestowed upon him at state, national, and international levels reflect the magnitude of his contributions. These include the Padma Shri, Sahitya Akademi Award (1981), Sahitya Akademi Translation Award (2011), National Award by the Central Hindi Directorate (1990), Senior Fellowship by the Union Ministry of Culture (2007), Robe of Honour by the Governor of J&K (1987), Gold Medal and Certificate of Merit by the J&K Government (1993), and the State Government’s Republic Day Award (2005). He has also been the “Man of the Year” multiple times and received the “World Medal of Honour” in 2004 from the American Biographical Institute, USA.
The J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages has honoured him repeatedly for his creative works, including a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008. In 2010, the Academy recognized him again through the programme “Meet the Eminent Contemporary.” He has received the Duggar Sahitya Ratan Samman from Sonia Gandhi (2004) and the Dogra Ratan Samman from the Governor of J&K (2007). His other accolades include the Subhadra Kumari Chauhan Samman, Rashtra Kavi Sohan Lal Dwivedi Samman, and Varisht Hindi Sevi Pratibha Samman (2003, 2009). He has been honoured by Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (2010), the University of Jammu (2011), Banaras Hindu University (2012), and received a prestigious National Award for Literature from the Hon’ble President of India in 2015. He is also a recipient of the Tagore Award (2012) and the J&K Government Lifetime Achievement Award (2019).
In October 2022, Dr. Jitendra Udhampuri was conferred the Annual Maharaja Gulab Singh Award by Dr. Karan Singh, Chairman of the Maharaja Gulab Singh Memorial Trust—an honour reserved for individuals from the Union Territory who have achieved excellence and earned national recognition.
Beyond his literary and cultural achievements, Dr. Udhampuri is known for his deep compassion and service to humanity. On 12 November 1993, he staged his full-length play Woh Ek Din to raise funds for the victims of the Maharashtra earthquake, contributing ₹45,000 to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund. He later donated ₹50,000 to the PM CARES Fund from his pension. His association with the Jammu and Kashmir State Red Cross Society as a member of the Managing Committee further reflects his concern for the underprivileged. He was honoured by the Red Cross on World Red Cross Day in 2010 for his exemplary contributions.
Dr. Udhampuri stands as a proud son of the soil whose creative works embody a global vision. He has brought honour and dignity to Jammu and Kashmir through his remarkable contributions to literature, scholarship, broadcasting, and social service. His legacy continues to inspire future generations, strengthening the cultural roots and intellectual heritage of Duggar land.
(Ravi Rohmetra is a Social Worker & a freelance Writer and can be reached at Mb No. 9419652999)
