Pitamaha of Dogri – A Pillar of Modern Dogri
(On his 112th Birth Anniversary on 15th April )
By Ravi Rohmetra
Duggar land (Jammu) has produced numerous great personalities who have left indelible marks in diverse fields. The Duggar region has a distinct identity rooted in its rich cultural heritage within the landscape of India. Lovers of Dogri laid the foundation of Dogri Sanstha in 1944 on the auspicious day of Basant Panchami. Duggar is a land of warriors, singers, actors, journalists, writers, poets, scholars, and intellectuals. Its sons and daughters have brought laurels to their motherland and raised her glory to Himalayan heights. Among them was Prof. Ram Nath Shastri—Padma Shri Ram Nath Shastri, widely known as the “Pitamaha of Dogri.”
He was born on 15th April 1914 into the family of Vaid Gouri Shankar, an Ayurvedic doctor from the small village of Marhi in Reasi. He initially worked as a Sanskrit and Hindi teacher at Rajput School. Thereafter, he joined as a Sanskrit Professor at Prince of Wales College (now Gandhi Memorial Science College, Jammu) in 1943. In 1970, he retired from the State’s Education Department and later joined Jammu University as a Senior Fellow in Dogri, where he served till 1975. He also worked as Chief Editor of the Dictionary Project at the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages from 1977 to 1985.
Prof. Shastri was a doyen of the state in general and of society in particular, setting an example for others to follow. He held degrees of M.A. in Sanskrit, Shastri, and Prabhakar.
An exceptionally refined and versatile writer, he authored twelve books in Dogri, translated twenty-four works into Dogri, and edited and compiled about twenty more. His devotion and dedication to education earned him wide recognition and respect.
He was the recipient of several prestigious awards, including the Padma Shri, the Sahitya Akademi Award, and the Jammu and Kashmir State Academy Award (twice).
He was soft-spoken, polite, and a man of polished manners and behaviour—an exceptionally simple person with equally simple habits. He married Sushila Khajuria in 1944, a devoted social worker and a founder member of Dogri Sanstha, who remained actively associated with it for decades. He took keen interest in the preservation and development of art and culture. An optimistic person, he loved reading, writing, and morning walks, and appeared much younger than his age due to his disciplined lifestyle.
A social worker of repute and a champion of nationalism, brotherhood, and coexistence, he actively motivated the younger generation to shun bad habits and contribute towards integrity and social harmony.
Prof. Ram Nath Shastri Ji was a pioneer of the Dogri cultural movement. His dedication and lifelong service to the cause of Dogri inspired generations of younger poets and writers. His own contribution to Dogri literature remains immense and invaluable.
He rendered commendable service in the publication of various Dogri books and personally edited many of them. A versatile literary figure, he made his mark as a poet, playwright, story writer, translator, and critic. His play Bawa Jitto was widely staged and highly acclaimed. His translation of Rabindranath Tagore’s play Sacrifice also met with great success on stage.
Shastri’s writings are rich in thought and possess deep intellectual appeal. His progressive outlook significantly influenced the course of the Dogri literary movement.
Some of his notable works include:
- Ik Ha Raja(Edited)
- Bhartrihari’s Neeti Shatak(Translation)
- Bhartrihari’s Vairagya Shatak(Translation)
- Rabindranath Tagore’s Geetanjali(Translation)
Late Smt. Padma Sachdev, the eminent Dogri writer, rightly described Professor Ram Nath Shastri as the “Bhartendu of Dogri language and literature”—a true pillar of Dogri.
He passed away on 8th March 2009, leaving the Dogri literary world in deep shock. Though no longer in this mortal world, he continues to live through his writings and his immense contribution to the advancement of Dogri. Prof. Ram Nath Shastri Ji left for his heavenly abode after enriching Dogri literature with original works of high standard, translations of world classics, and a deep emotional connect with the mother tongue.
Undoubtedly, this great son of the soil is no longer with us, but his selfless service to mankind, Duggar land, and the Dogri language ensures that his name will remain alive in our hearts forever. His passing on 8th March 2009 was a moment of profound loss, yet he left behind a rich legacy of which every resident of Duggar Pradesh can be proud.
(Ravi Rohmetra is a Social Worker & a freelance writer and can be reached at Mob: 9419652999)
