Kashmir Professor Completes 1,400-Page Dictionary at 75

A boy from a remote mountain village in Kashmir just received one of India's highest civilian honors for making sure his mother tongue survives for centuries to come.

Mohammad Shafi Shauq, now 75, was announced as a Padma Shri awardee on Sunday for his lifetime dedication to preserving the Kashmiri language. The professor from Shopian completed a massive 1,400-page Kashmiri dictionary after his retirement, creating the most comprehensive reference book the language has ever had.

Shauq's journey started in Kapren village in 1950, where resources were scarce but curiosity ran deep. He began studying science but quickly realized his heart belonged to literature and language, eventually earning a doctorate in English Literature from Kashmir University.

But English wasn't his mission. While working at the Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages as a junior fellow, Shauq discovered his true calling: protecting Kashmiri from fading away.

He spent decades at Kashmir University, rising to Head of the Department of Kashmiri and serving as Dean of the Faculty of Arts before retiring in 2010. Then the real work began.

Why This Inspires

Instead of slowing down in retirement, Shauq poured his energy into the dictionary project that would become his legacy. The 1,400-page Kashmiri Lughat represents years of painstaking research, ensuring every word, phrase, and expression was documented with scholarly precision.

His multilingual talents allowed him to bridge worlds. Fluent in English, Urdu, and Kashmiri, Shauq has written, edited, or translated around 100 books spanning poetry collections and prose across all three languages.

The academic community recognized his brilliance long before this national honor. In 2006, he received the Sahitya Academy Award for creative writing, followed by another Sahitya Academy Award for Translation just one year later.

Language preservation matters because it protects culture, history, and identity. When a language disappears, entire ways of thinking and centuries of wisdom vanish with it.

Shauq understood this deeply, dedicating his life to ensuring Kashmiri children and scholars would always have the tools they need to connect with their heritage.

At 75, the professor from Kapren village has given his people an invaluable gift that will educate and inspire for generations.