Srinagar, Jan 25: Eminent Kashmiri scholar, poet, linguist and translator Prof Shafi Shauq on Sunday named among the recipients of the Padma Shri Award 2026, India’s fourth-highest civilian honour, for his outstanding contribution to education and literature.
Born in 1950 in Kapren village of Shopian district, Shauq is widely registered as one of the most authoritative voices in Kashmiri studies. The award places Shauq at the forefront of this year’s honourees from Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh; marking a major national recognition of his lifelong works.
Shauq authored, edited and translated over 100 books in Kashmiri Urdu, Hindi and English. His seminal works – including Keeshur Lugaat (Kashmiri Dictionary), Keeshryuk Grammer, and Kaeshir Zabana ti Adibuk Tawaariekh (History of the Kashmiri Language and Literature), are considered foundational texts and remain indispensable to scholars, students and researchers.
Alongside Prof Shafi Shauq, the Government of India has also announced Brij Lal Bhat (Social Work, Jammu and Kashmir) and Dr Padma Gurmeet (Medicine, Ladakh) as Padma Shri awardees for 2026, recognising exemplary service in their respective fields. However, Shauq’s inclusion has drawn particular attention in literary and academic circles, being seen as a long-overdue national honour for a scholar who devoted his life to safeguarding the linguistic soul of Kashmir.
Social worker Brij Lal Bhat has been conferred the Padma Shri 2026 for his sustained and wide-ranging contributions to social service. Known for his grassroots engagement, Bhat has worked extensively to strengthen spiritual and community institutions through yoga shiksha shivirs, spiritual retreats and Bhandara Seva. He has actively promoted social cohesion and communal harmony by organising inclusive festivals and community programmes, while also contributing to rural development by reclaiming barren land for apple and walnut orchards. His work is widely recognised for combining social service with spiritual outreach and environmental stewardship.
In addition to Shauq and Bhat, Dr Padma Gurmeet of Ladakh has been named a Padma Shri awardee in the field of medicine, underscoring the diverse range of contributions from the region honoured in 2026.
