Diplomat Desk
Jammu, DD, Prof Lalit Mangotra has been conferred with Padma Shri award in the category of Literature and Education.
Born to Shiv Devi and Pt. Lok Nath Magotra in Chougan Fattu, situated in the heart of old Jammu City, Professor Lalit Mangotra is a prominent Dogri writer, working for promotion and development of Dogri language and Literature for the past fifty years.
A scientist by profession, having retired as Professor of Physics from University of Jammu, with more than three hundred scientific publications in International Journals, Professor Mangotra is a rare combination of Science and literature.
Prof. Mangotra entered the field of Dogri literature by penning down his first Dogri short story in the decade of nineteen seventies. Since then, has written prolifically ,producing numerous books , articles, reviews etc ., covering the gendered of Short story, poetry, play, literary criticism , Essays , travelogues etc. However,in addition to having created path-breaking
literature of high quality, Prof. Mangotra has emerged as the leading voice representing Dogri language and literature.
In recognition of his outstanding contribution and works, Prof. Mangotra has received many prestigious Awards and facilitation,in addition to his being in prominent decision making bodies, which include : Sahitya Akademi Award in 2011, J&K state Award for Outstanding contribution to Dogri literature 2009, two times Best Book Award by Jak Academy of Art, Culture and languages
(2000 and 2010), Senior Fellowship (Literature) of Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Govt. of India, having the distinction of being the only person
from Jand K to be the member of press Council of India for two terms ( 06 year), Member of Executive Board of Sahitya Akademi 2003-2007 and ( 2013-2017), Member of the Official Indian Delegation of the writers to China, Member of official Indian Delegation of writers to Japan (2015), Chairman of Governing Board of Govt. College for Women Parade, Kunwar Viyogi lifetime Achievement Award (2024), Member of Council for Promotion of Indian Languages, Ministry of HRD, Govt of India, Chairman of North Zone Selection Committee for Saraswati Samman of K.K. Birla Foundation and numerous others.
A significant contribution of Prof. Mangotra has been to integrate Dogri language to the modem tools of Information Technology through localisation of computer software tools in Dogri, creation of on-line, Dogri – English – Dogri Dictionary and adaptation in Dogri of Course on Computer Concepts.
Prof. Mangotra is the President of Dogri Sanstha, the oldest and premier Literary Organisation working for Dogri, for the past 30 years.DD
