Srinagar, Jan 25:  Prof Riyaz Punjabi, Vice- Chancellor of University of Kashmir, and Prof Nilamber Dev Sharma have been conferred with this year’s Padma Shri award in the category of literature and education.
Padma Shri is the fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan.  The award is given to citizens of India to recognize their distinguished contribution in various spheres of activity including the Arts, Education, Industry, Literature, Science, Sports, Medicine, Social Service and public life
Prof Riyaz Punjabi presently Vice- Chancellor, University of Kashmir has had a distinguished career spanning over 40 years in academics, research and voluntary action, while Sharma is a known personality in Dogri art and literature.
In view of his immense contribution to education, Prof Punjabi was awarded prestigious Socrates Award 2008. He was nominated for the title of “Honorary Professor for the international University, Vienna” for his contribution in ‘strengthening international relations in the sphere of education’.
In 2009 Prof Punjabi was awarded the Amity Academic Excellence Award 2009 by Amity International Business School, Amity University, Noida, U.P. (India) for his contribution to knowledge and education. Prof Punjabi, in recognition to his contribution to education, culture and promoting communal harmony in J&K State was given Fazil Memorial Award 2009 and Adbi Markaz Kamraz Award 2010.
Prof Punjabi holds a degree of Doctorate in Laws and has taught and conducted researches in Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) New Delhi, Universities of Jammu and Kashmir, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi and Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla. He has held the positions of Professor, Centre for the Study of Social Systems, Faculty of Social Science Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi; Professor and Chairman, Department of Distance Education, Dean Faculty of Non Formal Education, University of Kashmir; Director, Directorate of Correspondence Courses, Director Centre for Adult Continuing & Extension Education and Director, State Resource Centre, University of Kashmir.
 Prof Punjabi has authored six books and contributed chapters in 12 edited volumes and authored about 20 occasional papers and monographs on diverse themes and subjects. He has contributed more than 200 research papers in National and International journals on diverse themes and subjects. He has been pursuing varied themes but his main areas of work have been Peace Studies, Human Rights, Global Terrorism, Composite Culture, Inter-religious conflicts and rise of fundamentalism in South Asia and Sufism.
 In 1994, Prof Punjabi set up a voluntary research group ‘Centre for Peace Studies’ in New Delhi to encourage researches and debate on human rights, peace, spiritual unity and human brotherhood. This group later became ‘International Centre for Peace Studies’ and sustains itself on voluntary contributions and donations.
 Prof Riyaz Punjabi holds the membership of professional bodies in USA, the Netherlands, Australia, Canada and India. He is a member of International Studies Association USA, International Studies Association for the Study of Forced Migrations the Netherlands, International Society for Health & Human Rights, the Netherlands, International Council of Distance Education, Australia, International Peace Research Association, the Netherlands, India International Centre and India Habitat Centre, New Delhi.
 “I am happy with the award. I would not feel any regret if I was not awarded,” Nilamber Dev Sharma told Greater Kashmir. 
He is a retired English Professor who completed his BA from Government Memorial Gandhi College Jammu and Masters in Arts from Delhi University. He did his English Literature (Hons) from University of Leeds, England.
He served the Cultural Academy as Deputy Secretary and later as Secretary. Besides he has remained associated with various Dictionary Projects 
His major contribution in Dogri literature was the first English book on history of Dogri language, “An Introduction to Modern Dogri literature”. The book was later translated into four languages, including Hindi, Dogri, Punjabi and Urdu.
His second major contribution was his book “An Introduction to Dogri Folk, Literature, Drama and Art.”
He has also gained distinction in novel, essay, story, play, poem and article writings. He   translated Sahitya Akademi award winning Assamese novel-Iyaruingam by noted Assemese novelist Birendera Kumar Bhattacharyya.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 25 Jan 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 25 Jan 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 26 Jan 2011 00:00:00 IST