Prof. Champa Sharma is a noted Dogri author and poet known for her contributions to the promotion and preservation of Dogri language in Jammu and Kashmir as well as other Dogri speaking regions of Himachal Pradesh.
Early life and education
Prof. Champa Sharma was born in Daghore, Samba District of Jammu and Kashmir in a Brahmin family. She has graduated in B.Ed. in 1962, M.A in 1964 and Ph.D in 1975 from University of Jammu. She has also graduated with M.A in Dogri language in 1977. After teaching at a private college and later as an ad-hoc lecturer in Sanskrit at Government Women's College, Gandhi Nagar in 1969 in the initial part of her career, she taught at the Post Graduate Department of Sanskrit at University of Jammu in 1975 for a period of 5 years before joining Dogri Research Centre as a Senior Fellow and Director. While being associated with the Dogri Research Centre, Prof. Champa Sharma worked on securing a full-fledged Post Graduate Department status for Dogri language at University of Jammu and was appointed in 1983 as the first Head of Department of Dogri at University of Jammu.
Literary career
Prof. Champa Sharma has authored 18 original works along with several translation works from languages ranging from Sanskrit to English and Hindi into Dogri. Many of her works have been translated into other languages namely English, Hindi, Punjabi, Santali, Manipuri, Kashmiri and Thai.
From English into Dogri: "Duaari Kabootaren Di", novel named "The Flight of the Pigeons" written by Ruskin Bond, published by Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi.
From English into Dogri: "Swami Vivekanand Hundi Saral Jeevan Yatra te Unde Updesh", originally titled "Simple life of Swami Vivekananda and his teachings"
From English into Dogri: "The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari" by Robin Sharma, published by Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages with the title in Dogri "Sanyasi Jinn Apni Ferrari Bechi Ditti"
Books compiled and edited
Ajkani Dogri Kavita Part 2 published by Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi
Life & Works of Krishan Smailpuri published by Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages
Hirkhi Tandaan published by Dogri Sanstha, Jammu
Bhasha Vigyan Te Dogri
Dogri Bal Geet published by Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages in collaboration with CIIL, Mysore
Dogri Shodh - Vol. I, II, III, IV, V
Hindi - Dogri and Dogri - Hindi Dictionary of Synonyms
Awards and recognitions
She was awarded the Sahitya Akademi award by Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi for her original poetry work, "Cheten Di Rhol" in 2008. Other awards and recognitions include: