| Nilamber Dev Sharma | |
| Birth Date: | 6 October 1931 |
| Birth Place: | Jammu and Kashmir, British India |
| Death Place: | New Delhi |
| Occupation: | Scholar, writer |
| Parents: | Madan Mohan Shastri |
| Awards: | Padma Shri |
Nilamber Dev Sharma (October 6, 1931 – June 23 2020) was an Indian scholar and writer of Dogri and English literature, best known for his work, An Introduction to Modern Dogri Literature,[1] the first publication in English about Dogri literature.[2] The Government of India honored Sharma in 2011, with the fourth highest civilian award of Padma Shri.[3]
Nilamber Dev Sharma was born to a Sanskrit scholar and a renowned astrologer, Madan Mohan Shastri, on 6 October 1931 at Jammu, British India.[4] He graduated in English literature from the Government Gandhi Memorial College, Jammu (GGMC), continued his studies at the Hindu College, New Delhi from where he obtained a master's degree[2] and started his career as an English lecturer in Kairana, Uttar Pradesh. He also secured an honours degree from the University of Leeds, UK.[2] After a short stay at Kairana, Sharma moved to his alma mater, the Government Gandhi Memorial College, in 1953.[4] Two years later, he joined Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages in 1961 as its deputy secretary[2] and rose to the position of the secretary.[4] Nilamber Dev Sharma was the first convenor of the Dogri Advisory Board when Sahitya Academy officially recognized Dogri in 1969.[4] In 1972, Sharma resigned from the Academy and entered politics, a stay which was short lived.[4]
Sharma is a former director of the Amar Mahal Museum and Library and a former president of Dogri Sanstha.[4] He is credited with several publications[5] including An Introduction to Modern Dogri Literature, A Brief Survey of Dogri (Modern) Literature,[6] An Introduction to Dogri Folk, Literature, Drama and Art,[2] Chete Kish Khatte, Kish Mitthe, Rishtey and Kahani di Tapaash[4] He has edited a number of books for Dogri Sanstha, Jammu[7] and has translated Iyaruingam, an Assamese work by the novelist Birendera Kumar Bhattacharyya.[2]