Linguist literary icon Omkar Koul has left us

 

Prof Omkar N Koul, world-famous linguist, writer, transistor, passed away in Delhi on May 3 last after fighting cancer for more than a year. His cremation was attended by a group of distinguished scholars, writers and wel wishers Prof Koul was born in Bugam village, near Kulgam in Kashmir on January 7, 1941. His father, Pt. Prem Nath Kaul Arpan was a reputed poel and a social worker. After his early education in Anantnag and Srinagar in Kashmir, Professor Koul did his doctorate in comparative literature in KM Institute, Agra, and went for further studies to USA, where he did his Masters in Linguistics at Illinois University.

After returning to India, he joined as Principal of the Union HRD Ministry's Northern Regional Languages Centre, Patiala Later, he worked as Professor of Languages in Lal Bahadur Shastri Academy of Administration, Mussoorie for several years. He retired as Director of Central Institute of Indian Languages Mysore. His Areas of specialisation were linguistics, language leaching, language education, communication and comparative literature.

 

Prof Koul published more than 50 research papers which were published by various national and international journals. His acumen of being a celebrated linguist attracted recognition in the sub- continent and abroad. He distinguished himself as a short story writer in Kashmiri and Urdu. Despite his failing health he continued to work as Editor of the Kashmir language journal Naad for a decade-l he breathed his last. He worked extensively on South Asian languages. He worked along with internationally-acclaimed scholars like Prof Braj B Kachru, Peter Hook, Boris Zakhann, Ruth Laila Shadmit, Kashi Wall and Ludmila Khokholov produced works which gained International fame. He edited Journal of South As Languages JOSAL for several decades and received many honours, awards and appreciations from various agencies across the world. Prof Koul produced many books and grammars of languages, including that of Kashmir, Hind Urdu and Punjabi. He was President of Indian Linguists Association for one term. He was closely associated with many socio-cultural organisations like KECSS, Kasme Cultural Trust Indian Institute of Language Studies and IILS Pro Kod wrote his memoir Whispering Words during his illness which was published by Authorspress, New Delhi, in 2017. was received appreciatively in scholarly circles.

Prof Koul visited a large number of countries in connection with various academic and literary activities His contribution to Indian linguistics particularly to Kashmin Language and literature, is unparalleled. It shall be remembered and appreciated for a long time to come. His demise was extensively covered by Indian media, including Doordarshan Akashvani, Radio Kashmir, Press and social media Several literary organisations paid homage to the departed soul. Prof Koul was a born academic. He remained involved in his vocation of love till his end. He was a humble nature and pleasing personality These characteristics endeared him to everyone. irrespective of caste, creed or colour.

Prof Koul is survived by his sons Vindit Koul, a travel tour businessman and Puneet Koul, a banker.

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Courtesy:- Dr. Roop Krishen Bhat   and  koshur Samachar May,2018