Scholar who helped researchers

Manju Sharma
BP Sharma, whose 108th birthday falls today (January 1, 2017), was not only a researcher of Dogri language, script and grammar who unearthed valuable ancient documents and manuscripts, but he also helped many foreign scholars in completing their assignments by providing them copies of the valuable historical record dug out by him.
Not only Dogri, but his interest of research was also in historical facts about the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
Mr. Sharma singlehanded did valuable service to Dogri and other topics of interest pertaining to the Dogra rule by getting involved in the research work and in the process uncovered several historical documents related to development of Dogri. He was perhaps one of the very few persons who devoted his time in researching the origin of the Dogri grammar, script and its development. He focused towards research that was a difficult and time consuming exercise.
Born in the Pouni village of the Reasi district, Mr. Sharma held various important positions in the J&K and the central government and after retirement devoted most of his time in research of Dogri script, grammar and its development during the Dogra rule. His efforts to contribute in the research work continued till his end came at the age of 96 in 2005.
Several foreign researchers have acknowledged his contribution in enriching the Dogri language and also the historical issues confronting J&K through his research. Their comments about Mr.Sharma illustrate how tirelessly even at the age of 87 he was in the forefront to provide them copies of authentic documents that helped them in completing their doctorate in the subject.
Prof. Frits Stal of the California University, with whom Mr.Sharma authored a book on the postal system of J&K under the Dogra rule, has acknowledged that it would not have been possible to bring out the book without the help of Mr.Sharma who provided very useful information and documentary evidence. The book has been published by the Collectors Club of California.
Prof. Alexis Sanderson of the All Souls College, Oxford, sought help of Mr. Sharma in February 1995 when he wrote him a letter saying that he was preparing a critical edition of  the Tantrasara of Abhinavgupta and was trying to gather copies of surviving manuscripts. Mr,Jurgen Hanneder, who is currently studying at Oxford under my supervision, has suggested that I write to you in the hope that you will be able to help me obtain a photocopy of the manuscript……..
Mr.Sharma was prompt in providing him the required documents and on March 7, 1995, Prof. Sanderson wrote saying he was very grateful for going to such trouble to provide copy of the manuscript.
Another researcher, Dominic Goodall of Osney Island in Oxford, in September 1995 wrote a letter saying that he had come to know that you (Mr.Sharma) were most helpful to researchers by providing copies of manuscripts and sought his help in discovering existence of any Kashmirian manuscript pertaining to Kirantantra by Bhatta Ramakantha.
Harunaga Isaacson, a researcher in the Institute of Indian Studies in the University of Groningen, Netherlands, wrote to Mr.Sharma in January 1994 that he was doing Ph.D. and required help pertaining to two manuscripts in the Shri Ranbir Sanskrit Research Institute at Jammu.
However, keeping in mind the subject of research of Isaacson, Mr.Sharma sent him the  connected material from four manuscripts for which the researcher conveyed thanks to Mr.Sharma in April 1994.
A German scholar, Jurgen Hanneder was also provided the relevant material for his research work by Mr.Sharma in June 1993.
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