Narain Chand Parashar

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Narain Chand Parashar (2 July 1934 – 21 February 2001) was an Indian parliamentarian, professor, linguist and writer.

He was born in Ferozepur, Punjab, the son of Nand Lal and Phula Devi of the village of Sera in the present day Hamirpur district. Parashar was educated in Kangra district, which then consisted of the present day Kangra, Hamirpur, Una, Kullu, and Lahul and Spiti districts.

He gained BA (Hons) and MA degrees in English language, and went on to teach English at the Tanda in district Hoshiarpur, Punjab and later University of Delhi. Parashar also gained diplomas in the Chinese, Japanese and Bengali languages, and had knowledge of German, Italian, Spanish, Telugu, Tamil and Punjabi.

As a linguist, he wanted to develop the Pahari language, with the aim of reinforcing Himachali cultural identity. He led a popular movement for the inclusion of Pahari as an official language of India in Schedule 8 of the Indian Constitution, a demand currently under the consideration of the Government of India.

Parashar was an author in English, Hindi and Pahari, and was an authority on Parliamentary procedure, Buddhism and on sociopolitical problems of the hilly areas of the country. He also translated the Buddhist texts Dhampadda, Bodhicharyavataara, and Saddharmapundriksutra (the Lotus Sutra) into his native Pahari language. He was awarded a Doctorate by the University of Delhi for his critical analysis of the Bodhicharyavataara.

Professor Parashar was a follower of the ideas of the Indian independence leader Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, and worked to spread his message. He founded a school in Bose's name in the village of Sera, Hamirpur, and celebrated his birthday every year. Parashar was also a Buddhist scholar, and celebrated Buddha Purnima every year.

Parashar worked to promote the legacy of Himachali leaders and freedom fighters. He wrote the biography of Pahari Gandhi Baba Kanshi Ram, poet and freedom fighter,^[1] and was successful in getting a postage stamp released in his honour by the then Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi, in 1983.