Gopi Chand Narang (born February 11, 1931, in Dukki, now in Pakistan) is an Indian scholar of Urdu language and literature, an eminent Urdu writer, scholar, critic and linguist. He is author of many books in Urdu, Hindi and English.

He has received many awards from the governments of India and Pakistan and many literary organizations worldwide. He was awarded Padma Bhushan in 2004. He taught in many universities in India and participates in literary conferences around the world. He was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award in Urdu 1993 for Sakhtiyaat, Pas-Sakhtiyaat aur Mashriqi Sheriyaat (Literary criticism), later he remained the president of the Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters, 2003 to 2007. He was also on the editorial board of Akademi's journal, Indian Literature.

Career

He did his M.A., 1954 (in Urdu); Ph.D., 1958 Dip. in Linguistics, 1961; Honors in Persian, 1958; Honors in Urdu, 1948.

Narang started his career as a Lecturer, at St. Stephen's College, Delhi, 1957-58. and eventually retired as Prof. of Urdu, Univ. of Delhi. He also remained Dean, Faculty of Humanities & Languages, Jamia Millia Islamia, 1981–82; Visiting Prof., Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, Minnesota, etc. U.S.A., 1963-65 & 1968-70 & Norway Univ., Oslo, 1997; Member, Governing Body, Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla, 2003- ; Trustee, NBT, 1997- ; Member Governing Body, ICCR, 2003- ;Vice-President, Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi (1998–2002); Member, Executive Board and General Council, Sahitya Akademi, 83-92 and its Urdu Advisory Board; Member, All India Anjuman Taraqqi-e-Urdu, 1973–92; Chairman, Urdu Committee, NCERT, 1981–91, etc. Awards & Hons. Mazzini Gold Medal by the Government of Italy, 2005; Ghalib Award, 1985; U.P. Urdu Academy Award, 1972; Meer Award, 1977; Amir Khusrau Award, 1987 from AKSA, Chicago; Canadian Academy of Urdu Language & Lit. Award, 1987; Sahitya Akademi Award, 1993 for Sakhtiyaat Pas-Sakhiyaat aur Mashriqi Shriyaat (criticism);