News: Vinod Kumar Shukla, the 2024 Jnanpith awardee, died in Raipur on December 23, 2025, at the age of 88.
About Vinod Kumar Shukla
- Vinod Kumar Shukla was a renowned Hindi poet and novelist, known for portraying ordinary life with deep sensitivity and poetic expression.
- Birth: He was born on 1 January 1937 in Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh, which was earlier part of the princely state of Nangaon.
- Education: He completed his post-graduation as M.Sc. in Agriculture from Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya (JNKVV), Jabalpur.
- After completing his education, he joined as a lecturer at the Agriculture College, Raipur.
- Influenced by: He was deeply influenced by poet Gajanan Madhav Muktibodh.
- Writing style: His writing style is described as magical realism, through which he expressed the emotional depth and dignity of ordinary life.
- Works
- His first poetry collection Lagbhag Jai Hind was published in 1971.
- Major poetry collections include Vah Aadmi Chala Gaya Naya Garam Coat Pehankar Vichar Ki Tarah and Sab Kuch Hona Bacha Rahega.
- Novels: His novels include Naukar Ki Kameez, Khilega To Dekhenge, and Deewar Mein Ek Khidki Rehti Thi.
- Awards & Honours
- He become first writer from Chhattisgarh to receive the Jnanpith Award (59th).
- He received Sahitya Akademi Award (for the novel Deewar Mein Ek Khidki Rehti Thi)
- He become first Indian author to receive PEN/Nabokov Award for Achievement in International Literature
- He was also honoured with the Shikhar Samman, Rashtriya Hindi Gaurav Samman, Maithilisharan Gupt Samman, Gajanan Madhav Muktibodh Fellowship, Raza Award, and the Matribhoomi Book of the Year Award for his distinguished literary contribution.
- Death: He died in Raipur on December 23, 2025, while undergoing treatment at AIIMS Raipur.
