Eminent Hindi author Vinod Kumar Shukla awarded Jnanpith; says he didn't expect it

NEW DELHI: Vinod Kumar Shukla (88), a celebrated Hindi poet and novelist from Chhattisgarh, has been honoured with the 59th Jnanpith Award, the most prestigious literary award in India. Along with the award, he will receive Rs 11 lakh in cash and a bronze statue of Saraswati. This recognition makes him the first-ever writer from Chhattisgarh to achieve this milestone.

The award celebrates Shukla's exceptional contributions to Hindi literature, highlighted by his unique creativity and distinctive writing style. Pratibha Rai, a renowned writer and head of the Jnanpith Selection Committee, announced this accolade for his outstanding work.

Vinod Kumar Shukla reacted to this news saying, "This is a very big award. I never thought I would receive it. I never really paid attention to awards. People would often tell me in conversation that I deserved the Jnanpith, but I could never find the right words to respond."

Vinod Kumar Shukla has had a remarkable literary career spanning over five decades. In 1999, he was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award for his acclaimed novel 'Deewar Mein Ek Khidki Rahti Hai'. His novel 'Naukar Ki Kameez' was adapted into a feature film by acclaimed filmmaker Mani Kaul in the same year. In 2024, Shukla also became the first Asian writer to win the Nabokov Award for International Literary Excellence, presented by Pen America.

Shukla began his literary journey with his first poetry collection, 'Lagbhaag Jai Hind', which was published in 1971. He was born on January 1, 1937, in Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh, and has left an indelible mark on Indian literature with his enduring creativity and poignant storytelling.