- Vinod Kumar Shukla, celebrated Hindi poet and novelist, passed away at age 88 in Raipur.
- He was the 2024 Jnanpith Award recipient — India’s highest literary honour.
- First writer from Chhattisgarh to receive the Jnanpith Award.
Relevance
- GS I – Art & Culture
- Indian literature and literary institutions
- Regional language contributions (Hindi literature)
- Cultural diversity and non-metropolitan voices
- Prelims
- Jnanpith Award: year, nature, eligibility, administering body
- First Jnanpith awardee from Chhattisgarh
Vinod Kumar Shukla
- Born: 1937, Rajnandgaon (present-day Chhattisgarh).
- Literary career began: 1971.
- Known for:
- Minimalist language
- Poetic treatment of everyday life
- Quiet subversion of power, class, and alienation.
Major Works
- Poetry
- Lagbhag Jaihind (debut, 1971)
- Kavita Se Lambi Kavita
- Novels
- Naukar Ki Kameez
- Adapted into a critically acclaimed film.
- Deewar Mein Ek Khidki Rehti Thi
- Naukar Ki Kameez
- Literary style often compared with:
- Post-Nayi Kavita humanism
- Everyday realism rather than ideological grand narratives.
Awards & Recognitions
- Jnanpith Award (2024)
- Sahitya Akademi Award
- Numerous state and national recognitions for poetry and fiction.
Jnanpith Award:
- Instituted: 1961
- First awarded: 1965
- Administered by: Bharatiya Jnanpith (trust founded by Sahu Jain family).
- Eligibility:
- Indian citizens
- Works in any 8th Schedule language.
- Nature:
- Awarded for overall literary contribution, not a single book.
Award Components
- Cash prize: ₹11 lakh
- Citation
- Bronze replica of Saraswati, Hindu goddess of knowledge.
Significance
- Considered the literary equivalent of the Bharat Ratna.
- Recognises lifetime achievement and cultural impact.
Conclusion
- Vinod Kumar Shukla’s death is not only a personal loss but a civilisational moment for Hindi literature.
- His 2024 Jnanpith Award symbolised the recognition of simplicity, empathy, and everyday realism as enduring literary values.
