Vinod Kumar Shukla Selected for 59th Jnanpith Award

Eminent Hindi writer Vinod Kumar Shukla has been named the recipient of the 59th Jnanpith Award, India’s highest literary honour. At 88 years old, he is recognized for his outstanding contribution to Hindi literature, with a unique writing style that blends linguistic creativity and emotional depth. Notably, he is the first author from Chhattisgarh to receive this prestigious award and the 12th Hindi writer to be honored with it.

Key Highlights

Winner Details

• Award Name: Jnanpith Award (59th edition)
• Recipient: Vinod Kumar Shukla
• Age: 88 years
• Field: Short story writing, poetry, and essays
• First from Chhattisgarh: He is the first writer from Chhattisgarh to receive the award.
• 12th Hindi Writer: The 12th author writing in Hindi to be honored.

Selection Committee

• The decision was taken by the Jnanpith Selection Committee, chaired by Pratibha Ray, along with members like Madhav Kaushik, Damodar Mauzo, Prabha Varma, Anamika, A Krishna Rao, Prafful Shiledar, Janki Prasad Sharma, and Madhusudan Anand.
• Award Components: The award includes a cash prize of ₹11 lakh, a bronze Saraswati statue, and a citation.

Notable Works

• “Deewar Mein Ek Khirkee Rahati Thi” – Sahitya Akademi Award 1999
• “Naukar Ki Kameez” (1979) – Adapted into a film by Mani Kaul
• “Sab Kuch Hona Bacha Rahega” (1992) – A well-known poetry collection
• Established in 1961: The Jnanpith Award was first given in 1965 to Malayalam poet G. Sankara Kurup for his work “Odakkuzhal”.