Writer Vinod Kumar Shukla selected for 59th Jnanpith award

New Delhi: Eminent Hindi writer Vinod Kumar Shukla has been selected for the 59th Jnanpith Award, India’s highest literary honour. He becomes the first writer from Chhattisgarh to receive the prestigious award.  

The 88-year-old short story writer, poet, and essayist is the 12th Hindi author to be honoured with the Jnanpith Award. The decision was taken during a meeting of the Jnanpith Selection Committee, chaired by renowned storyteller and Jnanpith awardee Pratibha Ray.  

"Vinod Kumar Shukla will be the first author from the state of Chhattisgarh to be honoured with this award. This honour is being conferred upon him for his outstanding contribution to Hindi literature, creativity, and distinctive writing style," the committee said in a statement.  

Other committee members present included Madhav Kaushik, Damodar Mauzo, Prabha Varma, Anamika, A Krishna Rao, Prafful Shiledar, Janki Prasad Sharma, and Jnanpith director Madhusudan Anand.  

Known for his unique linguistic style and emotional depth, Shukla received the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1999 for his book Deewar Mein Ek Khirkee Rahati Thi. His other notable works include Naukar ki Kameez (1979), a novel adapted into a film by Mani Kaul, and the poetry collection Sab Kuch Hona Bacha Rahega (1992).  

Instituted in 1961, the Jnanpith Award was first presented in 1965 to Malayalam poet G. Sankara Kurup for his anthology 'Odakkuzhal'. The award is exclusively conferred on Indian authors.