Poet Vinod Kumar Shukla, who wrote poetry stories like ‘That man is gone, servant’s shirt’, passes away, breathed his last in Raipur AIIMS.

Raipur: Renowned poet, storyteller and thoughtful writer Vinod Kumar Shukla passed away at AIIMS, Raipur. He was 89 years old and was unwell for a long time. He was admitted to AIIMS for treatment, where he breathed his last. Due to his demise, not only Chhattisgarh but the literary world of the entire country is in mourning.

Writer associated with the soil of Chhattisgarh

Vinod Kumar Shukla was born on 1 January 1937 in Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh. However, he spent a major part of his life in Raipur. The soil, nature and common life of Chhattisgarh remained the soul of his creations. There was no ostentation in his language, rather a rare combination of spontaneity and depth was seen. He was a very slow and hesitant person, but his written lines resonated with the readers for a long time.

Journey from education and teaching to literature

Vinod Kumar Shukla completed his higher education from Jabalpur Agricultural University. It was during his studies in agricultural science that his connection with soil, trees, plants and nature deepened, which later became the basis of his literary sensibility. He also worked as a professor and also dedicated his life to writing. He continued writing for nearly five decades and gave a new vision to Hindi literature.

A creator who broke the boundaries of poetry and story.

Shukla ji started his literary journey with the poetry collection ‘Almost Jaihind’, but very soon he blurred the traditional boundaries between poetry and story. Such a combination of prose and poetry is seen in his works, which is rare in Hindi literature. His poems like ‘The man has gone, like a thought wearing a new warm coat’, ‘Everything will remain to be’ and ‘The sky knocks the earth’ gave a new beauty and sensitivity to poetry.

Indelible mark in fiction

Vinod Kumar Shukla’s contribution in the field of stories and novels is incomparable. His novel ‘Naukar Ki Kameez’ is considered a classic of Hindi literature, which gave an extraordinary interpretation of ordinary life. In works like ‘There used to be a window in the wall’, ‘Room on the tree’ and ‘College’, he linked everyday experiences with deep philosophical meanings. The world of his stories may seem simple from outside, but once you go inside, it appears to be extremely deep and sensitive.

Literary life decorated with awards

Vinod Kumar Shukla was honored with many prestigious awards for his literary contribution. He received the Sahitya Akademi Award, Gajanan Madhav Muktibodh Fellowship, Raghuveer Sahay Memorial Award, National Maithili Sharan Gupta Award and Shikhar Samman. Recently he was also given the Jnanpith Award, the highest honor for Hindi literature, which was a major achievement in his life.