Renowned Hindi writer, poet and novelist Vinod Kumar Shukla passed away on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, in Raipur, the capital of Chhattisgarh. He was 88. According to hospital sources, he breathed his last at 4:58 pm at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Raipur. He had been undergoing treatment for several days and was suffering from multiple organ infection and organ failure.
Shukla is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter. His demise has cast a deep pall of gloom over the Hindi literary world.
Born in 1937 in Rajnandgaon district of Chhattisgarh, Vinod Kumar Shukla began his literary journey in 1971 with his poetry collection Lagbhag Jai Hind. Over the years, he carved a distinct place for himself in poetry, short stories and novels.
His major works include Naukar Ki Kameez, Khilega To Dekhenge, Deewar Mein Ek Khidki Rehti Thi and Ek Chuppi Jagah. His novel Naukar Ki Kameez was adapted into a film by noted filmmaker Mani Kaul. He received the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1999 for Deewar Mein Ek Khidki Rehti Thi.
Vinod Kumar Shukla was widely acclaimed in India and abroad for his exceptional contribution to literature. In 2023, he was conferred with the PEN/Nabokov Award for Achievement in International Literature. Earlier this year, he was also honoured with the 59th Jnanpith Award, becoming the first writer from Chhattisgarh to receive the country’s highest literary honour.
The Bharatiya Jnanpith had praised his writings for their “simplicity, sensitivity and distinctive style,” noting that his works portray the subtle experiences of everyday life in an accessible language.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow over Shukla’s demise, saying that his invaluable contribution to Hindi literature would always be remembered. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai described his death as an “irreparable loss” to the state and the literary world, and announced that the late writer would be accorded a final farewell with full state honours.
Vinod Kumar Shukla will be remembered for his simple, sensitive and deeply human vision. His writings vividly captured the life of the common person—their silences and small emotions—with rare depth. His passing marks the end of an era in Hindi literature, a void that will not be easily filled.
