Renowned Hindi writer and Jnanpith Award recipient Vinod Kumar Shukla passed away on Tuesday evening due to age-related health issues. He was 89. His family confirmed the news to the Press Trust of India (PTI).

Shukla had been admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences ( AIIMS), Raipur, on December 2 after he faced breathing difficulties.

He also received treatment at a private hospital earlier this year and was discharged after his condition improved.

In 2024, he was awarded the 59th Jnanpith Award, becoming the first writer from Chhattisgarh to admit India’s highest literary honour.

He was widely known for his simple language, minimalist style and unusual storytelling. His writing mixed everyday life with deep imagination. 

Some of his most well- known work included Naukar Ki Kameez, Khilega To Dekhenge, Lagbhag Jai Hind, and Ek Chuppi Jagah.

Shukla is survived by his wife, son Shashwat, and a daughter. His son told PTI that the 89-year-old writer had been dealing with health issues in recent months.

Earlier,this year, speaking to Hindustan Times , Shukla reflected on his journey as a writer and his response to receiving the Jnanpith Award. 

He said that writers do not write for awards, and recognition comes naturally when one stays true to the path of writing.

Shukla also spoke about his early days in Rajnandgaon and shared how his first poetry collection, Lagbhag Jai Hind was published after poems were selected by poet and critic Ashok Vajpeyi. 

He credited his mother ’s love for Bengali literature as an early influence on his reading habits.

Vinod Kumar Shukla’s death marked the end of an era in Hindi literature, leaving behind a legacy of quiet yet powerful storytelling.