New Delhi: Sahitya Akademi today honoured distinguished Hindi poet and writer Vinod Kumar Shukla with its highest honour - the Sahitya Akademi Fellowship. Due to his health reasons, this brief presentation ceremony was held at his residence in Raipur. The Fellowship was presented to Vinod Kumar Shukla by Madhav Kaushik, President, Sahitya Akademi, and K. Sreenivasarao, Secretary, Sahitya Akademi. Upon receiving the honour, Vinod Kumar Shukla said that he is thankful to Sahitya Akademi for making it to his place to give him this honour. He never expected that he would receive such a great honour. Further he said that he is very happy to find himself among the distinguished writers who have received Sahitya Akademi Fellowship so far. On this occasion he also read out two of his poems.
Madhav Kaushik, President, Sahitya Akademi, speaking on the occasion, said that this is a rare opportunity to feel proud because it is the Aakdemi that is being hounored in honoring Vinod Kumar Shukla. He further said that Shukla's writings are so comprehensive and excellent that future generations will always be inspired by it. K. Sreenivasarao, Seecretary, Sahitya Akademi, while reading out the Fellowship citation in his honour, said that Vinod Kumar Shukla has magically blended poetry with fiction. This unique synthesis transcends the boundaries separating literary genres. His writings also provide a rich insight into ways in which the local and the universal are vibrantly interconnected. In this regard, Vinod Kumar Shukla is considered among the best writers of our time.
It may be noted that Vinod Kumar Shukla was born on 1 January 1937 in Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh. Studying and teaching agriculture instilled in him a deep fondness and affection for nature. This generated in him a keen desire to nurture, cherish and protect nature and mankind from destruction. Vinod Kumar Shukla, who began his creative journey with the poetry collection Lagbhag Jai Hind, has created a completely new aesthetic sense of poetry and prose through the poetry collections - Woh Admi Chala Gaya Naya Garam Coat Pahankar Vichar Ki Tarah, Sab Kuchh Hona Bacha Rahega, Atirikt Nahin, Kavita Se Lambi Kavita, Akash Dharati Ko Khatkhatata Hai, Kabhi Ke Bad Abhi, etc. and novels - Naukar Ki Kameez, Khilega To Dekhenge, Diwar Mein Ek Khidki Rahati Thi, etc. and collections of short stories like Hari Ghas Ki Chhapparwali Jhonpadi aur Bauna Pahad, Ek Chupi Jagah, Ped Par Kamara, Mahavidyalaya, Ek Kahani, Ghoda Aur Anya Kahaniyan. Vinod Kumar Shukla is a recipient of many prestigious awards and honors like Gajanan Madhav Muktibodh Fellowship, Akhil Bharatiya Bhavani Prasad Mishra Award, Srijan Bhartiya Samman, Raghuveer Sahay Memorial Award, Shikhar Samman, Rashtriya Maithilisharan Gupt Award, the Sahitya Akademi Award, Rachna Samagra Award and Hindi Gaurav Samman.
