Renowned Hindi Poet Vinod Kumar Shukla Battles Illness, Yearns to Write

On November 1, 2025, renowned Hindi poet and novelist Vinod Kumar Shukla, a Jnanpith and Sahitya Akademi award-winning author, was undergoing treatment for age-related ailments at a private hospital in Raipur. Despite his frail condition, Shukla's passion for writing remained undiminished, as he had recently requested the Assembly Speaker to arrange for a pen and paper so he could continue writing from his hospital bed.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was in Raipur to mark the 25th anniversary of Chhattisgarh's statehood, made a personal visit to check on Shukla's health. During their conversation, the 89-year-old poet expressed his unwavering commitment to his craft, stating, "Writing is like breathing for me. I want to go home soon -- I want to keep writing." The Prime Minister praised Shukla's literary legacy and wished him good health, acknowledging his significant contribution to Hindi literature.

Shukla's family member described the moving moment, saying, "Even in illness, his mind was with his pen." The Prime Minister also reached out to Teejan Bai, a celebrated folk artist known for her Pandvani exponent, who has been suffering from paralysis and diabetes for the past month and is currently bedridden and struggling with speech and food intake.