New Delhi, Mar 22 (UNI) Eminent Hindi writer Vinod Kumar Shukla was on Saturday named the recipient of the 59th Jnanpith Award.

Shukla has been accorded this honor for his creativity, unique writing style and huge contribution to Hindi literature.

This is the 12th time a Hindi writer is being awarded this honor. This is also the first time a writer from the state of Chhattisgarh is being given this award.

The 88-year-old author of the acclaimed novel "Servant Ki Kameez" and the poetry collection "The man went like a warm coat wearing a thought" is being given this award for his lifelong writing.

Shukla, who retired from Agriculture College in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1999 for his second novel 'Deewaar Mein Khirki Raha Thi Thi'. He is also a researcher at the Sahitya Akademi.

Mr. Shukla began his writing in the seventies and rose to prominence in Hindi with his first collection of poems, "The man went wearing a hot coat, like a thought". Earlier in 1971, his poetry book "Almost Jai Hind" was published in the 'Identity' series edited by Ashok Vajpeyi.

Shri Shukla established himself in literature with the novel "Servant Ki Kameez" published in 1981. A film has also been made on this novel.

Born on January 1, 1937, at Rajnandgaon in Chhattisgarh, Shri Shukla completed his Masters in Agricultural Science from Jabalpur and started teaching in Raipur.

The Jnanpith Award is the highest literary honor of India, given to writers who have excelled in literature in different Indian languages. The award carries with it a cash reward of Rs 11 lakh, a bronze statue of Vagdevi and a citation.

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