New Delhi: Eminent Hindi writer Vinod Kumar Shukla was on Saturday named the recipient of the 59th Jnanpith Award. Shukla has been accorded this honour for his creativity, unique writing style and huge contribution to Hindi literature.

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

The 88-year-old author is known for his acclaimed novel Naukar ki Kameez (1979) that was adapted into a film by Mani Kaul and a poetry collection Sab Kuch Hona Bacha Rahega (1992).

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

Born on Jan. 1, 1937, at Rajnandgaon in Chhattisgarh, he completed his Master’s in Agricultural Science from Jabalpur and started teaching in Raipur.

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