A sea of senior government officials and admirers, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai lending his shoulder to the mortal remains, and heartfelt tributes to his keen intellectual acumen and transformative narratives — that is how Chhattisgarh bade farewell to eminent Hindi litterateur and Jnanpith Award recipient Vinod Kumar Shukla.

On Wednesday, the funeral rites of Shukla, who passed away at 88 due to age-related ailments a day before, were performed with full state honours at Marwadi Shamshan Ghat at Budha Talab in Chhattisgarh’s capital, Raipur.

Earlier Wednesday, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai visited Shukla’s residence at Shailendra Nagar, where he paid condolences to the bereaved family. The Chief Minister offered a wreath on Shukla’s mortal remains and lent his shoulder to the mortal remains.

Speaking to reporters later, Sai said: “The demise of Vinod Kumar Shukla has caused an irreparable loss to Hindi literature. Born in the soil of Chhattisgarh, Shukla’s writings are a unique blend of sensitivity, human values and simple yet profound expression. His literary contribution took Hindi literature to new heights. His works not only deeply touch readers but will continue to inspire and guide future generations. His contribution to the literary world will always be remembered”.

#WATCH | Raipur | Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai lent a shoulder to the mortal remains of writer and Jnanpith Award winner Vinod Kumar Shukla being taken for cremation. pic.twitter.com/yKqI6UgEnw

— ANI (@ANI) December 24, 2025

Noted poet Kumar Vishwas, who also visited Shukla’s residence, told reporters that Shukla’s death marks the end of an era in Indian poetry.

“For people like us who were born in the 70s and developed an awareness for understanding or listening to poetry in the 80s, his was one of the standard names in Hindi. Listening to him and reading his work was truly extraordinary in itself,” Vishwas said.

He added: “He remained away from publicity and lived like a quiet seeker, and departed in the same serene manner. Indian poetry will always remember him for his immense contribution”.

Several hundred people – most of them youngsters — attended the funeral Chhattisgarh Sahitya Akademi chairman Shashank Sharma said.

“He was an astute writer with a humble personality. The new generation sees him as a guiding spirit, and this was reflected at his funeral, where most attendees were young writers who had come from all over India. He spent the last decade of his life writing several books for children,” he said adding that a special session would be dedicated to the writer during the Sahitya Utsav from January 23-25”.

Shukla had authored several novels such as ‘Naukar Ki Kameez’, ‘Khilega To Dekhenge’, ‘Deewar Mein Ek Khidki Rehti Thi’ and ‘Ek Chuppi Jagah’.

For his unparalleled contribution to Hindi literature, creative excellence and distinctive literary expression, Shukla was awarded the 59th Jnanpith Award, India’s highest literary honour, this year. The award was presented to him on November 21 this year at a ceremony held at his residence in Raipur.

He was the first author from Chhattisgarh to receive the prestigious award.

During his visit to Chhattisgarh on November 1, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had spoken to Shukla’s family members and enquired about his health and well-being.

Shukla’s novel ‘Naukar Ki Kameez’ was adapted into a film of the same name by filmmaker Mani Kaul.

Paying him homage, Sanjeev Bakshi, author of the 2012 novel ‘Bhulan Kanda’, said: “We have lost one of the world’s greatest personalities. As time passes, we will be reminded more and more of the magnitude of this loss. His name falters on the lips—it is hard to accept that Vinod Ji is no longer with us. Yet, he will always remain vibrantly alive through his works”.