Delayed though not denied

Vinod Kumar Shukla wins the Gyanpeeth this year. The unbearable lightness of his prose, his unassuming, self effacing personality and rootedness in his own singular, idiosyncratic tradition are sui generis. Note his reaction when informed of the prize:

“I’ve seen a lot (in life), heard a lot and felt a lot but I could write only a little. When I think of how much I needed to write… It feels like a lot remains. Till I remain (alive), I want to complete my remaining writings but I may not be able to finish my work… Due to this, I’m in a great dilemma. I want to pursue my life through my writing, but my life is rapidly approaching its end and I don’t know how to write that fast, so I feel a bit regretful.”

and also this:

“I’ve read very little. You tell me your favourite authors. If they are mine too, I will say yes,”

While he is known most for his novels 'Deewar mein ek khidki rahti thi' (tr. In the wall there lived a window) and 'Naukar ki kameez' (tr. The servant's shirt) (made into a film later by Mani Kaul) his deeply original simplicity and unadorned style in his poetry is his dinstictive hallmark. Observe his famous poem 'Hatasha se ek vyakti baith gaya' (tr. In desperation, a person sat down)

हताशा से एक व्यक्ति बैठ गया था

व्यक्ति को मैं नहीं जानता था

हताशा को जानता था

इसलिए मैं उस व्यक्ति के पास गया

मैंने हाथ बढ़ाया

मेरा हाथ पकड़कर वह खड़ा हुआ

मुझे वह नहीं जानता था

मेरे हाथ बढ़ाने को जानता था

हम दोनों साथ चले

दोनों एक दूसरे को नहीं जानते थे

साथ चलने को जानते थे

Translated below:

Desperate, a man sat down,

I didn't know him,

I knew desperation,

so I went close to him

and reached out my hand –

holding it, he stood up,

he didn't know me, he knew

my reaching out the hand,

from there, we walked together,

neither of us knew the other –

both knew walking together.

Truly a singular being. Here's more in the Indian Express: ‘A storyteller of hope & light’: Vinod Kumar Shukla wins Jnanpith award.