PM Narendra Modi checks on ailing Chhattisgarh legends Vinod Kumar Shukla and Teejan Bai

RAIPUR: “Writing is like breathing for me. I want to go back home at the soonest — I want to keep writing,” said renowned Hindi poet and novelist Vinod Kumar Shukla, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi called him on Saturday to inquire about his health.

The 89-year-old Jnanpith and Sahitya Akademi award-winning author, who has been undergoing treatment for age-related ailments at a private hospital in Raipur, spoke softly but with the same poetic depth that defines his writing. “Even in illness, his mind was with his pen,” said a family member, describing the moving moment.


Two days earlier, Shukla had requested Assembly Speaker Raman Singh, who visited him at the hospital, to arrange for a pen and paper so that he could continue writing from his bed, a gesture that reflected his undying devotion to his craft.


The Prime Minister, who landed in Raipur for a day-long visit to mark 25 years of Chhattisgarh’s statehood, began his official engagements by personally reaching out to two of the state’s most revered cultural icons — Vinod Kumar Shukla, the literary visionary and Padma Vibhushan Teejan Bai, the celebrated folk artist known for her Pandvani exponent.

Before participating in the statehood celebrations, Modi chose to make time for this quieter act of concern.

“Writing is like breathing for me,” says Vinod Kumar Shukla

When the Prime Minister spoke to Shukla, the veteran writer’s trembling yet determined voice revealed both frailty and conviction. “Writing is like breathing for me. I want to go home soon — I want to keep writing,” he told the Prime Minister.

His family member said the Prime Minister praised Shukla’s literary legacy and wished him good health, acknowledging his contribution to Hindi literature.

Regarded as one of the most original and introspective voices in modern Hindi, Shukla’s works such as “Naukar Ki Kameez”, “Deewar Mein Ek Khidki Rehti Thi”, and “Khilega Toh Dekhenge” have redefined the possibilities of Indian prose.

PM expresses concern for folk legend Teejan Bai

The Prime Minister also called Venu Dewshmukh, the daughter-in-law of Teejan Bai, to check on the ailing folk artist’s health.

“PM Modi’s secretary called first and said the Prime Minister wanted to speak. He greeted me, introduced himself, and asked about Teejan Bai’s condition. When I told him she’s having trouble swallowing and is very weak, he said, ‘Arey baap re… please let me know if you need anything,’” recalled Venu, speaking to TOI.

Nearing the age of 70, Teejan Bai, known globally for bringing Pandvani, the traditional oral narration of the Mahabharata — to international prominence, has been suffering from paralysis and diabetes for the past month. She is bedridden and struggling with speech and food intake.

Chhattisgarh government has sanctioned ₹5 lakh for her medical care, while a dedicated medical team comprising a doctor and a physiotherapist has been deployed to her home in Ganiyari village, Durg district.

Vinod Kumar Shukla, born in Rajnandgaon, is celebrated as one of the most distinctive voices in Hindi literature. A poet, novelist, and thinker, his writings explore beauty in the ordinary, turning everyday moments into reflections on life and imagination. In 2023, he was conferred the Jnanpith Award, India’s highest literary honour, for his profound contribution to modern Hindi fiction.

Teejan Bai, born in Pandarpani village of Durg district, rose from humble beginnings to become an international ambassador of Chhattisgarh’s folk tradition. Her powerful recitations of Pandvani have captivated audiences from rural India to world stages. Honoured with the Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Vibhushan, she remains one of the most respected living exponents of India’s storytelling heritage.