Vyomesh Shukla

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Vyomesh Shukla, born on June 25, 1980, in Banaras, is a poet, essayist, critic, translator, theatre director, and cultural theorist. He began his literary journey in 2004, writing on the life, history, and culture of Banaras, and soon emerged as a significant voice in contemporary Indian literature.In 2005, he gained wide recognition for his Hindi translation of Elliot Weinberger’s What I Heard About Iraq, published in Pahal. His translations also include works by Noam Chomsky, Howard Zinn, Edward Said, and Mahasweta Devi.

His honors include the Bharat Bhushan Aggarwal Smriti Samman (2009) for poetry, the Raza Foundation Fellowship (2011) for criticism, and the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar from the Sangeet Natak Akademi for theatre direction.

His poetry collections Phir Bhi Kuch Log (2009) and Kajal Lagana Bhulna (2020), and his non-fiction works Aag Aur Pani (2023) and the bestselling memoir Garajta have made major contributions to contemporary Hindi literature. His poems have been translated by renowned poet and translator Mantra Mukim, and his non-fiction book 'Aag Aur Pani' by critic and cultural commentator Ashutosh Kumar Thakur.

As a playwright and director, he has staged over 125 productions, including Ram Ki Shakti Puja, Rashmirathi, and Macbeth, with performances in India and on an ICCR-supported European tour.

He currently serves as Pradhanmantri of the historic Nagari Pracharini Sabha. India Today has named him among India’s most influential socio-cultural voices, and The Indian Express has listed him among the country’s most promising poets

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Vyomesh Shukla

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