Yamunādutta Vaishṇav "Ashok"

2 October, 1915 – 12 March, 2009

Y. D. Vaishnav " Ashok" was born on 2 October 1915. He is considered a doyen and progenitor of Hindi science fiction. His writing career began in 1937 while he was doing Bachelors in Physics with honors at Allahabad University. He published his first short story that was published in in University magazine was awarded second prize. The very next year his short story " Jalli Chitthi" was awarded the first prize while famous hindi poet Dr. Harivanshrai Bachchan's story "Patthar aur Devta" was awarded the second prize in the same comptetion. He went on to write many more science fiction short stories as well as novels, most promonent amongst them was his short story " Vagyanic ki Patni" for which he was honored with the preeminent Hindi Science Fiction Writer Award. He was honored by then Prime minister of India Mrs Indira Gandhi for his contribution to Hindi literature in 1982.