Avay Shukla took up writing after retiring from the Indian civil service in 2010. He has published two books on trekking in the Himalayas and a compilation of short stories. A compulsive blogger, he has been published widely by print and digital media on subjects ranging from governance and the environment to law, social issues and satire. After completing a post-graduate degree at Delhi University, he taught English literature before joining the civil services in 1975.