He became most known for his short stories, depicting the struggles and the fighting spirit of the Indian lower and lower-middle class, which he embodied himself and expressed through his writings all through his life, and which gave him the title – People's Writer or 'Jankathakar'.

[2][3][4] And as, Hindi Littérateur, Pankaj Bisht puts it, "how intimate was his depiction of the displaced people from the villages in the urban slums, and those compelled to live and die on footpaths.

Fatedness – the lopsided policies of progress – they were its victims; and yet, their inner life was so full of humanism and faith.

Thereafter, he moved to Haldwani, where he spent the rest of his years, though suffering a depression attack in July 1995, he often travelled to Delhi and Lucknow, for treatment, despite that he continued writing prolifically.

After his death, 'Shailesh Matiyani Smriti Katha Puraskar' was established by the Madhya Pradesh Government.