To the quiet genius

Ruskin bond has finally won his much deserved and much delayed Padma Bhushan. This third highest honor in the country was long awaited in the armor of Bond, the most prominent and influential face of children's literature in India and my favorite author of all times. Already awarded the Padma Shri in 1999, Ruskin himself, though, must be surely unperturbed by any of these sentiments shared by all his fans. Well known to be media shy and deeply humble, Ruskin is simple and unassuming, and far removed from any of this trumpet blast.

Being a self confessed Ruskin Bond fan for almost all my life, I have decided to commemorate this beautiful moment in my beloved favorite author’s life by listing down 10 facts about him. So, here they are:

1. Ruskin Bond was born in Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh, in 1934, in a military hospital, to Edith Clerke and Aubrey Bond
2. Ruskin Bond grew up in Jamnagar (Gujarat), Dehradun and Shimla
3. He completed his schooling at Bishop Cotton School in Shimla, from where he graduated in 1952
4. His first novel, "The Room on The Roof", written at the age of 17, received the John Llewellyn Rhys Memorial Prize in 1957. He started writing this novel during his brief stint in England
5. Ruskin Bond has an interest in the paranormal, which led him to write popular titles such as Ghost Stories from the Raj, A Season of Ghosts, and A Face in the Dark and other Hauntings.
6. He now lives with his adopted family in Landour, near Mussoorie, Mussoorie’s well-known Ivy Cottage where he confessed to be inspired everyday towards writing more beautiful stories.
7. The Hindi film Junoon is based on Bond's historical novella A Flight of Pigeons (about an episode during the Indian Rebellion of 1857). It was produced by Shashi Kapoor and directed by Shyam Benegal. Ruskin Bond made his maiden big screen appearance with a cameo in Vishal Bhardwaj's film 7 Khoon Maaf, based on his short story Susanna's Seven Husbands.
8. Many of his short stories have been incorporated in school curricula. This includes stories such as The Night Train at Deoli, 'Time Stops at Shamli' and 'Our Trees Still Grow in Dehra'.
9. In 1987, the Indian Council for Child Education recognized Ruskin Bond's pioneering role in the growth of children's literature in India, and awarded him the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1992 for Our Trees Still Grow in Dehra.
10. Bond, trying to avoid the controversy and confusion around the label of "Anglo-Indian," prefers instead to call himself simply "Indian,". His "Indian-ness" is obvious, especially seeing how his stories are steeped in the culture, religion, and indeed, the very soil of India.

Here’s wishing this literary genius gifted with immense talent and yet inspiring humility, many more years or brilliant literature ahead. May we have many more of Ruskin’s breed in the world! 

And, for all of you reading this post, now waiting to get your hands on one of the master's books? Well, you can buy Rusty's books here and here.

 

Please allow me conclude this post for you in Ruskin’s own spectacularly lovely words,

Dear reader, 

May you have the wisdom to be simple, and the humour to be happy.!

(Image courtesy: newindianexpress.com and financialexpress.com, Information courtesy: Various author / publisher sites and wikipedia )