Ruskin Bond facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Padmashri
Ruskin Bond |
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Bond in 2012
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| Born | 19 May 1934 Kasauli, Punjab States Agency, British India |
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| Language | English |
| Alma mater | Bishop Cotton School |
| Notable works | The Room on the Roof Our Trees Still Grow in Dehra A Flight of Pigeons The Blue Umbrella Granny's Tree Climbing Angry River |
| Notable awards | John Llewellyn Rhys Prize (1957) Sahitya Akademi Award (1992) Padma Shri (1999) Bal Sahitya Puraskar (2012) Padma Bhushan (2014) |
Ruskin Bond is a famous Indian author. He was born on May 19, 1934. His first book, The Room on the Roof, came out in 1956. It won the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize. Ruskin Bond has written over 500 stories, essays, and novels. This includes 69 books especially for children. He received the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1992. This award was for his book Our Trees Still Grow in Dehra. He was also honored with the Padma Shri in 1999 and the Padma Bhushan in 2014. These are two of India's highest civilian awards.
Contents
The Early Life of Ruskin Bond
Where and When He Was Born
Ruskin Bond was born on May 19, 1934. His birthplace was Kasauli, in what was then British India. His father, Aubrey Alexander Bond, was British. His mother, Edith Clarke, was Anglo-Indian.
His Childhood and Family
Ruskin and his sister Eldlen lived in Jamnagar for a while. His father taught English to princesses there. In 1939, his father joined the Royal Air Force. Ruskin, his mother, and sister then moved to Dehradun. Soon after, he went to a boarding school in Mussoorie.
When Ruskin was eight, his parents separated. His mother later married Hari. Ruskin's father arranged for him to live in New Delhi. He was very close to his father during this time (1942–1944). He called it one of the happiest times of his life.
Sadly, his father died from malaria in 1944. Ruskin was ten years old and at boarding school in Shimla. He was heartbroken by this news. After this, he was raised in Dehradun.
School Days and First Writings
Ruskin Bond attended Bishop Cotton School in Shimla. He finished school in 1951. He was very good at writing and won many competitions. He wrote one of his first short stories, "Untouchable," when he was just sixteen.
After school, he moved to the Channel Islands in 1951. He stayed there for two years. In London, at age seventeen, he began writing his first novel. This book was The Room on the Roof. It was a story about an orphaned Anglo-Indian boy named Rusty. The book later won the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize in 1957. This award is for young writers from the British Commonwealth.
While looking for a publisher, he worked in a photo studio. Once his novel was published, he used the money to return to India. He then settled in Dehradun.
Ruskin Bond's Writing Journey
Starting as a Freelance Writer
For several years, Ruskin Bond worked as a freelance writer. He lived in Delhi and Dehradun. He earned money by writing short stories and poems. These were published in newspapers and magazines. He once said he was happy doing what he loved best.
In 1963, Bond moved to Mussoorie. This town is in the Himalayan foothills. He liked the place and it was close to publishers in Delhi. He also edited a magazine for four years.
Working with Publishers
In the 1980s, Penguin started publishing books in India. They asked Ruskin Bond to write for them. Penguin India published two of his novels. These were The Room on the Roof and Vagrants in the Valley. Vagrants in the Valley was a sequel to his first book. Both were published together in 1993.
The next year, Penguin India published a collection of his non-fiction writings. It was called The Best of Bond Bond. Ruskin Bond also enjoyed writing ghost stories. He wrote popular books like Ghost Stories from the Raj and A Season of Ghosts.
His Many Books and Stories
Since then, he has written over 500 short stories, essays, and novels. His famous books include The Blue Umbrella and A Flight of Pigeons. The Hindi film Junoon was based on A Flight of Pigeons. He has also written more than 50 books for children.
He wrote his autobiography in two parts. Scenes from a Writer's Life tells about his early years. Lone Fox Dancing is a further autobiography. The Lamp is Lit is a collection of essays and entries from his journal.
Since 1963, Bond has lived in Mussoorie as a freelance writer. He lives with his adoptive family in Ivy Cottage in Landour. This has been his home since 1980. He loves that he has been able to write for so long.
Themes and Style in His Works
Inspired by the Himalayas
Most of Ruskin Bond's stories are influenced by his childhood. He grew up in the hill stations of the Himalayas. The Room on the Roof was written when he was 17. It was published when he was 22. This book was partly based on his own experiences. It tells about his friends and his small rented room in Dehradun.
Writing for Children
Ruskin Bond's first children's book was Angry River, published in 1972. He made it simpler for young readers at his publisher's request. He said that having a lonely childhood helped him understand children better. His books show his Anglo-Indian background. They also show how India changed over time.
Exploring Different Genres
Ruskin Bond has been a writer for over 50 years. He has tried many different types of writing. His early works included fiction, short stories, and novellas. Some of these were about his own life. Later, he wrote non-fiction, romance, and books for children.
He enjoys writing essays and short stories the most. He sees himself as a "visual writer." For short stories, he first imagines them like a film. Then he writes them down. For essays or travelogues, he likes the unexpected.
His Favorite Books to Read
Ruskin Bond enjoys reading books by other authors too. He likes Just William by Richmal Crompton. He also enjoys Billy Bunter by Charles Hamilton. Classic books like Alice in Wonderland are also among his favorites. He also likes the works of Charles Dickens and Mark Twain.
Ruskin Bond's Stories on Screen
Movies Based on His Books
Many of Ruskin Bond's stories have been made into films and TV shows. The 1978 Bollywood film Junoon is based on his novel A Flight of Pigeons. This story is about an event during the Indian Rebellion of 1857. Shashi Kapoor produced the film, and Shyam Benegal directed it.
In 2005, director Vishal Bhardwaj made a film called The Blue Umbrella. It was based on Bond's popular children's novel. This movie won the National Film Award for Best Children's Film.
TV Series and His Acting Debut
The "Rusty" stories were made into a Doordarshan TV series. It was called Ek Tha Rusty. Many of his stories are also part of school lessons in India. These include The Night Train at Deoli and Our Trees Still Grow in Dehra.
Ruskin Bond even appeared in a movie himself! He made his first big-screen appearance in 2011. This was in Vishal Bhardwaj's film 7 Khoon Maaf. The movie was based on Bond's short story Susanna's Seven Husbands. In the film, Bond played a bishop.
More recently, an Indian web series called Parchhayee: Ghost Stories by Ruskin Bond was released on Zee5. It is based on his ghost stories.
The Character of Rusty
Who is Rusty?
Rusty is a very popular character created by Ruskin Bond. He is a 16-year-old Anglo-Indian boy. Rusty lives in Dehradun and does not have a real family. His character helps readers see life through a teenager's eyes. He deals with questions about life, relationships, and happiness.
Rusty lives with his guardian, John Harrison. Harrison is strict and harsh. Rusty feels helpless because he must follow his guardian's rules. He knows he will be punished if he disobeys. Rusty feels very lonely in Harrison's house.
Rusty's Adventures and Dreams
Rusty wants to experience Indian culture and life. He secretly makes friends with Indian boys in the local market. He hides these adventures from Harrison. Soon, he decides to run away from Harrison. He dreams of going to England.
The character of Rusty is based on Ruskin Bond himself as a teenager. His first book, The Room on the Roof, was semi-autobiographical. Rusty was the main character. The story was based on Bond's friends and his time in a rented room in Dehradun. Many of Rusty's early adventures happen in Dehradun. Ruskin Bond loved Dehradun, and its hills and valleys inspired many of his stories.
Books Featuring Rusty
Here are some of the novels and short stories that feature Rusty:
- The Room on the Roof
- Vagrants in the Valley (a sequel to The Room on the Roof)
- Rusty, the Boy from the Hills (a collection of short stories)
- Rusty Runs Away (a collection of short stories)
- Rusty and the Magic Mountain
- Rusty Goes to London
- Rusty Comes Home
- The Adventures of Rusty (a collection of short stories)
- Delhi Is Not Far
- Rusty Plays Holi
- Rusty and the Leopard
See also
- List of Indian writers
