**Celebrating the 87th birth anniversary of one of India’s favorite children’s authors- Ruskin Bond** (Words: 598)

**Celebrating the 87th birth anniversary of one of India’s favorite children’s authors- Ruskin Bond**
(Words: 598)

Who wouldn’t cherish the days when grandma narrated mystical stories filled with wonder to us at bedtime? Stories have been an integral part of our lives since we were just toddlers.

They provide us with a window, to look out of our mundane lives, to look beyond and escape to a magical world. On the 87th birth anniversary of Ruskin Bond, let’s glance through the life of one of India’s greatest storytellers.

**“For every time I see the sky I am aware of belonging to the universe, than just one corner of the earth”- Ruskin Bond**

**Who is Ruskin Bond?**

One couldn’t have imagined one’s childhood without the simplistic and enchanting stories of Ruskin Bond.

Ruskin Bond is the name that in itself is synonymous with children’s literature, a name that is capable of reviving our dusted childhood memories, bringing a credulous smile on the faces of people belonging to any age group.

**Style of writing**:

**An essence of India**: Ruskin Bond, born to Edith Clarke and Aubrey Alexander Bond was not only born Indian, but he also asserted that he is an Indian by History, by choice, and above all by heart.

His stories are weaved around Indian landscapes, be it the ‘Room on the Roof’, ‘The night train at Deoli’, ‘Our trees still grow in Dehra’, ‘Time stops at Shamli & other stories’, ‘Roads to Mussoorie’, among others.

**Simplistic, yet enchanting**: The stories by Ruskin Bond are light-hearted and humorous, they are simple tales that talk about everyday life. Through his stories, he tries to capture the simple wonders of a beautiful childhood.

**Painter of words & admirer of nature**: His stories emphasize the inextricable bond between man and nature. Growing up in the lap of nature, in the hills of Shimla, Mussoorie, Kasauli, Dehradun, and Jamnagar, his understanding and love for nature is unparalleled.

**“It is the same with the mountains, once you have lived with them for any length of time, you belong to them. There is no escape”** – Ruskin Bond

His intricate descriptions of nature linger in the minds of the readers like a sweet fragrance lingers from a fully blown flower in the spring.
Other themes touched upon by Ruskin Bond in his novels and short stories were unrequited love, partition, going against the norms set by society, and his personal life experiences from his journals.

**Famous works**:

Ruskin Bond, an avid and charismatic writer has the credit of writing close to 100 short stories and 2 autobiographies. The first, in a series of 2 of his autobiographies: ‘Scenes from a writer’s life’ traverses 20 years of his life.

And, the second, ‘The lamp is lit’ captures his life after his return to India from England after 2 years.

Other famous works of the exemplary writer include: ‘The Blue Umbrella’, ‘Cherry tree’, ‘Rain in the mountains’, ‘How to be a writer’ and ‘A book of simple living’, among others.

**Awards & Honors**:

The prolific writer won many prestigious awards for his writings, which include:

– The John Llewellyn Rhys Prize conferred to him in the year 1957,
– Sahitya Akademi Award in 1992
– Padma Shri in 1992 &
– Padma Bhushan in 2014

A simplistic man, Ruskin is not scared of the idea of death, if given a chance to be reborn, he’d be elated to be born a parrot on a mango tree. Filled with optimism, he sees each day as a celebration and takes the distressing times of the pandemic in his stride as an opportunity to bond with mother nature.