An English Gentleman at Birth and a Pahadi at Heart, Ruskin Bond has enchanted several generations of Indian and International readers with his distinct style and imagery evoking storytelling. Born in the quiet and charming hill station of Kasauli, to British parents, Ruskin Bond has always been fascinated by the beauty of India. The people and the beautiful hill stations of Himachal have been lovingly described in several of his books. His love of the Indian culture has led him to completely adopt the customs and practices of this country with open arms.
His notable stories like The Blue Umbrella, The Night Train at Deoli, Our Trees still grows at Dehra and others offer a slice of life at the foothills of Himalayas.
Through his writing he captures the margins of India and the splendor and joy of living. He is a pioneer of Children’s Literature in India, with his engaging tales written in a simple, lucid style, connecting him to several children and inciting a feeling of quiet solitude and nostalgia, which is a recurring theme in his books. Several of his books, like the semi-autobiographical The Room on the Roof are coming of age and childhood reminisces based on his experiences growing up as a lonely Anglo-Indian boy in Himachal.
Unlike other authors who exoticize and sensationalize the Indian experience, Ruskin Bond with a gentle writing style invites you to see the authentic India without adding fabrication.
His characters are ordinary people you would come across everyday and their experiences are written in such a way as to give a deep insight into their lives.
Ruskin Bond has won several awards including the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award for ‘Our Trees still Grow in Dehra’ and has been honoured with the third highest civilian honour in India, Padma Bhushan for his contributions in Indian Literature and bringing renown to the country with his work.
