Ruskin Bond: Showcasing Nature through Literary work
An Indian author of British descent, a Padma Shri awardee, a Sahitya Academy awardee, an icon among
Indian writers and children's authors, a top novelist cum poet, Ruskin Bond, was born 19 May 1934, in
the beautiful valley of Kasuli in Himachal Pradesh. Belonging to the contemporary genre of writers, his
subjects are Autobiographical, Semi-autobiographical, Fiction, Non-fiction, novella, novelist, children
and young adult's.
Ruskin Bonds books portrays his love nature which was inculcated in him as a child by his father who
encouraged him to pen down about nature after their treks on the hills. His collection of short stories
titled "Our Trees Still Grow in Dehra", won him the Sahitya Akademi award in 1992. Ruskin Bond started
his writing in London with his first novel, The Room on the Roof, the semi-autobiographical story of the
orphaned Anglo-Indian boy Rusty, published when he was 21. This book fetched him the John Llewellyn
Rhys Prize in 1957 and hence forth have completed over 300 short stories, novels, essays and around 30
children’s online books. His contribution to children’s literature won him the Padma Shri, the most
coveted award for a civilian in India.
Having grown up in the hills, most of his writings showcase the life of hill stations in India especially the
foothills of Himalayas his love for nature and the people. With a very distinct writing style one that
enables the reader to understand landscape, have won him many critics as well as fans throughout the
literary world. All through his works, Ruskin Bond has enticing description about the flora and fauna of
the Himalayan regions. His autobiographical work which is two volumes –“The Rain In the Mountains”
which is based on his days at Mussorie and the “Scenes from a Writer’s Life” which depicts his first 21
years – his formative years of growing up in Dehra Dun , his trip to England and his vision to write and
publish.
Books by Ruskin Bond are stuffed with the personal experiences and his writings show a strong
influence of society. A number of writers, authors and scriptwriters of has been inspired his works and
the "The Flight of Pigeons" has been adapted to the silver screen. Whether it’s "The Night Train at Deoli",
"Time Stops at Shamli", "Our Trees Still Grow in Dehra", “A Flight of Pigeons", "Vagrants in The
Valley","The Blue Umbrella", "Funny Side Up" or any of his auto biographies that one is looking for,
online shopping will have these delivered at the doorstep.
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