87 but not Rusty: On Ruskin Bond's birthday, pick up his new and classic titles

The prolific writer — a favourite with children — was born in Kasauli in 1934. We round up some of the best reads by the author

Ruskin Bond is one of the most cherished names in children's fiction. For many, the Indian writer of British descent has been an integral part of our childhood, across generations but  adults often find themselves equally enthralled by the tales he spins. 

Most of his works are set in hill stations given his connection with the Himalayas. Born in Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh, in 1934, Bond famously lives in Landour, Mussoorie now, where fans would regularly arrive to pay him a visit. The 1992 Sahitya Academy Award winner went on to receive the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan awards too. 

On his 87th birthday, Puffin (an imprint of Penguin Random House) released ‘All Time Favourites for Children’. It features 25 stories including a mix of his popular favourites and a few new stories. Additionally, we list some of Bond’s other titles that should not be missed. 

The Room on the Roof

If you want to get introduced to Bond’s writing, The Room on the Roof is where you should start. This is his first novel and also the debut of his most popular fictional character, the orphaned teenager Rusty. This book traces the journey of Rusty and the situations he faces in the years after he runs away from his strict guardian. Bond had written this novel when he was just 17 years old. He also received the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize for it.

The Blue Umbrella

The story is set in a small village in Himachal Pradesh. It focuses on a young girl named Binya who receives a beautiful blue umbrella in exchange for her leopard claw pendant. A local shop owner is jealous of her umbrella and wants to get it from her but Binya refuses to trade her umbrella. The book was also adapted into a film by the same name and it was directed by Vishal Bhardwaj. 

Delhi is not Far

In this book, Bond very beautifully portrays the aspirations of the residents of a small town in India. We get introduced to the residents of Pipalnagar through the narrator Arun, a struggling detective fiction writer. Bond, very sensitively and poignantly, paints the portrait of life and wisdom of the people living away from India’s big cities. 

Roads to Mussoorie

Bond takes the readers on a journey to his beloved Mussoorie. He describes his journeys to and from Mussoorie over the years, and then gives a peek into his life and friends in the hill town. Peppered with his signature sense of humour and beautiful illustrations, ‘Roads to Mussoorie’ is an unforgettable description of the writer’s environs and the part they have played in his work and life.

Our Trees Still Grow in Dehra

This a semi-autobiographical book featuring 14 charming stories. They span from the author’s childhood years to the present. In a series of beautifully imagined and crafted appearances, we are introduced to the author’s family, friends, and various other people who have left an indelible impression on him. It also has stories of Bond’s beloved Garhwal hills and the small towns and villages that he has returned to time and again in his fiction. He was awarded the Sahitya Academy Award in 1992 for this novel.

Love among the Bookshelves

Bond’s stories have been a part of the formative years of many readers. In this part anthology, part memoir, the writer introduces us to the stories he grew up with. ‘Love among the Bookshelves’ shares a glimpse of Bond’s life through the books he has loved. 

A Season of Ghosts

Lovers of everything spooky and supernatural, this book needs to be on your to-read list. The master storyteller and expert of mysterious tales, weaves magic with his words in this collection of short stories. Most of these are set amidst the mists of Bond’s beloved mountains. From the fairy folk in ‘On Fairy Hill’ to the very proper witch, Miss Bellows, in ‘The Black Cat’, and a gripping mystery ‘Who Killed the Rani?’, these stories keep you hooked throughout.

Lone Fox Dancing

Bond’s Lone Fox Dancing is an anecdotal look at his life and world -- places, people, and events that shaped the writer. From his growing-up years to his boarding school memories during the Partition, and his brush with racism as a white boy in India – he opens up about everything. 

Also Read: How oral historians and archivists are struggling to keep memories alive

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