Youth Incorporated Magazine

Had it not been for his stories, many of the kids would have never had the imagination-filled childhood they had. Ruskin Bond was a favourite part of everyone’s childhood. His stories not only helped children build the quality of imagination, but also spurred a variety of emotions and taught some very important life lessons. 

Our beloved man is soon going to turn 87 on this coming 19th and thus has curated a brand new book of some of his favourite and must-read stories. He has titled the book “All Time Favourites for Children”. What is interesting about this new release is that it just doesn’t hold his most cherished stories but also quirky and cheerful artwork that is sure to take the readers on an adventurous ride. 

Besides, Bond’s stories are also seeing new characters in addition to our already loved ones. It comes along with his latest short story named ‘A Song of India’ which was released last July marking the beginning of Ruskin Bond’s 70-year career as a writer. 

From a tender age, Bond immersed in reading. To him, reading was so addictive, he used to finish reading five books in a week. This hobby then acted as an outlet for him to turn into a writer at the age of 16. In 1951 his first story ever was published in a local magazine. From then on, Ruskin Bond has never put down his pen. In 1957, he received the John Llewellyn Rhys Memorial Prize for his book “The Room on the Roof” which he wrote at the age of 17. Besides this, the writer has also been awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award, the Padma Shri, and the Delhi government’s Lifetime Achievement Award very recently in the year 2012. In his 70 years long career, Ruskin Bond has penned down 500 short stories, essays and novellas. He also has more than 40 books under his name specially written for children. 

“A Song of India marks 70 years of my long writing career which began when I was sixteen. In these seven decades, I have written hundreds of stories for children and just as many for adults too, and I am still continuing to do so. I am very fortunate to have lived in a beautiful part of the country, in the mountains. I am blessed to have received inspiration from the natural world around me, from children and animals, and all of this is reflected in my works,” Bond tells IANS. 

For all of you who need a break from the cacophony of the news media anchors and reels, it’s time to turn to our writer and lose ourselves in the world of his stories. The book will be available for the readers on his birthday, 19th May. Ruskin Bond is now basking in the glory of life in Landour, Mussoorie, with his extended family.