FIVE MOST BEAUTIFUL AUTHORS WHICH YOU WILL LOVE A LOT

 PART- 1

Get Lost in the hills with Ruskin Bond!

Hi people!
Book Cafe is back with another exciting author! We hope you enjoyed reading our previous blog on Enid Blyton. This time we will talk about India’s best loved writer, the inimitable, Ruskin Bond.

Ruskin Bond’s short stories, novellas and novels have always been part of our student lives. Some schools teach his  short stories in the lower classes and a lot of boards have incorporated some of his novels in their curriculum for English. In fact, Ek tha Rusty, the tele series on his stories on Doordarshan has been a personal favourite.
What is it about this 79 year old author that makes us want to read his books at every age?
Ruskin Bond’s greatest charm lies in the fact that all his characters are everyday, relatable people doing things that come naturally to them. His characters are the rickshaw wala bhaiya who drives you to school, the kite maker at the end of the gully you live in, the old grouchy uncle above your flat, the gardener, the nanny, the class teacher, the pesky neighborhood aunty and uncle.. the list goes on and on.
Of course there are also mad Ranis who offer delightful chocolates, mischievous ghosts that can even upset your stomach, the clever parrot who just refuses to talk, the ubiquitous and eccentric uncles, affable policemen and mysterious guards who can chill your bones with the scariest of ghost stories! His stories fill you with the desire to walk through the hills, inhale the freshness and become one with nature.
We are compiling a rich mix of some of Ruskin Bond’s best works and hope you will enjoy them as much as we have.
Panther’s Moon:

This is a light thriller which narrates the story of young Bisnu who loses his pet dog to a man eating panther that has been a menace in and around his village. As he comes back from school, Bisnu realises that the threat now extends to his mother and sister too.
Ruskin Bond uses everyday activities of the Kumaonis and the hardships faced by them, the wild animals around, the degeneration of the forest cover due to industrialization to weave a beautiful story about human will and the symbiotic relationship between Man and the fragile ecosystem around him.
Angry River:

This novel is one of the widely acclaimed books written by Bond. The Angry River is about young Sita who lives with her grandparents in a mud hut on an island surrounded by the friendly but mighty river. Her only friend is her doll Mumta. Krishan, an orphan befriends her and they embark on a beautiful friendship. However, one day the mighty river swells up due to heavy rains and with it, carries away Mumta and Sita’s grandmother. How do Sita, Krishan and Sita’s grandfather cope with this loss?
An emotional ride, this novel talks about the might of human will against calamity, companionship, friendship , loneliness and loss. A must read.
Room on the Roof:

This was Ruskin Bond’s debut novel which won him the prestigious John Llewellyn Rhys Memorial Prize at the age of 17! The novel is about young Anglo Indian Rusty who runs away from the house of his strict guardian, Mr Harrison to live with his young and more fun Indian friends. You must read this book to understand why Ruskin Bond is so dearly loved.
Night Train to Deoli and other Stories:

A beautiful collection of stories that focus on the innocence and awkwardness of the turbulent teenage years. There is the shyness of first love, the adventure that can only be experienced by young people on the hills, the long drawn train rides and the interesting people the author meets on his way to his grandmother.
Our Trees still grow in Dehra:
This novella is semi autobiographical and borders on the nostalgia associated with Bond’s deceased father. Young Ruskin and his father sow some seeds on a small island between the river and hope to one day come back and see them growing. It is a beautiful account of the time the author spent with his father. An older Ruskin comes back to Dehra to find all those seeds becoming big trees pulsating with life.
The Woman on Platform Number 8
This story is one of the best loved short stories written by Bond. You might have read it in your textbooks too. A young Arun finds the company of a mysterious but motherly lady in a white sari and changes the whole concept of not talking to strangers for us.
The Thief:
Another emotional read, The Thief is about a boy who comes to live with an author and steals from him. Slowly he realises that the author knew he was a thief but never let on the knowledge to the police. Instead he showered him with love that only a family can bestow on a child. This book is about the journey of the thief who becomes honest and hardworking in the end. The best part about this book is that it is not preachy yet it is able to subtly send across a powerful message.
A Flight of Pigeons:

This novel revolves around the time of Partition where a young and beautiful Anglo Indian is abducted by a Pathan. It effectively portrays the confluence of two cultures, ideals and political stances.
This is just the beginning. Over the years he has written so many books that it is hard to keep count of all of them!
Go on, read up on this wonderful author and tell us which one of the books you liked.