With Ruskin Bond
January 28th, 2007
I made a small video of a part of our conversation while we were there, and took some pictures of him with my father and me.
December 7, 2006
Jolly Grant, Dehra (India)
On a day when I failed to make it to the ‘hardly-known’ Pari Tibba (the infamous burnt/haunted hill), the day ended with a pleasant meeting with one of my all-time favorite authors, Ruskin Bond.
On our way to Lal Tibba, we saw Ruskin standing on the narrow lane outside his Ivy Cottage in Landour area. He greeted us with a heart-warming smile and invited us (me and my father) upstairs. My father was very much surprised by how humble such a famous person can be. We sat and talked for a while in his sitting room. As expected it was full of books, old photographs, and the aroma that is ever present in his stories.
Although my main purpose of visiting Mussoorie was to meet Ruskin, I almost would have missed by him if his lunch company hadn’t been late. He was enjoying the Himalayan peaks from the narrow road when we drove up and stopped by the roadside. He said that someone was supposed to pick him up for lunch, but was running late. And lo! Before I could say another word, he invited us to come up for a while to have a chat. I told him that I have been reading his stories for almost 15 years and how I’d always wanted to meet the person whose pen could churn out words so simple, yet heartfelt.
We sat and chatted for a while before a magazine called him from Bombay, wanting to know his 5 favorite Authors. At the end, I asked him to recite a poem and autograph his book, “The Rupa Book of Ruskin Bond’s Himalayan Tales”. I knew that he loved the old American Opera music of Eddy Nelson and Jeanette McDonald, so I had taken their music collection with me from the States, which I presented to him.
To view the photos from my visit, click here.
Popularity: 30% [?]
on 02 Mar 2007 at 3:48 pm 1.Nikhil said …
Hi Gautam
I came here through orkut’s Ruskin community and discovered this heart-warming site of yours.
Thanks a ton for the Bond pics. They are awesome and so clear
Its one of my ardent desires to meet him, which I hope to fulfill this summer.
The vid is still buffering as I write this..so comment on it later.
“Despite everything, each morning I look at the birds and the warm sun shining behind the clouds – and I realize that I still have another song to sing – another tale to tell. May be tomorrow, when winds aren’t cold and sun’s a bit warmer, I’ll tell you another story…”
Hmmm…why do I get this feeling that we are gonna be great friends
on 22 Mar 2007 at 11:37 am 2.kevin said …
Hi ,
After meeting Ruskin did you get the feelings he is a lonely man ?and how tall is Ruskin
Thanks
Ps love the pics if him love this books too
Thanks kevin
on 22 Mar 2007 at 11:40 am 3.kevin said …
Hi
After meeting Ruskin did you think he is a lonely man and how tall would you say he is ?
And I really like the pics of him .
Thanks
Kevin
on 22 Mar 2007 at 11:58 am 4.Gautam said …
Lonely? Not in this life. He is a truly happy, content, calm, and one of the most humble people you will ever meet. Even though he was running late for lunch he invited us over to his room for a chit chat. We had a good conversation and I’ll visit him again when I’m in Dehra.
He is about 5″6′ ish tall.
on 03 Apr 2007 at 11:18 pm 5.Neeraj Tiwari said …
Hey Gautam,
Like you,I am also an ardent fan of Ruskin Bond and want to meet him someday.
Can you tell me does he speak Hindi or does he have an Indian accent?
And what,according to you,I must keep in my mind before meeting him?
Please reply.
Keep in touch.
on 07 May 2007 at 7:04 am 6.niyanta said …
hey gautam…
it must hav been a dream cum true to meet mr bond in person….
must say tat u r really lucky…..and the pictures are fabulous…thanks a lot for sharing them…
i m a die hard fan of bond and really desparate to meet him…u think he’ll meet me….
on 18 May 2007 at 12:45 am 7.Archana said …
hi i love mr. bonds work on litrature thanks to you to give me an opportunit to know him more
on 28 May 2007 at 2:26 am 8.Maneesh said …
Hi Gautam,
Thanks a ton for putting this video for all Bond fans. God bless you!
on 28 Sep 2007 at 11:23 am 9.Ritu said …
hey its been fab on ur end 2 put the clips …It must hav been a enthralling experience…
on 22 Oct 2007 at 8:33 am 10.Gautam said …
Thanks everyone
It was a dream come true to meet the Real Rusty!!
on 09 Feb 2008 at 9:01 am 11.Sreemoy said …
Hi
I am very fond of Ruskin since I went to college in 70s. His simplicity and child like comments make him all the more lovable. I wish I could meet him and fulfil one of my cherished dreams.
on 18 Feb 2008 at 8:38 am 12.Madhumita arora said …
hi,
its a pleasure watching this vedio and viewing his pictures. Im a great fan of him. looking at his pictures make me feel like i have actually met him. I have been to his place , gota view from outside only. But i will suely meet him one day. I have written him a letter also, hope to get a reply.
thankuuuuuuuuuuuu soooooooooooooooo muchhhhhhhhhhhh
on 18 Feb 2008 at 5:41 pm 13.Gautam said …
Hope you meet him Madhumita
on 18 Jun 2008 at 8:06 am 14.eshita said …
can ruskin’s best poems be send to my mail if so plz send b’coz i require them for my project
on 03 Aug 2008 at 1:50 pm 15.Rishutosh jain ( luckysr ) said …
i see this video i like it thx…luckysr
on 03 Aug 2008 at 1:52 pm 16.Rishutosh jain ( luckysr ) said …
or haan… pls meet this great man to Madhumita arora…mit…
on 19 Sep 2008 at 5:13 am 17.sunayana said …
Hi
Im a lecturer in English and ive read plenty of books by ruskin bond wen i was in school.I cried a lot wen i read love is a sad song .
Infact i wanted to marry ruskin bond and my friends still make fun of me foe dat. thought i still cherish dat desire bt i know he wil refuse my proposal bt if i meet him i wud try once wen i meet him which i want to very badly. if i fail to meet him before its tooo late i think i will take this guilt to my grave hoping to meet him sand ya also his family
i wish him all d luck
on 07 Nov 2008 at 4:03 am 18.Ashwin said …
Dear Gautam,
Ruskin Bond is one of my favourite authors, just like you profess as well. I am planning to go to meet him at Landour.
Could you please send me his postal address or phone number os that i will be able to intimate him about my arrival.
I would be very grateful if you could send me the information on ashwin.gambhir@gmail.com
thanks
ashwin
on 14 Dec 2008 at 4:35 am 19.Udita said …
Hey Gautam,
Stumbled upon your website at random and was greeted with such a pleasant surprise that it brought a smile to my face.I’ve always loved Ruskin Bond and his books have been a constant companion during rainy days by the window.I would have loved it even more if you had asked him questions about the stories behind his poems..i always wondered who he wrote that poem for ‘Its not time thats passing’ …Thanks for the post anyways…maybe someday i will ask that question myself
on 14 Dec 2008 at 1:48 pm 20.Gautam said …
Hi Udita, thanks for visiting. I know, it was kind of a rushed meeting and since he put off his lunch meeting for me, I didn’t want to delay him by long. He did ask me to call up next time before coming so we could spend more time
on 27 Dec 2008 at 1:47 am 21.Yogesh said …
Hey there,
I noticed one of people here had asked for Ruskin Bond’s contact info. I would also like to contact him. Is it possible to get his email eddy or his phone number. Is he still in Mussorie? Or moved some place else? Kindly write back ASAP whoever can help with the info.
With sincere thanks,
Yogesh
on 27 Dec 2008 at 12:00 pm 22.Gautam said …
Hi Yogesh,
Ruskin Bond still cherishes his typewriter and stays miles away from Computers, so no email for him. I will send you his phone number by email. The best way to reach to him is to write him. He still reads all letters. He is still in Landour. Here’s his address:
Ruskin Bond
Ivy Cottage
Landour Cantt
P.O. Mussoorie, Uttarakhand
PIN – 248179
on 29 Dec 2008 at 3:04 pm 23.Gudiya said …
I do not know how I missed watching this wonderful video .. beautiful .. Mr Bond indeed sounds humble, simple and calm. I m glued to this video now
on 04 Jan 2009 at 9:42 am 24.aesha said …
we have Ruskin bond book in our school we have special period for reading that is dear drop everything ans read. I REALLY ENJOY
on 04 Jan 2009 at 9:45 am 25.DAKSH said …
I AM FROM VIDYANI VIDYALAYA i also enjoy reading books of him
on 07 Jan 2009 at 10:32 am 26.Dhara said …
Hi,
Thanks for Ruskin Bond’s address!
Nice pics and video! was really nice to see Pari Tibba in a photo at least
It was a treat. Thank you!
on 12 Jan 2009 at 11:50 am 27.deepak said …
hi gautam ‘
i m a book publisher and i want cont. no. of mr. ruskin bond plaese email & obliged
on 18 Jan 2009 at 3:38 am 28.PG said …
Hey can you give me Ruskin Bond’s address?
I want to meet him too.
on 10 Feb 2009 at 12:37 am 29.sharan said …
hi gautam!
i’m a huge fan of ruskin bond’s too and have been since i was a kid. could you please send me his phone number from mussourie? thanks a ton! the guy’s an absolute legend man! my email id is sharan.bitsg@gmail.com.
on 17 Feb 2009 at 1:28 am 30.katha said …
thanks Gautam…for sharing the address:)
on 05 Mar 2009 at 5:13 pm 31.iqbal said …
hi gautam!
i’m a big fan of ruskin bond books and poems. unfortunately, I lived really long time in dehradun but had no opportunity to see him. Could you please mail me his contact phone number. thanks a lot in advance! It would be my dream come true to talk to him.
my email id is iqbal@tzv.fal.de
on 26 Apr 2009 at 1:24 am 32.rekha said …
hey thats gr8!!!!
fantastic i am a big fan of ruskin bond!!!!!
this is superb!!!!!!!
on 27 Apr 2009 at 6:04 am 33.rekha said …
on 27 Apr 2009 at 9:33 am 34.Gautam said …
Thanks for coming by Rekha
on 30 Apr 2009 at 1:10 am 35.kailash chandra tauk said …
can we think like him if yes thaen we should the generation in the way of his
on 18 May 2009 at 6:42 am 36.Gurumurthi said …
.. ThanQ Goutam for the address you provided…. That will surely help me to write a word to him…
Long live the fantastic Writing and thus.. Our Rooskieee…!!!!
on 22 May 2009 at 11:15 pm 37.Abhinab said …
Dear Gautam,
I really enjoyed about your experience of meeting Ruskin, or should I say THE RUSKIN BOND. He is my most favourite writer;rather the most loved writer of India. He has got an enchanting style of writting and dwells in the hearts of his fans through them. I would request you to give me his address or at least his e-mail ID.
—A fan of Rusty,
Abhinab
on 09 Jun 2009 at 7:50 am 38.rezwin sha noushad said …
i love your poem tigers forever
on 09 Sep 2009 at 12:35 pm 39.Dr Milon Mitra said …
Dear Gautam,
You are lucky to meet Ruskin Bond. But how come you both are wearing red jersey with blue shirt?
on 09 Sep 2009 at 12:36 pm 40.Gautam said …
You can call it a Himalayan co-incidence, Dr Mitra
on 10 Oct 2009 at 9:08 pm 41.nrjrotela said …
h!! gautam
after read about the ruskin bond i really fan of ruskin bond.
thank u gautam
on 16 Nov 2009 at 8:21 am 42.amitabh banerji said …
I shall be greatful to have a contact ph. no. from Ruskin whom I used to spend some time with about 50 years ago but have lost all contacts. Of course you can please check with him and take his concent.
THANKS.
on 16 Nov 2009 at 10:05 pm 43.avantika juyal said …
i stumbled across this site while searching for a few short stories by him, which i still don’t have. he’s such a lovely person, and his stories are amazing. ur lucky to have met him….thanks for putting up the video for us fans.
i hope i can meet him next year when i go to dehra. my dad met him, i hope so can i.
his writing style conjures up vivid images, and whoever reads his stories, can associate him/herself with them.
on 15 Dec 2009 at 12:02 pm 44.Saket Jadhav said …
Thank u for the lovely pics Gautam.. God bless u
on 15 Dec 2009 at 12:08 pm 45.Saket Jadhav said …
hey Gautam,
Today i guess i have lived my life to the fullest.. After seeing these awesome pics of
Mr.Bond. I have them everywhere. on my study table, on my cell, on my laptop etc.. It has been my childhood
dream to meet Mr.Bond. I am an ardent reader of his books since a long time.. I would be grateful to you all
my life if u could help me realise this dream.. please get in touch with me (saketjadhav1013@gmail.com).
You are indeed a very lucky man to have met him.. waiting to hear from you at the earliest.. Loads of love and Good wishes.. Saket
on 21 Dec 2009 at 7:31 am 46.Manoj said …
Hello Gattu
You know,Gattu was the favourite word of Yogesh Dhar in his teens hahahahahaha………
I still cherish those memories of you both.
It was nice to visit your website again after longtime.
I wish you some great great moments in life to come.
Striving for Universal Citizenship
on 29 Dec 2009 at 12:31 am 47.Rajeev Malur said …
Hi,
I met Ruskin Bond a couple of weeks ago myself. I agree with the way you’ve put it forth. He’s been an author whose works we’ve been reading since childhood and standing in his presence at IVY Cottage, Landour was an enthralling experience in itself.
I couldn’t believe that Mr. Bond was such a humble, modest and nice person. A small thing I’d like to share with this community when I went there. It was December 01, 2009 and the time was around 03:00 in the afternoon. Being winter, Mussourie was cold enough. Mr. Bond was expecting us as I had made an appointment the same morning. As we went in, he was trying to get the electric heater on, which was kept on a pile of books (man’s best friend; after the faithful canine of course). We (my friend and me) helped him get it on and he said, “If not for anything, it’ll provide us light.” That sentence is one which I’ll never forget for life. His sense of humor was so good, which very few people I’ve met or seen have.
Keep me posted if you hear of any of Mr. Bond’s new books coming up.
Rajeev Malur.