With Ruskin Bond

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

Here is his address: http://www.flickr.com/photos/shayargautam/341188051/in/set-72157601720375012.

Comments So Far..
  • katha 17 February, 2009 at 1:28 am

    thanks Gautam…for sharing the address:)

  • iqbal 5 March, 2009 at 5:13 pm

    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

  • rekha 26 April, 2009 at 1:24 am

    hey thats gr8!!!!
    fantastic i am a big fan of ruskin bond!!!!!
    this is superb!!!!!!!

  • rekha 27 April, 2009 at 6:04 am

    🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

  • Gautam 27 April, 2009 at 9:33 am

    Thanks for coming by Rekha 🙂

  • kailash chandra tauk 30 April, 2009 at 1:10 am

    can we think like him if yes thaen we should the generation in the way of his

  • Gurumurthi 18 May, 2009 at 6:42 am

    .. 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…!!!!

  • Abhinab 22 May, 2009 at 11:15 pm

    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

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