Hello everybody,
Hope you are all doing great ! I have recently started writing on Quora (better late than never, I suppose) and have found it to be a really interesting platform. One can look up, ask, discuss and read just about anything under the sun . Life after UPSC Indian Forest Service results has been hectic (albeit in a very different way) , missed reading your posts of late. Hope to do some catching up now and also hope to see you guys already there on Quora. Would be sharing some of my answers on WordPress as well.
To start with for today, there was a question asked by one of the bibliophile users “How is Ruskin Bond like in real life?” I was indeed excited to tell my stories with my favorite author, and here was my response:
***
Ruskin Bond is the most affable storyteller I have met till date. And is as witty as his characters. He lives in a shared cottage in Landour and his simple living will immediately remind you of ‘Room on the Roof’s’ Rusty. As a young kid of 8, I had the fortune of meeting him on multiple occasions while we stayed in Mussoorie. He is a sort of prophecy – teller too. Here is why I say that:
We left Mussoorie in 2001, and then city life caught up. But my love for this man’s writings didn’t end. Seven years later it happened so that I had to visit the hill station again, and coincidentally on that particular day there was a release of Mr. Bond’s ‘Book of Verses’, his first poetry collection at Cambridge shop. Was elated about seeing him again. He still looked the same, age never catches up with mountain people. After patiently waiting in line to meet Mr. Bond, I gushed about how we had met before so many times which he tried to recall smilingly 😉 In the 5-minute conversation I confessed how much I miss the mountains and their quaintness. He casually took a copy of the book and showed me a page saying ‘ This is for you then’.
It was hard to fathom then if a visit is possible to Mussoorie other than those tourist trips. I greeted and thanked him profusely and left.
Fast forward almost a decade later – happens so that I am going to Mussoorie for 3 months this year end for the training program at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration. All I recall now is his prophetic smile and words 🙂
***
Cannot wait to meet the man again 🙂
Join me on Quora, Facebook & Twitter
I ‘ll have to confess that I am quite jealous of you right now for having met him multiple times! 😉
Jokes apart! Ruskin Bond’s stories have been a part of my childhood and the reason I dreamt about mountain life. It was only about a couple of years back that I first got to visit the mountains and I can attest to what the poem says- There’s no other place you ‘ll call home once you have climbed a mountain 🙂
Looking forward to reading about your future meetings with him!
Cheers!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Haha, yes mate that jealousy is justifiable I suppose, if you are a Bond fan too :D. I agree with you, people who have lived in the mountains nothing else matches the fondness they have for those slopes and peaks. Would definitely keep you posted on my future encounters 🙂 Cheers !
LikeLike
I am also jealous! I am just finishing ‘Night Train at Deoli and other stories’ – I love his writing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yayy I am so glad you love his works too ! Do read his poetry collection too, hasn’t been publicised much but very enjoyable 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you – I will look out for that.
LikeLike
Heartwarming. I met him in 2015 and it was a memory to cherish.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much Abhyudaya : ) Super glad to meet another Bond fan who has met the legend too ! Indeed memories to cherish for life 🙂
LikeLike
I once watched his interview on walk the talk. So simple and humble
LikeLike
I am Mr Bond’s great great fan.I have been very fortunate for my school had a beautiful library where there was a cupboard full of his creations-the omnibus,the Himalyan tales and probably everything was there.
Thanks AR for sharing your experience and wish you all the very best for joining quora.I hope you are able to answer others as well as satisfy your curosity greatly over quora.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much Shivangi 🙂 So glad to hear about your appreciation for Mr. Bond and his writings , he is surely a charmer. Came out with his autobiography this month, do take a look. And yes Quora is fun and satiating !
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hey congrats for your achievements and that’s been ur reason of missing here? Totally worth it I think, no complaints 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks a ton, well now you know why 😛 But still I am eagerly waiting to resume the regular blogs soon 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hope to get some good post for a read soon:)
LikeLiked by 1 person
One put up 😛
LikeLiked by 1 person
Saw, hope it will be a great help for ppl aspiring for it, though unfortunately the post is not for us.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Actually yes, my poems need wings to show up on WordPress 😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes indeed, waiting for your babies to fly soon from their nest ( your mind ) 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
He’s such a nice human being. I look up to him. Must have felt so great to have met him so many times. Lucky you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha, plan a visit to Mussoorie then asap 😛
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha!! Of course😃
LikeLiked by 1 person