INTRODUCTION:
Ruskin Bond (1934) is a well-known
Indian writer in English. He has written more than hundred short-stories, six novels,
three collections of poetry and over thirty books for children. Ruskin Bond
received “Sahitya Academy’ award for his book “Our Trees Still Grow at Dehra”
in 1992, and was honoured with title “Padma Shree” in 1999 and “Padma Bhushan”
in 2014 for his life time contribution to Indian literature in English.
BOND’S CONTRIBUTION TO INDIAN SHORT STORY:
Bond is one of the major
contributors to the cultivation anddevelopment of short fiction in India. This
genre kept a lowprofile till the first half of the twentieth century. But
todaythe Indian short story stands on the threshold of immensepossibilities.
Bond has played a vital role in taking theIndian English short story to a
significant position alongwith writers like R. K. Naryayn, MulkRajAnand, Raja
Rao,Manohar Algona, NayantaraSehgal and so on. P. K. Singhobserves:
‘Bond's contribution to the
growth of the short story is that he brings to it a variety. He uses elements
of nostalgia (flashback technique) and authentic life (vivid descriptions of
places and people) '".
Bond makes the short story aflexible form
of writing, suitable for portraying the diversity of life.
BOND – A PIONEER OF CHILDREN LITERATURE:
Ruskin Bond is considered a pioneer of
children literature in India. Ruskin Bond came close to children’s literature.
Since Ruskin Bond liked his boyhood very much therefore all his children
stories whether autobiographical or semi- autobiographical expressed his
longing for a happy childhood.He writes in Scenes from a Writer's Life:
"I don't suppose I would
have written so much about childhood or even about other children if my own
childhood had been all happiness and light"
He likes children because they are more
frank, open minded and emotional. According to Ruskin Bond two children can
become good friends merely by exchanging a piece of marble, a coin, a doll and
bangles.
‘The Hidden Pool’, ‘Children’s Companion’,‘Children
Omnibus’,‘Grandfather's Private Zoo’, ‘The Night Train at Deoli and other
Stories’ are some of the most popular collections of short stories written by
Bond.
ELEMENT OF NATURE:
Ruskin Bond also known as the poet of hills
has made hundreds of readers fall in love with forests, mountains and nature
through his writings. He has penned most of his works for the preservation and
protection of Nature. In his passionate love for Nature, he has displayed great
affinity like William Wordsworth, the priest on Nature but Ruskin’s stories and
poems are devoid of mysticism. His works on Nature are very brief, concise,
simple and enthralling. He laments the loss of nature amid the new times of
urbanization. Mark his words:
“Iwonder where the birds have
flown,
They have gone to find another
home.”
ELEMENT OF IRONY:
His employment of humour is impressive and
use of irony isgentle and unpremeditated. For Bond irony is a weapon tobe used
mildly and in good-humour. Being inoffensive innature, it never works with
harsh pricks. Like JaneAusten’sirony, it is gentle and gives his language both
subtlety andprecision. Hisironical remarks on Life are both witty and touching.
AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL ELEMENTS:
Ruskin Bond had to see the sad childhood
days in his personal life. He himself said that his melancholic childhood
memory made him understand the children better and brought him closer to
nature. His stories and novels present the picture of hischildhood consisting
of bitter-sweet experiences as a secureand happy child under his father's care,
love and guidanceand later on as an insecure and lonely orphan's journey
intoadulthood and maturity. Bond explains the pre-dominance ofthe personal
element in his works:
“I prepare to write about the
people and places have known and the lives of those people whose paths I have
crossed.”
CENAMATIC REPRESENTATION OF BOND’S WORKS:
Due to this unique style of
portrayal, his work has attracted many of the Indian film directors to adapt
his works gave it a cinematic representation.
·
In
1978, the eminent director ShyamBenegal adopted ‘A Flight of Pigeons’ and made
‘Junoon’. This Bollywood film starring Shashi Kapoor, ShabanaAzmi and Naseeruddin
Shah talked about Indian revolt and feudal society.
·
Another
Indian director Vishal Bharadwaj, also adopted one of the earliest works of
Bond 'The Blue Umbrella' and made a film on the same name. This film also
awarded National Film Award as the best children's film.
·
His
first novel ‘Room on the Roof’ was adopted for a TV series on Doordarshan
called 'EkTha Rusty.'
·
Later
in 2011, Vishal Bharadwaj adopted 'Susanna's Seven Husbands' and made
'SaatKhoonMaaf.' In that film, Priyanka Chopra acted as Susanna, and Bond
himself played a cameo role as Church Bishop.
CONCLUSION:
In nutshell, we may summarize that Ruskin
Bond, an Anglo-Indian writer is an ardent lover of nature and children. His
poems, stories and novels are replete with the qualities of irony and humour.
His simplicity of style and his autobiographical approach in his narration make
the reader feel closer to him.
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