1434 Ruskin Bond at the window of his Ivy cottage overlooking the Landour bazaar. Photo by the writer
Rajnish Wattas
“Well, I have always worked from home as a writer, so no complaints,” he chuckles, as we talk on his squeaky landline phone about lockdown restrictions. Ever in good cheer and uplifting, Ruskin Bond is my ‘go to man’ amid the gloom of the pandemic.
A major part of Bond’s literary oeuvre includes children s books. The Indian Council for Child Education has recognised his role in the growth of children s literature in India.
Tribune file photo
The challenge of writing for children is to get their attention straightaway and have a good story. The beginning should be good to draw their attention or else they will just go away.
My first display picture (DP) years back on social media was of a zebra. As one familiar with only SMS texting, getting on WhatsApp with a DP was a leap forward. When asked for my picture on the phone
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Rajnish Wattas
As the winter gloom cast by the pandemic lifts up gradually, the air is redolent with hope and sunshine once again. Valentine’s Day resonated with whispers of sweet nothings and slings of Cupid piercing young hearts. Realising the need for the world to do with some extra cheer, St Peter decided to unlock the gates of heaven and send back PG Wodehouse, popularly called ‘Plum’, to his writing desk to continue penning rib-tickling masterpieces of humour.
Wodehouse, who died on February 14, 1975, on Valentine’s Day at the age of 91, had never, in fact, left the hearts of millions of his readers. He lived on with his timeless humour and satires of the Edwardian world.
My New Year wish list, among other things, includes a small but significant boon. Dear God, please grant me winter-round supply of good, well-heated bathwater at the right temperature! Not too hot, no