Personal details
Born:
- Birthday: 1934-05-19
- Born Place: Kasauli,Himachal Pradesh, India
Ruskin Bond
Ruskin Bond (born 19 May 1934, Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh) is a celebrated Indian author of British descent, revered for his evocative stories steeped in nature, childhood memories, and small-town life . His debut novel, The Room on the Roof (1956), written at the age of 17, won the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize in 1957 and marked the beginning of his prolific literary journey. Over a six-decade career, Bond has authored more than 500 works—including short stories, essays, novels, and children's books, such as Our Trees Still Grow in Dehra (which earned him the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1992)—and deeply influenced Indian English literature with his gentle style and intimate portrayals of Himalayan life. Bond settled in Mussoorie in 1963 and made Ivy Cottage in Landour his home from 1980 onwards, where he continues to draw inspiration from the hills for his writing . His stories—many centered around his own fictional alter ego "Rusty"—perfectly capture themes of nostalgia, nature, innocence, and human connection in lucid prose that resonates across generations. Many of his works have been adapted into films and television, including The Blue Umbrella (Vishal Bhardwaj, 2005), A Flight of Pigeons (Shyam Benegal’s Junoon, 1978), and the TV series Ek Tha Rusty. His literary excellence has been honored with India’s highest civilian awards—Padma Shri in 1999 and Padma Bhushan in 2014—alongside numerous accolades throughout his storied career.
