Autobiography hints tantalize Ruskin fans

GUWAHATI: Fans of Ruskin Bond will have to wait until next year to get a glimpse of the untold stories of his life, including his reason for not marrying.
Taking part in the North East Literary Fest held jointly by North East Writers' Forum and the Royal Group of Institutions here on Friday, the genial man from Mussorie said he was still working on his autobiography and it would reflect his youth, love and life.
"You will have to wait (till the release of my autobiography)," Bond said, tongue firmly in cheek, when asked about his decision to stay single.
The 82-year-old creator of Rusty visited the northeast for the first time and was full of praise for the region that he said nature had blessed with her bounty. "I am absolutely thrilled," he said after arriving in Guwahati. Bond added that his love for nature had inspired him to settle down in Landour, near Mussorie, and that we would love to go on a tour of the northeast.
Age seemed to be just a number for the author who made it clear that he had no plans of retiring. "Till health permits, I will continue to write and travel," he told readers much to their delight. The enthusiasm inspired by Bond was evident from the queue of children and adults that snaked outside the venue. Many took selfies with the legend.
Bond asked young audiences to keep books by their side. "Books are your best friend," he told kids who attended the fest. He also urged students to know their history and care for the environment during an interactive session that drew people from across the city.
A panel discussion on 'Children's Literature: Reality or Fairy Tale', was the attraction of the day. Panellists Arup Kumar Dutta, Bandita Phukan, Geeta Dharmarajan, Shiny Anthony, Rashmi Narzary and Shrutimala Duara shared the dais with Bond. While writer Geeta Dharmarajan said children should be allowed to explore the world of imagination through fairytales, Bond said he did not have much to do with them with the exception of 'Alice in Wonderland'.