Children’s literature is now being taken seriously: Ruskin

The writer says writing for children is a big responsibility and it requires sensitivity on the author’s part

Keeping children riveted to a book is not an easy task. It requires responsibility and sensitivity, says legendary author Ruskin Bond, who at 81 has more than 150 titles to his credit. The popular storyteller is also gratified that children’s literature has grown impressively and is now being taken seriously by publishers.

“Writing for children is a more responsible job and one needs to be sensitive. If they don’t find the first few pages interesting, they will keep it away,” says Bond, adding, “I often hear that reading habits of children today are affected by the internet and gizmos. In school, before the age of TV and the internet, there were few kids who liked reading. So I don’t think it has anything to do with the internet,” said Bond, who is readying for the release of his new book next month.

He does say, however, that children’s literature has grown in the last years. “Compared to 10 or 15 years ago, children’s literature is being taken seriously by publishers. Thanks to the popularity of English, parents and teachers also want better writings for children,” he said.

But what makes the author tick at 81? “I am a lazy writer. I write only two pages a day and I love to sleep. The number of books has accumulated over the years,” said Bond, who has won multiple awards, including the Sahitya Akademi Award for English writing in India and the Padma Bhushan.

Some of his books which made their way to Bollywood include The Blue Umbrella (of the same title), A Flight of Pigeons (Junoon) and Susanna’s Seven Husbands (Saat Khoon Maaf). “I played a cameo role in Saat Khoon Maaf directed by Vishal Bharadwaj. I was clumsy and they had to go for seven takes in the scene where I give a fatherly peck on Priyanka Chopra’s cheeks. Now I think it was a deliberate mistake made by my subconscious mind,” Bond laughs.

The Kasauli-born writer, who has settled in Mussoorie, says that his first book, The Room on the Roof, which is still in print after more than 60 years, will always be close to his heart. “I was sent to England in 1951 and I was homesick. That’s when the book happened. I came back after five years and decided to settle in Mussoorie,” he says.

Far from the madding crowd, Rusty (as he is fondly called) finds solace in the mountains and hills and they form the backdrop of most of his works. “I have been living here for years. Mountains play a major role in my stories and my life. I am quite attached to them,” Bond says.

Readers will get a slice of his personal life from his memoirs slated to come out next year. “Marriage just didn’t happen by chance. As a struggling young author, I couldn’t support the family. I will share it all in my autobiography,” Bond said.

But he has no regrets with his big adopted family around. “There is Rakesh, Mukesh and Savitri. They also have children. The family is growing every day. So I don’t really live like a single old man,” said Bond.

Thanks to the popularity of the English language, parents and teachers also want better writings for children Ruskin Bond, writer In school, before the age of TV and the internet, there were few kids who liked reading. So I don’t think it has anything to do with the internet