The younger population should have been vaccinated first
Their [the children’s] schooling and even their games have been affected [by the pandemic].
Author naina.arora@htdigital.in t 87, one of the most loved Indian writers of children’s literature, Ruskin Bond is wary of going to a Covid vaccination centre. Ask why and he confesses that he feels intimidated by the “crowds at some of the vaccination centres.” He adds, “There is a shortage [of vaccine]. So I would prefer that the younger people get it first. They [authorities] put the older people first, but I feel that it should have been the other way round, and the younger people should have been [vaccinated] first.”
His fans across the world recently celebrated his birthday (May 19), when the author came up with a new book, All-Time Favourites for Children. Bond feels the pandemic has been especially tough for the young. From online classes to tests, most of their activities are now in front of the screen. “Their schooling is affected, and even their games have been affected,” he says. Talking about his life in the pandemic, he shares, “I work from home anyway, so I don’t feel it as much. I do my writing and reading most of the time, sleep a lot and eat well. Life hasn’t changed much for me. It’s been over a year we’ve been locked up in some way or the other. I get restless sometimes and feel like going out. I follow the news and prefer newspapers to television. In the evenings, I watch TV to get up to date. I used to watch sports, but there isn’t much sports happening.”
ARUSKIN BOND,