Fiction and fiction writers in India are the kinds who are always popular. Apart from the numerous fiction readers the country proudly boasts of, the recent past has also seen a gradual rise in the number of English fiction writers. But if there is one writer from among the long list of Indian writers, I had to pick, it would be the much loved Indian author Ruskin Bond.

Predominantly known as a children’s author, Ruskin has a great number of novels, short stories and poetry that would appeal to the young and old alike. His writing is as fresh as the mountain dew, and is a kind of reflection of his love for the Himalayas. Ruskin’s profound love for his own birth place-Dehradun- and his passion for literature are the treasure of his life. So powerful is his pen run that they could carry you away to far of lands, give you the pleasure to feel the morning mist, and smell the wet sand after the rains. That’s Ruskin bond bringing in nature in every bit of his writing.

I was introduced to the world of Ruskin Bond through my class 8 English Literature text book. I still remember “Thembu”, the little mountain boy in the story “The Tiger in the Tunnel”. So intrigued was I by this little story, that by the age of fifteen, I had practically read all of Ruskin’s short stories. I have preserved the entire collection till date.

And yesterday, as I sat reminiscing through the pages of these books, something fell out. It was a letter I had received from Ruskin Bond himself in the year 1999, in response to an appreciation I had sent him. Such a blissful feeling to read it even today.

Have a look.

So who is your favorite fiction writer?

This is a part of my journey exploring 26 lesser known shades of a country called India, with the #AtoZChallenge 2016!!!

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