Ruskin Bond, Author
Author

Ruskin Bond

Born 19 May 1934 · Himachal Pradesh

Winning the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize in 1957 for his novel The Room on the Roof.

Ruskin Bond is an Indian author and poet. His first novel, The Room on the Roof, published in 1956, received the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize. Bond has authored more than 500 short stories, essays, and novels which include 69 books for children. He was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1992 for Our Trees Still Grow in Dehra.

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A detail that
surprised us

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Ruskin Bond wrote his first novel, The Room on the Roof, at just 17 years old while living in London, before returning to India with the book's advance money.

The Story

1
In 1956, 22-year-old Ruskin Bond published The Room on the Roof, a semi-autobiographical novel written in London, which won the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize in 1957, marking his entry into literary fame.
2
🌄 Born in Kasauli in 1934, Bond’s childhood spanned royal Jamnagar, Shimla’s Bishop Cotton School, and Dehradun, where his father’s roles and early family upheavals shaped his stories steeped in hill life.
3At age 16, in 1951, Bond wrote his first short story titled "Untouchable," showcasing his early literary promise while still a student at Bishop Cotton School in Shimla.
4✈️ After two years in the Channel Islands post-high school, Bond returned to India using his novel advance money, choosing Dehradun as his base to freelance for magazines and newspapers throughout the 1950s and 60s.

🏅 Awards & Honours

1992
Sahitya Akademi Award
1999
Padma Shri
2014
Padma Bhushan

🔍 One thing most people don't know

“

Ruskin Bond’s father was born in a military camp in Shahjahanpur, north India, and taught English to princesses in Jamnagar before joining the Royal Air Force in 1939, influencing Bond’s early exposure to diverse Indian cultures.

🖼️

Through the Years

3 photographs from the archives
Ruskin Bond with his sister Ellen in a family photograph from 1938.
Ruskin Bond with his sister Ellen in a family photograph from 1938.
1938
Ruskin Bond releasing his book 'Hip Hop Nature Boy and Other Poems' in Bangalore (2012).
Ruskin Bond traveling to Shillong with theatre director Sattyakee D'com Bhuyan (2016).

🗓️ A Life in Moments

🕊️
Birth
Born in Kasauli, British India
Ruskin Bond was born on May 19, 1934, in Kasauli, Punjab States Agency, now in Himachal Pradesh, India.
1934
⚡
Career
Writes first short story 'Untouchable'
At the age of 16, Bond wrote his first short story, 'Untouchable,' while attending Bishop Cotton School in Shimla.
1951
📖
Publication
Publishes The Room on the Roof
Bond published his debut novel, The Room on the Roof, a semi-autobiographical story written in London.
1956
🏅
Award
Wins John Llewellyn Rhys Prize
The Room on the Roof won the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize, awarded to British Commonwealth writers under 30.
1957
⚡
Career
Settles in Mussoorie
Bond moved to Mussoorie, where he began writing extensively about the hills and nature.
1963
🏅
Award
Receives Sahitya Akademi Award
Awarded for his book Our Trees Still Grow in Dehra, acknowledging his contribution to Indian literature.
1992
🏅
Award
Awarded Padma Shri
Received the Padma Shri, one of India’s civilian honors, for his literary achievements.
1999
🏅
Award
Awarded Padma Bhushan
Received the Padma Bhushan, one of India’s highest civilian awards, recognizing his literary legacy.
2014
More moments to come...
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🗝️Discoveries

Swipe to uncover hidden stories
01 / 04
🏆ACHIEVEMENT

Bond’s first short story, 'Untouchable,' was written in 1951 when he was only 16 years old, revealing his early start in addressing social themes.

02 / 04
👤PERSONAL

Despite being born to British and Anglo-Indian parents, Bond chose to live in India permanently, settling in Mussoorie in 1963 where he continues to write.

03 / 04
🏆ACHIEVEMENT

Bond has authored over 69 books specifically for children, making him one of the most prolific children's authors in India.

“

“I don’t think of myself as a writer; I think of myself as a storyteller.”

— Ruskin Bond

🎙️ Speeches & Recordings

These recordings preserve the legacy of Bharat's icons
Write Bond: An Intimate Conversation With Ruskin Bond | India Today Plus
More from this archive
Write Bond: An Intimate Conversation With Ruskin Bond | India Today Plus
01
Write Bond: An Intimate Conversation With Ruskin Bond | India Today Plus
Ruskin Bond in conversation with The English Nut!
02
Ruskin Bond in conversation with The English Nut!
The Quint Visits Writer Ruskin Bond at His Home in the Hills
03
The Quint Visits Writer Ruskin Bond at His Home in the Hills
IN CONVERSATION- RUSKIN BOND
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IN CONVERSATION- RUSKIN BOND
Ruskin Bond: A Song of India marks 70 years of writing stories
05
Ruskin Bond: A Song of India marks 70 years of writing stories
CelebTalk with Indian Author Ruskin Bond- Powered by Exide
06
CelebTalk with Indian Author Ruskin Bond- Powered by Exide
Ruskin Bond on the joy of writing
07
Ruskin Bond on the joy of writing
Interview With Ruskin Bond By Manoj Kukreja: GIFLIF 2018
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Interview With Ruskin Bond By Manoj Kukreja: GIFLIF 2018
Ruskin Bond | Interview | Author | English
09
Ruskin Bond | Interview | Author | English
Ruskin Bond (English) Directed by Mohd Obaid Siddiqui
10
Ruskin Bond (English) Directed by Mohd Obaid Siddiqui

🌱 What changed because of them

Ruskin Bond’s writings brought the Himalayan foothills and simple Indian childhoods into the literary spotlight, inspiring generations to appreciate nature and rural life. His works are integral to Indian school curricula, fostering literacy and emotional connection with India’s landscapes and cultures. The Sahitya Akademi and Padma awards institutionalized recognition for literature rooted in local settings and English language storytelling.

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