Ruskin Bond's stories follow a narrative that is both gentle and contemplative — rather like the author himself. He shies away from racy plots and sensational descriptions, instead focussing on the simplicity of daily life and the beauty he sees around him.
And although his writing is coloured by a distinctive style, Bond tries not restrict himself to any genre. "I try to vary my works as much as possible. Over the years, I've written novels, short stories, essays and poetry — the subjects vary as well, ranging from personal narrations to romance as well as the great outdoors and adventure.
I write about my life, people who come into my orbit, friends and family — it's mostly fiction, but the personal touch remains," Bond tells Metrolife.
He has been writing long enough to have witnessed first-hand the changes that have taken place in the industry. "When I began writing, it was not considered a popular vocation in India.
I think I picked it up simply for the love of books — I was quite a bookworm, even at a young age. I soon came to the conclusion that the only thing I wanted to do was write, and emulate some of the authors I admired," he explains.
The present scenario, however, is very different. "These days, there are so many young writers. I keep meeting people who are keen on writing — there's literally a new one every week. It's very different from fifty years ago."
Not surprisingly, this explosion of enthusiastic literary talent has also encouraged various writing institutes and formal training courses to crop up.
But Bond remains contemptuous of these establishments, saying, "I know there are several creative writing schools these days, but I don't see that they make much of a different. Take the example of some of the successful writers of the past — none of them had any formal training, did they?
There is such a thing as a born writer — you need to have ink in your blood. A course might be useful in terms of teaching new techniques and marketing skills, but they can't transform a mediocre writer into a good one."
Bond has been a regular visitor to Bangalore since 1960. The City today is a world apart from the quaint, green town he remembers — but that doesn't mean he loves it any less.
"I came to Bangalore as recently as last December, and enjoyed it very much. The people here are very friendly and pleasant and of course, the climate is good — especially since I live in Mussoorie, which has very harsh winters.
The City has changed a great deal in the last fifty years. It was more or less a small garden town when I first visited and now, it's growing into the sky," he observes.