All those who visited Landmark in Forum Mall recently could sense the excitement in the air.
![]( "Favourite: Ruskin Bond with his young fans.")
The occasion was the launch of Ruskin Bond's latest poetry book 'Hip-Hop Nature Boy and Other Poems' and the 25th anniversary of Penguin Books. The crowd was charged the minute Ruskin entered the store. Children shouted his name and waved at him and their beloved writer responded with a humble smile.
Rusty, as he is lovingly called, started the event by giving a piece of advice to his young fans. "We are here to celebrate the birthday of Penguin Books. I celebrate my birthday everyday. You should also ask your parents to celebrate your birthday everyday," he said. After this, the children burst into peals of laughter. What followed next would undoubtedly be a cherished memory for those present there. Informing more about 'Hip-Hop Nature...', Ruskin said the book is a collection of new and old poems.
"I was in Orissa recently where I saw some children doing a hip-hop dance. So I thought why not write something on them," he explained. He also read out a couple of poems from the book following which, there was a cake-cutting ceremony. Ruskin happily invited his little fans on stage for it.
Ruskin was bombarded with questions by his fans, both young and old. He replied in his witty and amiable way. When asked if he finds a change in the children of today, he said, "Times change. But I feel that children are pretty much the same. They are still fond of eating sweets. Also, girls still want to look pretty and like dresses." For the next question which was about what he likes the most, Rusty said, "You like a place where you have lived for a long time. That is where I write mostly."
After the question-answer session it was time for book-lovers to get the 78-year-old writer's autograph on their favourite books written by him. He gladly signed the books for his fans and humbly posed with them for photographs. All the fans eagerly waited for their turn to get clicked with the writer. Some of them also had a chat with him.
The crowd had the time of their lives with Rusty and the event will indeed last in their minds for years to come.
The occasion was the launch of Ruskin Bond's latest poetry book 'Hip-Hop Nature Boy and Other Poems' and the 25th anniversary of Penguin Books. The crowd was charged the minute Ruskin entered the store. Children shouted his name and waved at him and their beloved writer responded with a humble smile.Rusty, as he is lovingly called, started the event by giving a piece of advice to his young fans. "We are here to celebrate the birthday of Penguin Books. I celebrate my birthday everyday. You should also ask your parents to celebrate your birthday everyday," he said. After this, the children burst into peals of laughter. What followed next would undoubtedly be a cherished memory for those present there. Informing more about 'Hip-Hop Nature...', Ruskin said the book is a collection of new and old poems.
"I was in Orissa recently where I saw some children doing a hip-hop dance. So I thought why not write something on them," he explained. He also read out a couple of poems from the book following which, there was a cake-cutting ceremony. Ruskin happily invited his little fans on stage for it.
Ruskin was bombarded with questions by his fans, both young and old. He replied in his witty and amiable way. When asked if he finds a change in the children of today, he said, "Times change. But I feel that children are pretty much the same. They are still fond of eating sweets. Also, girls still want to look pretty and like dresses." For the next question which was about what he likes the most, Rusty said, "You like a place where you have lived for a long time. That is where I write mostly."
After the question-answer session it was time for book-lovers to get the 78-year-old writer's autograph on their favourite books written by him. He gladly signed the books for his fans and humbly posed with them for photographs. All the fans eagerly waited for their turn to get clicked with the writer. Some of them also had a chat with him.
The crowd had the time of their lives with Rusty and the event will indeed last in their minds for years to come.