Ruskin Bond Summit

 3rd Sept 2023, Sweta Samota took us through this amazing session. 

Introduction

Ruskin Bond was born on 19th May 1934 , in Kasauli, Punjab States Agency, British India. His father, Aubrey Alexander Bond,was born in a military camp in Shahjahanpur, a small town in north India. Later he became a tutor in a small school in the Jamnagar palace for their princes and princesses, where Ruskin also studied for his first six years. He taught English to the princesses of Jamnagar palace and Ruskin Bond and his sister Ellen lived there till he was six. Later, Ruskin's father joined the Royal Air Force in 1939 and Ruskin along with his mother and sister went to live at his maternal home at Dehradun. Shortly after that, he was sent to a boarding school in Mussoorie. When Ruskin was eight years old, his mother Edith Clerke separated from his father and married a Punjabi Hindu, Hari. His father arranged for Ruskin to be brought to New Delhi where he was posted. He was very close to his father and describes this period (1942-1944) with his father as one of the happiest times of his life. When he was ten, his father died due to malaria, while he was posted in Calcutta. He was buried in the Bhowanipore War Cemetery in Calcutta. Ruskin was at his boarding school in Shimla and was informed about this tragedy by his teacher. He was thoroughly heartbroken. Later, he was raised in Dehradun.

His Favourite book was Alice in Wonderland. 

17th Century - Drama

18th Century - Essays

19th Century - Short Story and Essay. 

Writing

He did not get much inspiration from school, and he thought formal education was not essential for formal writing. He would be in the glorious company of authors. 

Logic and clarity at the age of 15. 

In October 1951, he went to Jersey, worked as travel agent, lost his job, and moved to London. 

"It is the desire of recognition and applause that lures me away, I tell myself fame is not greatness, and that if I remain as I am long enough I shall soon grow accustomed to obscurity. At least I shall retain my individuality, and in art that is most important".

In India he was writing for different magazines. Writing stories.  Short stories are fast to write, and help earn his living. So started with short stories. 

1951 - Untouchable - short story

1953 - First Book - The room on the roof. (Diana Athill - Editor and Publisher)

Got Padmasri in 1992 - after 40 years. 

Key takeaways:

1. Embrace simplicity
2. Weave Personal Experience
3. Cultivate observation skill
4. Connect with Nature
5. Value relationships
6. Write from heart - Don't filter your thoughts. 
7. Preserve through rejections
8. Experiment through genres
9. Read Widely
10. Capture Nostalgia - Memories, observations, life experiences, 

Publishing

1956 and then 1980 - Traditionally published. His works translated into 12 languages. 

Key takeaway:

1. Know your audience - Profitability of your idea
2. Adapt to market trends
3. Build relationships
4. Leverage literary network
5. Global Appeal

Publishing Industry in India:

1. Pre Independence: Oxford university, Macmillan
2. Post: Rupa
3. 50s and 60s - Sahitya Akademy and National Book Trust
4. 70s and 80s - Jananpit award, Penguine, HarperCollings
5. 90s and 2000s - internet and digital technology - 1971 - Project Gutenberg
6. 2000 and 2010 - Digital publishing started
7. 2013 on - Kindle

Book reading sessions, go to book shops and give author signed copies. 

Marketing

1. Word of mouth - Relatable and memorable
2. niche book releases
3. Use of personal anecdots
4. Read Aloud session
5. Book signing and literary events
6. Social media mgt
7. Interview and media appearance
8. Website and online presence
9. Library and social visits

Instructions:

Write daily, never underestimate the power of writing your goals everyday. Write your goals daily, and let universe help you achieve it. 

Be mindful of your life. You are having such a beautiful experience. Draw experience and document from your life. It can provide rich experience in story telling. Document your experience. For depth in writing, create observational skills to capture vivid details. How is water dropping - the sound, the shape. 

Develop thick skin, accept good, ignore the rest. 

Rendeep R from Kochi

Cover : Canva and Midjourney

Author - Inflection : Available from 5th of Sept. 

And I got my first award.