This was going to be a very exciting day. I had been waiting for this day for years. Although I had written many letters to him, my favorite author—the man I admired a lot and had been reading since my school days—the acclaimed writer Ruskin Bond, was finally going to be within my reach. It so happened that my friend Jana Singh had received an invite to an event in Mussoorie, taking place at the Savoy Hotel. It was the grand launch of the Ruskin Bond International School Project at the Grand Savoy. The tagline was simple: “Where every child’s story begins.” The chief guest was the famous author himself, and even Kiran Bedi, the super cop, would be at the event to honor the great man.
Ruskin Bond
The idea was simple: Ruskin Bond was lending his name and brand equity to launch a new brand of children’s schools called the Ruskin Bond International School. We started early, as we had to be at the function by eleven in the morning. The cab ride to Mussoorie gave me jitters as I started suffering from vertigo; the winding roads were making me nauseous and sick. I had avoided breakfast, knowing fully well that if I went on a ride to the hill station with a full stomach, I might just end up puking. All the way, I was getting giddy and kept chanting the word “Ram Ram Ram” as my cab climbed up to Mussoorie. Luckily, I survived the ride without a mishap. I opened the window from time to time to let in fresh air, and we reached the Savoy within an hour. The weather was chilly, and as I stepped out, I saw Kiran Bedi being interviewed by a TV journalist. We moved into a large hall which had a huge dais with the logo of the international school. There were plush sofas reserved for the chief guests. I took a seat right in the middle of the hall.
The event started with a welcome address as Ruskin Bond walked into the hall. This was my first glimpse of the great author in flesh and blood. He looked old and a bit frail; now 92 years old, he walked slowly, helped by two ladies. His steps were small, and he walked slowly. Age seemed to have caught up with him, but he still had his wits about him. A man who has received all the known civilian honors, like the Padma Bhushan and the Padma Vibhushan, walked gingerly onto the stage where he was interviewed by a young anchor who had been part of the All India Backchodh team. Ruskin told us that his eyesight was now weak, and so was his hearing, but he answered all the questions with confidence and elan. We were given a presentation on how the international school would be structured and what its mission would finally be. We were served snacks and sandwiches, and I managed to chat with a few friends and was even introduced to a few journalists and media people who seemed to remember my work from my Bollywood days.
The highlight of the evening was when I, along with Janak, went to the back area of the hall to have a one-on-one chat with Ruskin Bond. I carried two of my books—Yes Sir, I Killed My Dad and The Trial of Palande—along with me, and as I shook the great man’s hand, I handed the books to him as a gift. These I had duly signed in advance. Janak, who knew Ruskin well, then gave him a briefing about my books and the background of the story. I shook hands with Ruskin sir and even managed to enjoy a brief chat with him.
All in all, it was an enriching experience for me, and I would now like you to enjoy the snaps I took at the event.
