Ruskin Bond turns 84, celebrates with family & fans

MUSSOORIE: One of the country’s most loved authors and arguably the Doon valley’s most famous resident turned 84 on Saturday. Celebrations started early in the day in the Bond household in Landour as hordes of visitors, friends and well-wishers lined up to greet the author since early morning. The octogenarian after his favourite breakfast of eggs and toast, headed to Cambridge Book Depot on Mall Road to celebrate his birthday with fans, a tradition he has followed for the past 15 years. A sunflower-yellow pullover and a bright smile in place, Bond patiently met his serpentine queue of fans who had been standing at the book shop waiting to meet and wish him. And though he got several gifts, one that made him smile wider than usual, was an audio version of his book ‘Flight of Pigeons’ gifted to him by five visually impaired children from NIVH (National Institute of Visually Handicapped), Dehradun. Later, he cut a birthday cake which was made in the shape of his latest book ‘Ranji the music maker’ which he released soon after.