I
could sense the anticipation and excitement in the air as
I overheard someone saying, "I'm going to meet him for the first
time." There was a palpable emotional energy as people shared their
feelings about him. Some had travelled from faraway places just for this
momentous occasion, with one person making the journey from Assam, one from
Kolkata and the one all the way from Mumbai who said he comes every year on his
birthday just to see him. The thoughtful gifts, such as the potted plants,
handwritten letters, paintings, sketches, poems, and stories, all spoke to the deep
admiration and respect people had for him as they prepared for his 90th birthday. As I stood in line, volunteering to collect
birthday wishes for the bookstore, I couldn't help but wonder why I felt so
detached from the occasion. I had no questions, no gifts, and no words
to share with him, and I found myself surprisingly unconcerned about whether I
would actually get to meet him that day. The reasons behind my lack of
preparation and anticipation were unclear to me. But, I think, I
can try to find out the reason behind this detachment. Let's go back a little
in the past.
The year 2001: Ruskin Bond! Who is he?
I've never heard the name. Anyway, I
don't like reading foreign authors.
The year 2004: The Eyes Have It. 'How beautiful is the story!
I could reminisce over several train journeys I have made till now. How
beautifully the writer has set the story! Who is the author? Ruskin Bond! What?
A foreign author writing in the Indian setting!' I could not know anything further than that as
Google or any other search engine or, more specifically, the internet was foreign to me.
The year 2008: I visited a bookstore in Chandigarh and
purchased a few books. There I found a book by Ruskin Bond, 'Our Trees Still Grow
in Dehra'. Here starts my never-ending wanderings in the world of Ruskin Bond.
My collection of his books slowly starts growing. I join some fan groups on
Facebook. I start reading people's blogs about him. I came to know that he was born and brought up in India only. He is as Indian as I am. Then, suddenly, I came to know that
he meets his fans every week at Cambridge Book Depot, Mussoorie. A newbie as a solo traveller, I put Mussoorie
on the top of my travel bucket list. But, still, it took three years to realise my
dream. Yes, it was a dream. I wanted to meet him. I wanted to talk to him. I
had made a list of questions to ask from him. I wanted to know whether
he actually sold the first edition of Alice In Wonderland as was in the
book Vagrants In The Valley, where Rusty takes help from Mr. Pettigrew to have
this first edition of the book sold that belonged to his grandfather. If yes,
this might be heartbreaking. It was for me, at least. And I had many more
questions.
I was beyond excited to meet him. I had been waiting at the first spot in line for three hours, and when he finally arrived, I was completely captivated. As he stepped out of the car in front of Cambridge Book Depot, it felt like he had walked straight out of the pages of a book. Despite the commotion around the shop, I was completely lost in the moment, entranced by his presence. Mr. Sunil Arora ushered me forward to meet Mr. Bond. As I greeted him, I found myself at a loss for words. I couldn't recall any of the questions I wanted to ask him. In my excitement, I began speaking to him in Hindi. He was incredibly gracious, engaging in a conversation with me in Hindi while signing my books. He even asked me about my hometown and shared anecdotes about his time in Punjab. As I left, I was filled with joy, unable to contain my excitement. I took a moment to catch my breath before sharing the news and photos with my family and friends. It was surreal to finally meet him, and for a long time, I couldn't believe that my dream had become a reality. After coming back from there, I enthusiastically shared my journey from being a fan to the incredible experience of meeting Mr Bond in the birthday wish contest organized by Cambridge Book Depot. I felt incredibly fortunate when Mr Bond not only read my submission but also chose me as one of the winners. This was the year 2017.
I visited
Mussoorie again after a gap of six
years to attend Mr. Bond's birthday celebration at the Cambridge Book Depot. I
was thrilled to be inside the bookstore as part of the CBD team. Standing
behind Mr. Bond, hidden among the piles of books, I observed the increasing joy
on his face as he met more and more people. When Mr. Sunil Arora introduced me
to Mr. Bond, he uttered only five words, "Yes! Yes! I know You." This
recognition left me feeling overwhelmed. I took the opportunity to wish him a happy birthday, and he thanked me for
creating a fan group that brought together thousands of fans on a single
platform. The joy I felt at that
moment was indescribable.
This year, on 19th May 2024, Mr Bond was
coming once again to Cambridge Book Depot to celebrate his birthday. Fighting
all the odds, I reached there way ahead of time. My earlier two experiences
were quite satisfactory. This time, I was blank. I didn't
bring anything for him, nor I had any questions to ask him or anything to say
to him. I was captivated by the sight of his enthusiastic fans, many of whom
were about to meet him for the very first time. The anticipation and a mix of emotions
were palpable on their faces as they eagerly awaited their turn to interact
with him. I couldn't help but reminisce about my own first encounter with him -
a unique and incomparable experience. Despite the differences, we all shared a common bond
of love and admiration for the person who had brought us together from all
corners of the country. As he made his entrance, it felt like a character
stepping out of the pages of a beloved book. Each person approached him,
exchanged a few words, and moved on within a minute. Some left
with elation evident in their jumps, while others were visibly moved to tears. A few were left speechless,
struggling to comprehend that they had just met the renowned author, Ruskin
Bond. As I stepped into the bookstore, I found myself at a loss for
words. All I managed to say was, "Hello sir! Wish you a very happy birthday."
He graciously thanked me, and I left with a sense of satisfaction.
Later, as I lay in bed reflecting on the
day, I pondered why I had even gone
to see him when I had nothing
specific to say. It then struck me that simply being in his presence was
indescribable. It wasn't about the
words exchanged; it was about witnessing our cherished writer in high
spirits. I made a decision to
visit Mussoorie every time he made a public appearance for his fans, not to
engage with him, but to bask in his aura. Seeing him surrounded by adoring fans, radiating joy, became the most fulfilling experience for me.
-Ekta Kubba
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