19th May, 2025
Landour
Dear Mr Bond,
I am writing this letter to thank you, not only for your stories and the memories they bring but also for teaching me how to embrace every little thing in the universe with open arms. Your words have made a lasting impact on my life and transformed my place in the small world I inhabit.
I am a teacher in a government school in a very remote village in Punjab. The school has only thirty-two students, most of whom come from underprivileged backgrounds. In many ways, they remind me of the characters in your stories - innocent, resilient, and full of wonder. They are as dear to me as your stories are.
Sadly, most of these children have no access to smartphones or the internet, leaving them unaware of the vast world beyond their village. While I believe deeply in the value of learning from one’s natural surroundings, I still wish they had the chance to glimpse life beyond their immediate environment. Many have never ventured beyond their village, not even to the nearest town just ten kilometres away, despite its good road connection. They have no televisions to show them the world beyond their fields and homes. Without televisions or digital access, their understanding of the world is confined to what they see around them - the fields, the homes, the familiar rhythms of village life. As someone who has always loved to travel, it saddens me that I cannot share with them the beauty and diversity that exists beyond our small corner of the world. I long to open a window for them, to show them what lies beyond the horizon. Yet, I often feel powerless in the face of their limited circumstances.
Then I remembered something a friend once told me: “Whenever in doubt, open a Ruskin Bond book.” He was right. I couldn’t take my students out of the village, but I could give wings to their imaginations through your stories.
Despite the constant demands of my job, I find time to gather my students and tell them your stories. By now, we’ve journeyed through hundreds together. The Railway Gang and Panther’s Moon are particular favourites. In fact, the story of Panther’s Moon has become so beloved that almost everyone in our village - whether a three-year-old child or a ninety-year-old elder - knows it by heart.
I have a small confession to make: I’ve taken a few liberties while sharing your stories. Rusty has become Ramesh, Uncle Ken is now Krishan Mama, and there are a few other such changes along the way. I made these adjustments so that the children could more easily connect with the characters - so the names would feel familiar, rooted in their own culture and daily lives. My intention was never to alter the essence of your stories but rather to bring them closer to the hearts of those who might otherwise feel they belong to a different world.
Sir, I have been visiting Mussoorie every May since 2023 to be a part of your birthday celebrations. This year’s visit was special - carefully planned and deeply meaningful. I was not coming for myself but on behalf of my students. Over time, I haven’t just shared your stories with them - I’ve also introduced them to the gentle, wise soul behind those magical words that have sparked their imaginations. Slowly, they’ve begun creating their own stories. Though they struggle to read and write - even in their mother tongue - I’ve managed to open a passage for them into infinite imaginative worlds. In these worlds, they are not bound by the written word; all they need is to see with their hearts, think with their minds, and dream freely.
All of this has become possible because of the stories you've given us - the windows, the wings, the wonder.
I feel immense joy in sharing that I am no longer known to my students as the Math or Science teacher (yes, I teach both!). Instead, I am lovingly called “Kahaniyon wali Ma’am” throughout the village.
Thank you, Mr Bond, for helping us travel through words, for bringing distant lands and quiet hills into our lives, and for reminding us that even from a small village, one can see the whole world - with the right story.
With deepest gratitude,
Ekta Kubba
A humble teacher
P.S. I’m certain this letter will reach you - thanks to Mr. Sunil Arora. Team Cambridge has always been so kind in making many dreams come true.
One of my students has used her imagination to send you a special birthday wish. She was absolutely ecstatic as she handed me this little gift for you.
I haven’t told the children that your visit has been cancelled. But I do believe her gift will find its way to you - just as your stories have always found their way to us.
P.P.S. I originally wrote this letter on 19th May 2025, on Mr Bond’s 91st birthday. I had given it to Mr Sunil Arora, along with a small gift from my student, asking him to deliver both to Ruskin Sir. But destiny had something else in store. Just five minutes later, Sunil sir called me and asked me to climb those famous red stairs myself - Mr Bond had invited me to meet him in person. And so, I had the privilege of handing him the letter and gift myself.
But that’s a long, beautiful story - one for another time.
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