‘A library is a hospital of the mind.’ – Anonymous.
A good book can quickly uplift our mood and make us feel better.
Books take us to the world of science, technology bestowing knowledge on us or teleport us to the fantasy realms. They are an integral part of our daily lives. They please our spirits along with fulfilling our needs. And when it comes to storybooks, an effortless smile spreads across our faces.
Starting from fairytales to fanciful fictions, humans have an eternal attachment to the stories.
Stories are like gateways to the Land of imagination where the robot-like humans find their escapes. A story can surround us with longing warmth or provoke tears to roll down our cheeks. Some of the tales inspire us, teach us valuable lessons. A few dig out the thoughts of their creators. Either way, they click the much-needed refresh keys inside our minds.
The credits of such treasures go to the swordless warriors- the Writers. The Ruskin bond is one of the eminent names in the world of literature.
Biography of the Author
Ruskin was born on 19th May 1934, in Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh. He was the son of Edith Clarke and Aubrey Bond. Bond was just eight when his parents separated.
He shared an intricate relationship with his mother and grew distant from her. It was his father whose profound love and influence assisted him to embrace his passion. After the sudden demise of his father, he spent his childhood with his Grandmother in Shimla.
He was 17 when he wrote his first novel- Room on the Roof that won the John Llewellyn Rhys Memorial Prize.
For a few years, he worked as a journalist in Delhi and Dehradun. Later, he moved back to Mussoorie-a town in the Himalayan foothills, where he continued freelance writing. His essays and articles were published in popular magazines like The Pioneer, The Leader, and The Telegraph. Till now, he has penned over three hundred short stories, essays and books. Apart from that, he has written two autobiographical volumes. His notable works include -Time Stops at Shamli, A Flight Of Pigeons, Delhi Is Not Far. BBC adapted one of his works-“Susanna’s seven Husbands” as a film.
He has also been awarded prestigious awards like Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan for his literary contributions.
Bond’s writing style
One of the specialities in Bond’s writing is his simple language. His works can be appreciated by a layman. It’s well said that Ruskin Bond uses his pen like a brush. The way he describes the scenes, one needs a little effort trying to imagine it. The connection between man and nature is portrayed in his novels. Some say most of his stories are reflections of the childhood he dreamt of. Nonetheless, his unique way of writing stands out amongst many of the literary works.
Summary of the book
The Blue Umbrella is one of the best books written by Ruskin Bond.
The story revolves around a free-spirited girl Binya who belonged to the mountains of the Garhwals. Binya sold her necklace (made of the claw of a leopard) in exchange for a beautiful blue umbrella which enchanted her at the very first sight.
Several villagers were jealous of the poor girl owning the high priced thing. It was the prettiest umbrella they had ever seen. Each one of them dreamt of having it.
Ram Bharosa-the richest man in the village, was one of them.
He tried his best to convince Binya to sell her umbrella to him, which proved fruitless. As time progressed, his envy for the umbrella turned into an obsession. Ram Bharosa asked a boy Rajaram to steal the umbrella from Binya, who ended up getting caught. The incident spread in every corner of the village. Eventually, the villagers ceased visiting his shop and turned their back on him.
One day Binya went to his shop to buy candy and intentionally left the umbrella there. Ram Bharosa got the feeling to keep the umbrella, but that time his conscience won. He ran out of the shop and called Binya back. But she said that she left the umbrella for him. On seeing her compassion, Ram was overwhelmed with joy.
He used to leave the umbrella open outside and never hesitated to lend it. Slowly people started visiting his shop. Gradually the blue umbrella became everyone’s umbrella. A few days later, Ram Bharosa gifted a bear claw necklace to Binya. And the tale ended on a happy note.
Themes
The story is humorously written in uncomplicated language. Yet, it carries lessons that are valuable for every age group. The core of the novel revolves around materialism and its detrimental impact on humans. Most of the villagers were jealous of a little girl owning a lovely blue umbrella. Ram Bharosa did not hesitate to give up his morals for it. His selfish desires defeated his ethics which left him with regrets and loneliness.
On the other hand, a kind-hearted Binya gave her favourite object to Ram. Renouncing something one loves is difficult. But it’s rewarding if done for the greater good. Though Binya was sad when she parted with her umbrella. But she was finally glad when her sacrifice brought a smile to someone’s face.
Conclusions
Apart from that, The story is wonderfully woven, which keeps the reader captivated till the end. Ruskin Bond is a master storyteller, and this story is evidence of the same.
One of the dominant themes in Bond’s writing is nature and ecology. The novel stated above beautifully illustrates the beauty of the village of the hills. One can easily visualise the exquisite landscape after reading the novella.
The escapism that his writings have provided in their simplicity is highly commendable. From children to teenagers, from young adults to the old, from layman to expert. Bond’s novels never fail to entertain an individual regardless of his age.
