Jamshedpur, Dec. 7: Best known children’s author Ruskin Bond, who penned his first novel at the age of 17, and won the prestigious John Llewellyn Rhys Memorial prize in 1957, shared his amazing journey in the field of literature with the school students on Friday.
In his first such interaction with the students at Fasy Auditorium of Loyola School as part of curtain raiser Jharkhand Literary Meet organised by Tata Steel, Ruskin shared his thoughts on literature and writing.
During the interaction he said he is really impressed to see the greenery of the city. � While I was on my way to the city I thought that being an industrial city it will be populated but I am really happy to see that it has green spread all over,� he said following a thunder of applause from the students.
Giving tips to the future writers, he said that students should read on education and general knowledge. � I want you to be yourself first. Don�t try to copy any one ever. It is amazing to see so many of you want to be writers. If you want to be a good writer, I must say that start reading good books. Don�t copy anyone develop your own style,� said the acclaimed writer.
Bond, who has several novels, short stories, poetry collections and children’s books to his credit, some of which have been made into films such as Junoon directed by Shyam Benegal, said: �I was quite a bookworm from my early school days, and was in fact made in-charge of the school library. But just like other children I was never interested in exams. I used to hate them and never studied for them. I was good in humanities subjects like literature and history, which really did not require much effort from me�.
When questioned over making writing as a career, Ruskin noted: �I had decided at the beginning that I want to be a writer. You choose your career and stick to it. In spite of what people say, that reading as a habit has gone I see much more of it today thanks to the education system and the widespread reading and writing in English as a result of it.�
He also motivated students to always choose a career that is close to your heart. � I firmly believe that If you do something you don’t like doing you won’t be happy doing it. Also, you should think about what you really want to do at a young age. Don’t be disappointed if things don’t go well in the beginning. Even I had my share of many ups and downs in my entire life. Take a decision and keep at it,� Ruskin summed up.
Bond also addressed the curtain raiser event of Jharkhand Literary Meet organised at Centre for Excellence latter in the evening.