A few days back, finished reading Ruskin Bond's novella The Room in the Roof. it has been in my bucket list for a couple of years and at last fulfilled my wish. What made me to read it, well, perhaps a book penned by Ruskin Bond, a writer needless to be introduced for adults and children alike. Before it, I was fortunate to read his short stories, where it's learnt that , most of his childhood and adolescence described in this novella. His simple and sweet style of writing is always intrigued to flip through the pages. He was seventeen when he had penned it.
This 184 page book portrays an adolescent's life. He was a son of British couple arrived in India during the colonial ruling but unfortunately remained almost orphan due to lack of parental care and love. Protagonist Rusty was sent to Mr. Harrison , a British national , living in Dehra opened many new avenues and Sometimes Harrison's harsh discipline was not to endure. So he escaped from him and with the help of local friends like Somi had got a tutor job for a Kapoor's family. As a tutor of English, he was given small room on the roof.
In his journey of life, many exotic experiences encountered and his destiny determined as a writer at last. Dehradun, Mussori and surrounding hill places where the story conceived beautifully. Accounts of all those places showcased the life and ambience of lower Himalayas. This is just like any other romantic story but the difference is here with our hero , a British offshoot. The reader would understand how a part of claustrophobic European life had gone in the colonial era. An enchanting view of Indian life too was portrayed. A whole new generation of readers will also be enjoyed it.
--- Murthy Kvvs
