This Bond depends on ghosts for ideas

Writing comes naturally to Ruskin Bond, a stalwart of children's literature, who at 75, still finds it difficult to gauge the mood of every reader but is thrilled at the way Indian writing has blossomed over the last six decades.
 
Personally, he says he relies on 'ghosts' whenever he falls short of ideas for a story.
 
"Reading varies from person to person and it is very difficult to gauge the mood of each and every reader. However, I feel that Indian writing has blossomed over the last six decades," the author who turns 75 today said.
 
Bond, who has been writing since 1951 has a prolific collection of works including short and long stories, essays, travel writing and poems and has also penned down his autobiography.
 
"In the 1940s, there were excellent writers like Mulkraj Anand and R K Narayan, but they had to go abroad to get their works published. The scene has changed today thanks to the spread of education and access to most of the children at least in urban areas to English medium of education," says the author.

 "I have been writing for all ages. And whenever I ran out of topics, ideas, content or people, ghosts came handy and I could easily bank on them, although ideally there is nothing called ghosts," says the Mussourie-based author. 

Bond, who cites Charles Dickens all his all time favourite author says he has over the last few years developed a love for nature and humour. "I must confess that in the last couple of years life has become more ridiculous."
 
The Padma Shree awardee author's work "Blue Umbrella" had been made into a film two years ago by Vishal Bharadwaj and also his other work "Flight of Pigeons," a story set in Shahjahanpur during the revolt of 1857 has also been  made into the film 'Junoon'.
 
"Recently I have written couple of stories for Vishal and he will be making films on them," discloses Ruskin Bond.  Previously, a televised serial "Ek Thaa Rusty" based on a quiet, sensitive and imaginative boy "Rusty" who lived in his grandparents' custody in Dehradun prior to Independence ran on Doordarshan.
 
Ruskin Bond has also recently finished a book titled 'Diary of the School Master', which deals shows the lighter side of a schoolmaster's life.
 
The author who says he never doubted his aim of becoming a writer is quite at ease writing for children.
 
"Well over the years, I found writing rather easy and while writing about childhood and children, I could associate them with my own childhood and that of other children," he says.  

The often reclusive author points out that everyday people send their stories and poems seeking his opinion and indicates that it is an encouraging trend.
 
The secret of good writing says Bond is confidence and perseverance.
 
"At times, when the chips are down and you are disappointed, you have to stick with this. I have seen young people who enter this field, but quit after some time and join other creative streams like advertising or journalism. I stuck to writing, since I had no other alternative."