THE ROOM ON THE ROOF by RUSKIN BOND captures the life of an
orphan who is obsessed staying with his guardian. It presents before the readers’
the feelings of a teenage boy and his wish to explore the new way of life which
is different from the guardian’s.
The book is in a simple style of writing which makes it an
easy read for the children too. The book is the winner of THE JOHN LLEWELLYN RHYS
MEMORIAL PRIZE. The book received tremendous appreciations and it stands till
to date as the best reader for any time. In 1953, at the age of 19, Ruskin bond
sent the manuscript to publisher Andre Deutsch. It took several years of correspondence
between him and his editor, and many changes to the manuscript, for the book to
see the light of the day.
“A CLASSIC STORY OF ADOLESCENCE AND COMING OF AGE THAT HAS
MESMERISIED READERS FOR OVER FIFTY YEARS.’’
Ruskin Bond finely presents the Indian life style in the hills
of Dehra. Chaat- stalls, water tanks, maidan, bazaar and many other features of
the town are brought to life. The book
entirely picturises the lively discussion held among the group of teenage friends.
THE ROOM ON THE ROOF is a fantastic attempt by the author
where he skilfully describes the natural beauty of the hilly region of India.
The book is set in Dehra Dun, a valley town in north India where the author
spent a good part of his childhood. Situated in the Doon valley, bounded by the
Himalayas to the north and the Shivalik Hills to the south, Dehra was much
favoured as a residential town by the British. However, it was founded earlier,
in the 17th, by Guru Ram Rai, son of Guru Har Rai, the seventh Guru
in Sikh history. It was a part of the hill kingdom of the Garhwal Rajas till
the 19th century.
In 1814 the British took possession of it. Today,it is the capital
of the state of Uttarakhand. It is popular tourist destination, and some of the
places to visit nearby are Mussoorie, Dhanaulti, and Chakrata, all hill station,
Haridwar and Rishikesh. It is also known for the many educational institutions that
are situated nearby, including the famous Doon school and Welham Boys School
and Welham Girls School.
No other writer can describe the nuances of the vibrant Doon
valley other than Ruskin Bond. His words
flow in praise of this wonderful hill station.
The book also focuses on the Anglo- Indian community, which
came into being during the colonial era when many Englishmen who served in India
married or had relationship with Indian women. Anglo –Indians are the children
of these unions. The main character “Rusty” is an Anglo –Indian boy and the
issues of him belonging to a different community is handled sensitively.
I quote, “What are
you my son, are you one of us? I have never, on this river, seen blue eyes and
golden hair.”
Unfortunately though, the community found it hard to gain
acceptance in either British or Indian society. Labelled “half- breeds” and “half-castes”
and mocked at for their “chi-Chi” English, they faced rejection when they were
sent to Britain for education or work. The Indians, on the other hand, looked
upon them with suspicion and distrust. Caught between their yearning for a “homeland”
most had not even seen and a culture they could not identify with, the Anglo-Indians
chose to take the side of the British during India’s struggle for freedom.
The author’s adolescence was peppered with characters you
get to meet in the book. As you might imagine, many of the incidents that happen
between the friends in the book really did take place.
The author without
fail helps to familiarise the readers with the location’s natural beauty bringing
it exactly before the eyes of the readers. His locations’ too deliver dialogues
along with the characters which makes the readers travel to the location along
with the author.
I Quote “The smart shops and restaurants were closed. In the
bazaar, oil lamps hung outside each doorway; people were asleep on the steps
and platforms of shop fronts, some huddled in blankets, others rolled tight
into themselves. The road, which during the day was a busy, noisy crush of
people and animals, was quiet and deserted. Only a lean dog still sniffed in the
gutter. A woman sang in a room high above the street- a plaintive, tremulous
song – and in the far distance a jackal cried to the moon. But the empty,
lifeless street was very deceptive; if the roofs could have been removed from
but a handful of buildings, it would be seen that life had not really stopped
but, beautiful and ugly, persisted through the night.
The book colourfully covers the festival of colours –Holi.
The drum beats, colour splashes and the coming of spring marks the Holi and it
is lively explained by the friends to rusty which makes him to join the
celebrations. The eagerness to know about the festival and his wish to be a
part of it makes Rusty to react to the drum beats and reaches the place of the
celebrations.
I quote Rusty woke to the sound of the second drum –beat,
and lay in bed and listened; it was repeated, travelling over the still air and
in through the bedroom window. Dhum!.. A double –beat now, one deep, one high,
insistent, questioning…
The author showcases the agony of Rusty in not finding a
job, a place to live and being alone. It also emphasises how he struggle with
himself. With the support of friends and his determination to be independent
fetches him an opportunity to lead his life in his own way.
Ruskin bond effectively puts in the role of happiness in
once life and suggests that being happy is most important to enjoy the things
around us.
I quote “They walked home in the evening. The evening was
full of sounds. Rusty noticed the sounds because he was happy, and a happy
person notices things. “
This book helped Ruskin Bond to establish himself as a writer
and he went to become one of India’s most prolific and accomplished writers. He
has more than three hundred short stories, novels and essays and numerous
children’s books to his credit and this work “The room on the roof “was made
onto a television serial.
The author always leaves the message “to cultivate the habit
of reading in order to become a writer.”
He read voraciously, everything from comics to literature to erotica. He
remembers being strongly influenced by Dicken’s David Copperfield and Hugh
Walpole’s Fortitude. So great was his love for books that he decided even
before leaving school that he would be a writer. His readings and his sheer
hard work paved way to realise his dream.
Like Rusty, young Ruskin was something of a rebel. In scenes
from a writer’s Life he says : I was
very much my own person- strong in my likes and dislikes, very stubborn,
wanting and getting my own way, my own room, my own privacy; old fashioned
enough to believe in loyalty to friends; scorning money for money’s sake; ready
to discover things about myself and come to terms with a wayward, sensual
nature; above all, eager to express myself in the language I’d learnt to love;
ambitious enough to want to see my name in print. To love and be loved; to be
free. Free to wander where I pleased; read what I liked; be friends with those
who attracted me.
Ruskin bond’s love and yearning for Dehradun, his father’s
death, purchase of a brand new type writer paved way to start writing the book
THE ROOM ON THE ROOF.
Like the words of Kishen, I quote “One day you‘ll be great,
Rusty. A writer or an actor or a prime minister or something. May be a poet!
Why not a poet, Rusty?”
Ruskin Bond is a great writer and a poet inspiring thousands
of people around the world. His writings put forth the reality and encourages the
readers to believe in their will power and continue their journey in their
desired path.
Ruskin bond has created so many characters with unique voice
and they stay and support the readers in every walk of life. Though Ruskin bond
is often termed as children’s writer, his writings are enjoyed and cherished by
adults too. His interviews and talks in literary festivals supplement his
writings and readers look forward to more books from him.
Ruskin Bond’s style outshines others and wins the hearts of the
readers. A sample of it here: “They who sleep last, wake first. Hunger and pain
lengthen the night, and so beggars and dogs are the last to see the stars;
hunger and pain hasten the awakening, and beggars and dogs are the first to see
the sun.”
Like these his words show us the real picture rather than
just describing the situation. His words are apt and touching which makes him
stand out from the crowd.
