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So12
Born in Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh. He is an
Indian author of British descent.
Ruskin Bond's Notes from a Small Room
Moments of inspiration come to all of us. These are times
when our
imagination takes flight and there's an urge to pen down a
few lines.
It happens to me during the monsoons - seeing how lovely
everything starts looking. The rains are infinitely romantic
and
there's a regenerating
beauty to the season that is quite hard to describe.
It is with this sense of endless wonder and child-like joy that
Ruskin Bond writes from his small room about all things
that make an
impression on him. And with his ardor for nature, even an
ant's movement doesn't escape his sensitive eye.
June:24
Monsoon starts in last week of July and continues
till the end of August
The first day of monsoon mist. With the mist everything in nature has
gone a drastic change.
The birds seem to be quiet with the mist covering the hills. Not only
does it covers the hill but also leaves a shadow of silence. Only an hour
ago the author was able to hear the trees buzzing with bird’s song. Now
it seems to him that the forest is deathly still (calm and tranquil) as if it
were night with the mist covering the hills.
The author can hear Bijju calling to his sister through the mist. He can
hear his voice but he cannot see Bijju because of the mist.
June 25:
The place welcomes real monsoon rain.
The plants seem to know about the
change.
With the first monsoon rain, the cobra lily
raises its head from the ferns (leaves).
According to the author the mist provides
a privacy.
June 27:
The rain has brought the news of
some seasonal visitors like
A leopard, several thousand
leeches
The author
remembers
that the
previous day
afternoon the
leopard had
lifted a dog
from near the
servant’s
quarter below
the school
But the leopard ran away at the
approach of Bijju’s mother who
came screaming imprecations.
The other new arrivals are the scarlet minivets.
The author feels that they cannot hide
themselves among the leaves as they are
brightly coloured and appear to him like
brilliant jewels hidden in the tree.
But sometimes they manage to go unnoticed by
remaining absolutely silent.
The drongos are
aggressive and they
love to chase the
poor scarlet minivets.
Tree Creeper
They are the
insectivorous birds and
now that in monsoon
there is no dearth of
food , they are moving
up the trunk of the
tree eating up the
insects all the way.
Aug:2
People become weary of monsoon.
The rain falls on the roof producing a
drumming sound. Though the tin
roofs are accounted to develop leaks,
there is a feeling of being untouched
by and yet in touch with rain.
Aug 3
The rain stops. The clouds give
way to the sun. The author can
hear the tinkle of cow bells, he
can hear the crow crying
desperately......
The author can also hear the song
of a whistling thrush that emerges
from the depth of the valley.
Aug:12
The author tells that they have not seen the
sun for eight to nine days because of heavy
rain and mist. He has no interest to go out.
He moves about in his room and looks out
of the window.....?
The author says that the late monsoon
flowers begin to appear in the hillsides.
Wild Balsam
Dahlias
BEGONIAS
GROUND ORCHIDS
Aug 31:
The seeds of cobra lily are turning
red signifying the end of monsoon.
The author finds different varieties
of orchids on the grassy slopes of
landour.
Due to the monsoon, snakes and
rodents move out of their holes and
burrows and take shelter in roofs,
attics and godowns.
MAUVE LADY’S SLIPPER
WHITE BUTTERFLY ORCHIDS
SHREW
Chuchundars
are lucky
as
a
they bring in
money
October 3:
The beginning of winter rain.
Snow at higher altitudes. The
sky is spread out with a
golden light after the
hailstorm.
Jan 26:
The author is left alone in his
room as his friend has left. He
experiences absolute silence.
He realizes the pure stream of
silence within him. He is
surrounded by the rhythm of
rain. The mist engulfs the
house in a dark caress.
March 23:
It marks the end of winter.
The sky becomes clear after
a hailstorm. The author can
see the rainbow forming.