Ruskin Bond, 87, an Indian author of British descent, was born on 19 May 1934. After losing his father to World War II and having to accept his step-father, life was surely not an easy road to travel. Growing up, books were his source of escape. His fondness for books grew so much that he would finish 5 books a week at the age of 12. In 1965 he wrote ‘The night train at Deoli’, which became his first bestseller. He has written books in different genres. The Indian Council for Child Education has recognised his role in the growth of Children's literature in India. He has won a number of awards over the years, including the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan. Today on his 87th birthday, we bring you a list of his bestsellers, which speaks of his greatness as an author.

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1. The Blue Umbrella

This book speaks volumes about the author’s simplicity in his writings. The story revolves around Binya and her blue umbrella. The story entails lessons about life’s simplistic pleasures, which cannot come from materialistic things. It emphasizes the fact that love with things fades away with time, but once we touch someone’s heart, it never fades away.

2. The Room on the Roof

A boy named Rusty is the main character of the book. The story explores the tough and harsh reality of life through the eyes of an orphaned child. The readers are reminded of the plight of those who are often neglected by society. 

3. Delhi is Not Far

The key character of the story- Arun and Suraj have ambitious yet simple dreams who live in the quaint town of Pipalnagar in northern India. The character of Arun depicts yesteryears of Ruskin Bond. It paints a romantic picture of life in rural India with people aiming to make it big in a glorious city like Delhi. 

4. The Night Train at Deoli and other stories

The book is filled with everything one needs when feeling blue. It has characters who have lost their parents. Characters dealing with natural calamities, other-worldly visitations, faith in God, family, and more. It is a ray of hope as a book. 

5. Cherry Tree

An attractive read for young readers, it revolves around a young boy named Rakesh. It is about the hard work and efforts put in by the young boy to save his cherry plant from every disaster possible.

6. Our Trees Still Grow in Dehra

It is a collection of short stories, exploring the life of the author from childhood to adulthood. The characters travel through various destinations across the country like Bombay, Delhi, and finally, settle down in the Himalayas. The book is semi autobiographical in nature, which includes people who have influenced the author’s life.