Arora greets Bond on his 75th B’day

By PRABEER SIKDAR

DEHRADUN, 19 May 2009: Upendra Arora, owner of the Rajpur Road based The Green Bookshop and a longtime friend of Ruskin Bond, was the first to greet the eminent author on his 75th birthday at the latter’s Ivy Cottage in Landour.

“I drove up to Mussoorie and was the first to greet him at 10:30 a.m.,” said Arora, adding that he congratulated Bond’s adopted son – Prem and his wife – for looking after the ageing author with love and affection.

According to Arora, whose book shop the author frequented (he still does, sometimes) to browse classics written by the likes of Thomas Hardy, Henry Fielding, Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, etc., while staying in Doon (he lived in Astley Hall and Old Survey Road for some years), he presented Bond a multi-coloured carnation bouquet.

“Carnation flowers are Bond’s weakness,” Arora disclosed, pointing out that Bond had revealed this to him many years ago. “We have been friends for the last 25 years.”During his short but sweet visit at Bond’s Landour home, Arora pointed out that a mother-son duo had come all the way from Mumbai to greet the author. “The mother, who is known to me, had promised her son a visit to Bond’s home if he fared well in his exams,” said Arora, while emphasising his popularity among children.

So far, according to Arora, Penguin India has published more than 70 books authored by Bond. “About 40 titles are still in print,” he informed, adding that 25 more titles have been published by Rupa.

Among Bond’s bestselling books include ‘Rain in the Mountains’, ‘Friends in Small Places, The Room on the Roof’, Bond’s collected fiction, Book of Nature, Best of Bond, etc., revealed Arora.

Bond’s secrets

On being asked to reveal the secrets of his good health, Bond reportedly told Arora, “Be content with life and try to take some time off to look out of the window…”

“I don’t envy anyone. I don’t believe in grabbing what is not mine, because it leads to stress and unhappiness in life…,” said Bond, while crediting these principles for his good health and longevity.

Meanwhile, The Green Bookshop is stockpiling Bond’s popular books for its upcoming programme in Doon on May 23. “The programme is titled Come, Meet & Greet Bond, which will also be attended by Ravi Singh, CEO of Penguin India,” Arora told Garhwal Post.

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