RUSKIN BOND’S WRITINGS – A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

While history is a factual record of events, literature is its selective representation with emotional overtones. To understand events recorded by history it is essential to understand the social, cultural and political background against which the events occurred and this is the calling of literature. In Ruskin Bond’s writings literature and history which are anyway inextricably intertwined merge to form a literary fabric that is both enlightening and enchanting. He takes his readers on a sojourn to unfrequented places; introduces them to uncelebrated heroes and informs them about unarticulated events of history. Bond’s narrations make history vivid, picturesque and pleasurable, scaled of pedantry and pedagogy that may impede interest in the subject. Bond’s variant handling of the subject is able to re-introduce the delights of history to his readers. In the ambit of his writings Ruskin Bond covers divergent people, places, inventions, incidents, passions and pastimes and presents a wholesome, well-garnished platter of history and literature.