The American writer and writing instructor from Mussoorie feels Himalayas as his “greatest university on earth”, the ‘well’ from where he draws his stories and narratives for the non-fiction books. After having penned 16 books, he is now working on Biography of Himalayas about which he shared his inklings with the noted writers and publishers in Raj Bhawan on Sunday evening. The Governor called him “true Uttarakhandi” having been born and raised in the State in queen of hills – Mussoorie.
Playing host to the celebrated author during evening tea in Raj Bhawan, the Governor of Uttarakhand KK Paul said, “We all are keen observers in our lives and have power of expression. But there is a difference between simple human observation and observations of a celebrity author who knows how to present those feelings in black and white.”
Sharing how Himalayas has inspired him, Stephen said, “Every author has a well from which he draws stories going back again and again. The only well for me to draw inspiration is Himalayas. They are the bottomless well. In fact, Himalayas are the greatest university on earth which has drawn so many people from different streams, scholars, researchers, trekkers, mountaineers, seekers, students who have explored them in their own ways.” He traced his journey of writing on the majestic mountains, how they had inspired and beckoned him when he was away from them. His emotional separation made him traverse the heights of its various peaks be it Nanda Devi or ladakh trekking for days together. His much appreciated book on “becoming a mountain” does not describe the mountain as a static monument but a dynamic entity, ever changing.
Talking about his future project- Biography of Himalayas, Stephen said that the young Himalayan mountains were ever changing, ecologically. His work speaks about this changing face of the mountains and the bio- diversity, migration of people to the plains and deforestation and the like.
Maintaining a strict writing regime, the author said he has been writing for the past 40 years, targeting at least 1000 words a day as his literary output. When asked if he had picked up some regional languages like Garhwali or Kumaoni, the writer touched the humorous bone saying, he understood Garhwali language though he never learnt it in schools. “I can speak a bit too with “chh” sound at end on every word,” he said in a jovial tone.