The Doon valley is known for its beautiful winters. There are more of bright sunny days here than cloudy ones during winters. People from the plains enveloped by heavy fog envy Doonites greatly for the sun and warmth. Specially now, when many a city in the north is struggling to breathe!
It was just such a wonderful and bright winter morning, around twenty five years ago, that I was all set for my meeting with the living legend and my ideal Ruskin Bond, the presiding literary deity of Doon and Mussoorie who has made these two cities famous throughout the world with his prolific writing. He is like a god for people here. I had met him once while I was still in school and had gone up to Mussoorie for the summer vacation. However, as a journalist and a grown- up, this was going to be my first meeting with him.
Upendra Arora, the amiable proprietor of Natraj Book Shop (also known as the Green Book Shop) , who plays an important role in the literary world of the valley, had helped me fix this meeting with the great “Bond of the Mountains.” I had written quite a few stories about his work before this meeting was planned. I had reviewed many of his well-known books. He had read these reviews and stories.
I was nervous and excited. Those were times when meeting writers and other famous personalities was not as simple as it may seem today. Information technology had not yet become so much a part of our lives. We were not using the internet or mobile phones. letters were still being sent by post. Couriers had just begun to be used. Accessibility to renowned persons was difficult indeed. literary festivals were a rarity.
And yet this was going to happen! I reached Mr Arora’s Green Book Shop much earlier than was required (as is my habit). He was his usual happy and smiling self. We had coffee at the shop and then discussed the day’s news. When it was time to reach the little café where Mr Bond was to meet us we left for it. We walked to the café as it was quite close to the shop. The town looked cheerful and I felt that it was humming with excitement and joy. Soon, we settled down in the little area where green, cane chairs and tables were placed outside so that people could have their meals while enjoying the sun. It was a November morning. Doon was still Doon. It had not yet begun pretending to be a big city. Dehra Dun was still a sleepy town in Uttar Pradesh. Uttarakhand was still a dream in those days. The pace of life was leisurely and there were hardly any people we could see on that day on Rajpur Road, the heart of the town.
Soon, Bond Sa’ab alighted from a car driven by one of his friends. Both of them came and joined us. It was truly one of the most memorable moments of my life. Finally, I could talk to the creator of the literary works that I had been reading since my school days. I could ask him questions, discuss the characters created by him, express my admiration in person and know his views on various subjects. Mr Arora’s presence made the conversation more lively as he had already met Mr Bond several times and knew him well.
I have met Bond Sa’ab many times since that November morning. However, that morning remains strongly etched in my mind and heart till now. It was an extremely special day and will always remain so. Mr Arora and I talk about it many a time and bask in the glow of those lovely memories. What we remember most about that day is how Mr Bond, after meeting me, remarked that after reading my stories and reviews he had been prepared to meet a journalist who had been in the profession for many years. Someone much older than I was. I took this as compliment and felt happy that my writing had such a mature quality.
I can never forget even a moment of that magical morning. Every winter, as I cross that café, I can almost see the four of us seated on those green, cane chairs, enjoying elaichi tea and cheese sandwiches. Enjoying the warmth of the sun. And of the vibrant conversation !