The Global Journal of Literary Studies I Volume II, Issue III I September 2016 ISSN : 2395 4817

The Global Journal of Literary Studies I Volume II, Issue III I September 2016 ISSN : 2395 4817

The Global Journal of Literary Studies I September 2016 I Vol. II, Issue III I ISSN : 2395 4817

Narrative Techniques in the works of Ruskin Bond

Prof. Keshav Singh Sisodiya

Head Department of English

Maharaja Bhoj Govt. P.G. College Dhar, Madhya Pradesh, INDIA.

Abstract

The technique of narrating a story is determined by the kind of experience and the quality of vision, which the

author seek to convey through the mutual interaction of character and plot. Kepton has rightly remarked “a noble

theme may sound merely pretentious under poor telling”- Form and technique.

The emergence of short story as an art has emphasized the importance of narrative technique- A writer may use

different methods to tell his stories such as direct or epical, documentary or autobiographical in accordance with

the demand of his subject matter. Bond is the master story teller of the present age because he has developed his

individual style of narration. His narration is marked with simplicity of tone depth of meaning. Indian writers

have written on almost all the major form of literature. Particularly in the post-independence era, they have

made innovative experiments with narrative techniques.

Bond’s thematic base is the landscape and socio-scape of the region that he frequented in his early years. He

establishes a correlation between the nature and the humans. In “The Blue Umbrella” the opening paragraph of

each chapter prepares the readers about what lies ahead. For instance “The rains set in and the sun made brief

appearances”. The wide vision of narration by Ruskin Bond in his novels and writings are of great value and it

helps us to understand human nature. The technique he adopts for writing his novels, short stories and novellas is

interesting and innovative. It is therefore that he is counted among the leading novelists of modern era and for

most in India for his unique narrative techniques.

Keywords : Narration, Technique, Nature, Landscape, Story

The Global Journal of Literary Studies I Volume II, Issue III I September 2016 ISSN : 2395 4817

Ruskin Bond is a great writer of English in India. He has written so many short stories, novellas and

novels. Short stories are based on Indian village children’s life and their childhood. Ruskin Bond was

born in Kasauli in the then Punjab province in the year 1934. He went to England for his primary

education. Although Bond was studying in England, his mind rested in India. As stated above Bond has

written short stories, novellas and novels – The technique of narrating is determined by the kind of

experience and the quality of vision, which the author seek to convey through the mutual interaction of

character and plot. Kempton has rightly remarked “a noble theme may sound merely pretentious under

poor telling”- Form and technique.

The emergence of short story as an art has emphasized the importance of narrative technique- A writer

may use different methods to tell his stories such as direct or epical, documentary or autobiographical in

accordance with the demand of his subject matter. Bond is the master story teller of the present age

because he has developed his individual style of narration. His narration is marked with simplicity of

tone depth of meaning. He is a conscientious writer. For him writing is a means of conversing with the

world. Indian writers in English have been using almost all the major form of literature. Particularly in

the post independence era, they have drawn appreciation all over the world. These writers have excelled

themselves in fiction writing because of their vision, perception, depth, variety and their universality of

appeal. The few among these who got worldly recognition are R.K.Narayan, MulkRaj Anand, Anita

Desai, Khwaja Ahmad Abbas, Ruth.P.Jhabwala, Amitav Ghosh are the prominent writers who made

innovative experiments with narrative techniques.

Bond’s thematic base is the landscape and socio-scape of the region that he frequented in his early years.

He establishes a correlation between the nature and the humans. In “The Blue Umbrella” the opening

paragraph of each chapter prepares the readers about what lies ahead. For instance “The rains set in and

the sun made brief appearances”- The description as the hills turned a rush green, Ferns sprang up on the

walls and tree trunk. Giant lilies reared up like leopard from the tall grass. A white mist coiled and it

floated up from the valley. The chapter also tells us happy things like the character Binya’s joyous

loistering with the beautiful Umbrella over head. We also find the greedy shop keeper (Ram Bharosa)

masterminding the stealing of the Blue Umbrella this sort of intimating the readers through the

description of nature is favourite play of Ruskin Bond.

Ruskin Bond’s favourite subjects or themes are pets, animals and a variety of the have-notes, Orphans

abnormal children, restless adolescent and frustrated old men whom he portrays with compassion. He

shows the great affinity between trees and men.

Mahmood Ali, The kite maker in the story “The Kitemaker” speaks of the inseparable relationship

between man and nature. The analogy of man and trees gives the total essence of Ruskin Bond’s

treatment of nature, which is very familiar to all of us. Bond seeks delight in running with the winds,

smiling with the flowers and conversing with trees. He preferably enjoys the divine beauty of the hills

and dales in Garhwal Himalayas.

Motherless child, Ruskin Bond, found emotional compensation in the warm lap of nature. He felt nature

always welcoming his steps. It was his father who introduced him to this everlasting relationship. He

recalls through boy protagonist in many of his stories, planting excursions with his father in rainy season

The Global Journal of Literary Studies I Volume II, Issue III I September 2016 ISSN : 2395 4817

on the slopes of Dehra. In the story “My Father’s Trees in Dehra”- The young boy fondly asks his

father:

‘But no one ever come here’, I protested the first

time….. ‘Some day’, he said ‘Some one may come this

way….. One day the tree will move again…..

But they are always trying to move. (Bond; 1994; 43-44)

Senior Bond’s faith in the living organism of nature got firmly established in his mind with the passage

of time. After his father tragic demise, Bond found the hills kind enough to provide him a formidable

sense of parental security.

The story gives a moving accounts of his father’s death. Mourners expressing stereotyped sympathy,

priest’s cold voice and the coffin. Cast a depressing impact on the boy who could hardly understand it.

In another story “The Leopard” – a village boy wanders alone in the forest without any protection. He

develops a mute understanding with the beast. He likes the presence of the magnificent beast crouching

at the bank of the river and in return beast too. Both are confident towards each other but the boy is

scared of the man who may come other day with a gun to shoot it. This mutual distrust of outside man is

shared by the beat and the boy who feels ashamed at the deceit and faithfulness of his race.

The story “Four Boys on a Glacier” – Imparts a vivid picture of nature during their adventurous

expeditions. It presents a vivid picture of snow-capped peak of the Himalayas. The boys visualize divine

beauty of nature during their adventurous expeditions. The gurgling sound of the water in deep forest

arouses curiosity in theme and they march through the bushes on steep hills and valley in order to trace

it out.

In the story “Whistling in the Dark” – The spirit appears in the form of a whistling boy racing on his

bicycle. It saves the hero from falling into the rocks hundred feet below. These spirits can be found in

different stories. These stories are the testimony of Bond’s enticing power of narration and intense

perception of life.

The stories like “The Photograph” , “The Kitemaker” , “A Long Walk with Granny” , “The Cherry

Tree”, “Animals on the Track” – renders an interesting account of mutual sharing between the young

and the old as in “The Photograph” – The boy enjoys a streak of blush in the wrinkles of Granny’s

visage when she looks at her old photograph. The story gives a vivid and realistic description of the

hardship of hill life. They have to walk many miles on foot to reach a road-head for a bus to the town.

The stories like “Sita and the River”, “Panther’s Moon” – has all the ingredients of classic adventure

story; vivid description, the gathering of tension, a touch of fear, a bit of fantasy and finally a happy

ending. Bond skillfully handles the issue of man’s harmony with his environment including animals.

The story “The Last Tonga Ride” – revives the romance of tonga ride on the steep roads of Dehra,

fringed by lush green plantation on both sides. The boy loved the thrill of tonga ride especially.

The Global Journal of Literary Studies I Volume II, Issue III I September 2016 ISSN : 2395 4817

References

Wilber L. Croos, The development of English novel (Ludhyana : Kalayani publishers, 1997)

The Blue Umbrella, by Ruskin Bond published in Red Turtle by Rupa Publications

The Kitemaker : Stories, by Ruskin Bond Published 2011 by Penguin Books India.

Rusty, the Boy from the Hills, by Ruskin Bond Published January 31st 2003 by Puffin Books.

A Town Called Dehra, by Ruskin Bond Published 2008 by Penguin Books India.

Tales and Legends from India, by Ruskin Bond Published January 1st 1982 by J. MacRae Books

Aggarwal, Amita, The Fictional World of Ruskin Bond, Sarup & sons, New Delhi

Fatima Gulnaz, Ruskin Bond: A Pioneer of Children Literature in India