Sunday, November 7, 2010

Bond with Bond



Almost 47 years ago in 1963 Martin Luther King Jr. in his famous speech on the steps of Lincoln Memorial, has said------ " I have a dream today. I have a dream that one day......"
Like ways but in unlike respect, I too conceived a dream, just 27 years ago in a train journey of South India in May 1983. It happened so that I had chance to look into a September 1981 issue of Reader's Digest. In it was an article named 'A Bouquet of Love' by Ruskin Bond and I fell in love with his writing ever since, a reading relationship grew gradually by reading his almost all articles since then. And that was that.
And it was again a journey in April 2010 to Mussoorie (India) with my two sons : Siddharth and Siddhant.
The day was 21st April wednesday - a very hectic and rewarding, as the first half of the day was spent in excursion tour of 'Camel's Back', afternoon at 4 we met to our beloved hero of writing - world, the great Ruskin Bond. Experiences were beyond word - as we alone had full 15 minutes to talk, share and communicate to one to whom we revered most. Then we spent sun-set hours at 'Gun Hill' (7029 feet from sea level) with freezing wind. Our post dinner stroll was rewarded by a sudden gust of rain shower and hail stone. By the time we came back to our hotel room.... it was a day with many rewards.... as life gives us opportunities.... as time permits in its boundaries.... as we try to reach out.... and as destiny takes us to unknown frontiers.......