Ruskin Bond Age, Height, Family, Career, Net Worth, Lifestyle & Facts

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Real Name: Ruskin Bond

Nickname: Rusty

Profession: Author

Date of Birth: 19 May 1934 (Saturday)

Age (as of 2025): 91 Years

Zodiac sign/Sun sign: Taurus

Nationality: Indian

Hometown: Dehradun, Uttarakhand

Religion: Christianity

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EDUCATION

School: Bishop Cotton School, Shimla

College/University: Not Known

Educational Qualifications: Not Known

PHYSICAL STATISTICS

Height (approx.): in centimeters- 160 cm in meters- 1.60 m in Feet Inches- 5’ 3”

Weight (approx.): in Kilograms- 90 kg in Pounds- 198 lbs

Eye Colour: Blue

Hair Colour: White

FAMILY & RELATIONSHIPS

Family: Father – Aubrey Clarke (British Air Force personnel), Hari (step-father) Mother – Edith Clarke Brother – William Sister – Ellen

Marital Status: Unmarried

Affairs/Girlfriends: Not Known

Wife/Spouse: N/A

Children: Son – Not Known Daughter – Not Known Note: Ruskin Bond has an adopted family. He lost one of his children a few years ago.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

Debut: Writing (Book): The Room on the Roof (1956)

Awards/Achievements: Awarded the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize in 1957. Bestowed with the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1992. Honoured with the Padma Shri in 1999. Awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2014.

OTHER INFORMATION

Birth Place: Kasauli, Punjab States Agency, British India

Address: Ivy cottage, Landour, Mussoorie, Dehradun, Himachal Pradesh (Has been living at the same address for more than 36 years)

Hobbies: Watching sports, reading

Favourite Authors/Poets: William Wordsworth, Henry David Thoreau, Anton Chekov, Ernest Bates, Emily Bronte, Graham Greene

Favourite Books: Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

Favourite Destination: Puducherry

INTERESTING BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Ruskin Bond’s early life was marked by significant upheavals that would shape his worldview and creativity. When he was just four years old, his mother, Ellen, separated from his father, Aubrey, and remarried a Punjabi Hindu named Hari, who had previously been married. This change set a series of events in motion; following his parents’ divorce, Ruskin was placed in his father’s custody. Tragically, this arrangement was short-lived, as his father passed away from jaundice shortly thereafter. Seeking stability, young Ruskin moved to his grandmother’s home in Dehradun, which would become a vital part of his formative years. The regular relocations he experienced in his childhood fostered both a resilience and a rich sense of observation that would later permeate his literary works.

At school, Bond quickly earned recognition as an “all-rounder,” excelling not just in academics, but also in sports and extracurricular activities. He became known for his exceptional essay-writing skills, winning the Anderson Essay Prize for three consecutive years. His talents were further acknowledged when his alma mater, Bishop Cotton School, honored him by enshrining his name in their “Hall of Fame.” Among his early creative endeavors, he penned his first short story, titled ‘Untouchable’, at the mere age of 16, establishing a foundation for his literary pursuits. After completing his education, Bond immigrated to the Channel Islands in the U.K. to further his studies, a move that would prove pivotal as it was during this time that he began writing his first novel, The Room on the Roof. This semi-autobiographical work, centered around an orphaned boy, faced several hurdles in securing a publisher, as established publishers at the time were often hesitant to take on newcomers.

Despite significant challenges, Bond’s perseverance paid off when his manuscript finally found a publisher, allowing him to return to Dehradun with the advance money he received. Back in his hometown, he embarked on a freelance writing career for various newspapers and magazines. His talent did not go unnoticed, and soon he was approached by Penguin India, with whom he signed a contract that would ensure the publication of all his subsequent works. His literary prowess has not only captivated readers but also inspired filmmakers. The Hindi film Junoon, directed by Shyam Benegal in 1979, was based on his historical novel, A Flight of Pigeons. Additionally, acclaimed filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj, a neighbor in Mussoorie, has adapted several of Bond’s stories into films, such as The Blue Umbrella and 7 Khoon Maaf, deepening the connection between literature and cinema.

To date, Bond has written over 500 short stories, novels, and essays, demonstrating an extraordinary versatility across genres, including children’s literature, biographies, and horror stories. Although he has explored various themes, the backdrop of his narratives often remains consistent, featuring the enchanting mountains, trains, and serene landscapes that have influenced his life and work. In a world increasingly dominated by technology, Bond has chosen to remain true to his roots; he writes all his works by hand, favoring the tactile interaction of pen on paper over modern typewriters and computers, which he finds uncomfortable. This dedication to his craft highlights the timeless nature of his storytelling, allowing readers to connect with the vivid imagery and emotion that characterize his extensive oeuvre.

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Note: All biographical information compiled from publicly available sources.