For more than seven decades, Ruskin Bond has been the gentle voice of India’s hills — a writer whose stories have captured the fragrance of the mountains, the laughter of childhood, and the quiet magic of everyday life.
Now, at 91, the beloved author’s world of innocence and nature will step beyond the pages of books and into classrooms.
On October 26, Vadodara will witness the opening of the first Ruskin Bond International School (RBIS) — a nature-themed institution that promises to bring his stories, values, and philosophy of simple living to life.
The initiative, envisioned by his adopted grandson Siddharth Bond, marks the beginning of a new chapter in the author’s long and intimate relationship with India.
From Jamnagar to Mussoorie — The Making of an Indian Heart
Born in Kasauli in 1934, to a British father and Anglo-Indian mother, Ruskin Bond spent his early years moving across Indian towns.
Yet it was in Jamnagar, Gujarat, where he first found wonder in the world around him.
“My father ran a small palace school for royal children,” Bond fondly recalls. “The palace, the sea breeze from Rozi Bandar, the sound of the waves at Bedi Bandar — it was a fairy-tale atmosphere.”
When World War II broke out, young Ruskin was sent to boarding school. His childhood, however, remained deeply rooted in India’s landscapes — from the seashores of Jamnagar to the pine forests of Dehradun and the misty slopes of Mussoorie, where he still lives today.
Though he briefly moved to England as a young man after finishing school, India called him back within four years. “I knew I belonged here,” he once said. “This land, its people, its sounds — they were all a part of me.”
Since returning, Bond has lived almost his entire life in India — over seven decades of writing, teaching, and inspiring generations to see beauty in simplicity.
A School Born of Stories and Nature
The Ruskin Bond International School, conceptualized by Siddharth Bond, aims to bring the author’s philosophy to education, where children learn through nature, nurture, and nourishment.
Partnering with Advocate Kunal Sharma and CA-educationist Utpal Shah, the Vadodara school will weave Bond’s timeless tales into learning — blending academics with storytelling, play, and environmental awareness.
Classrooms will be themed around mountains, oceans, rainbows, and forests, turning lessons into immersive adventures. Beloved characters like Rusty, inspired by Bond’s own boyhood, will guide children through imagination and empathy.
“The school isn’t just about academics,” Sharma said. “It’s about emotional growth — about bringing childhood back into education. Students will take nature walks, write stories, and learn to see trees, rivers, and skies as teachers.”
Shah added that the curriculum also draws from Japanese elementary schools, encouraging cleanliness, teamwork, and life skills — all infused with the spirit of Bond’s works like Till the Clouds Roll By and The Trees of Dehradun.
A Legacy Rooted in India’s Heart
For Bond, the school is not just a project — it’s a dream fulfilled. “This whole idea was Siddharth’s vision,” he said. “If children learn to love nature, we’ll heal the world a little.
Over time, we have trampled on nature — and in doing so, we have hurt ourselves. Education must restore that balance.”
Bond, who has spent most of his life in Landour near Mussoorie, has always seen India not just as a home but as a soul.
His stories — whether about a boy and his grandfather, a talking tree, or the quiet lives in small hill towns — carry an unmistakable love for the country’s people, its laughter, and its resilience.
He also believes that technology, when used well, can bridge learning gaps. “There was a time when a child in a small town couldn’t find a book unless they traveled to a big city,” he said.
“Now, you can get it online. I was hesitant about social media at first, but I see now that it helps spread stories and ideas. It’s part of how learning grows.”
A Story That Never Ends
As the first RBIS opens its doors, it symbolizes not just a tribute to Ruskin Bond’s writing — but to his unwavering faith in India, its culture, and its children.
From Jamnagar’s royal corridors to Mussoorie’s mountain cottages, Bond’s life has been a journey of observation and affection — one that continues to remind us that stories can heal, nature can teach, and love for one’s country can endure beyond lifetimes.
In his words: In dia has given me everything — stories, friendships, laughter, and a home. If children can learn to cherish what this land gives them, I’ll know my stories have done their work.”
#RuskinBond #RBISVadodara #NatureInEducation #StorytellingSchool #IndianLiterature #JamnagarToMussoorie #SiddharthBond #RuskinBondLegacy #LearningThroughNature #IndianAuthors #ChildhoodEducation #LoveForIndia #DehradunDiaries #HillsAndStories #TheRustyWay #IndianCultureInClassrooms