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India celebrates Ruskin Bond's 92nd birthday
The celebrations coincided with the release of the acclaimed author's latest book, How to Laugh, published by HarperCollins India.
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Malvika Choudhary - Tue, 02, Jun 2026
- 16:02 EDT
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Ruskin Bond / Wikipedia
Ninety-two bookstores across India joined a nationwide celebration of acclaimed author Ruskin Bond's 92nd birthday, marking a tribute to one of the country's most widely read and enduring literary figures.
The May 19 celebrations, facilitated by HarperCollins India, brought together readers and booksellers across the country to honor Bond, whose works have shaped generations of readers in India and beyond.
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The events coincided with the release of Bond's latest book, How to Laugh, published by HarperCollins India. The book encourages readers of all ages to find humor in everyday life.
Reflecting on the celebrations, Bond said, "With every passing year, publishers don't just release new books around my birthday but also seem to come up with new and creative ways to celebrate the occasion. This year to mark my 92nd birthday, HarperCollins organized a cake-cutting at 92 bookstores across India. That was quite a remarkable feat!"
Booksellers participating in the initiative said Bond's work continues to resonate with readers decades after his literary debut.
"Ruskin Bond's stories have inspired generations of readers, and we have proudly housed his books on our shelves since 1978," said Zuber Baig of Midland Book Shop in New Delhi. "It was a privilege to be among the 92 bookstores across India celebrating such a beloved literary icon."
Natasha Mehta, senior marketing head at Sapna Book House, said Bond's books have become part of the reading experience of several generations. "For nearly 60 years, Sapna has watched generations grow up with Ruskin Bond in their hands and hearts," she said. "Some writers don't just write stories, they become a part of our legacy, our childhood, and our lives forever."
HarperCollins India executives said the celebrations reflected Bond's continued popularity among readers of all ages.
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"It has been a privilege and an honour to publish our favourite Ruskin Bond at HarperCollins and to celebrate the launch of a new book around his birthday every year," said Tina Narang, executive publisher at HarperCollins India. "We are delighted to have marked his 92nd birthday with celebrations across 92 bookstores."
Nisha Singh, general manager-marketing at HarperCollins India, said Bond has remained one of India's most beloved children's authors for more than six decades, maintaining a strong connection with readers across generations.
Born in 1934 in Kasauli, in present-day Himachal Pradesh, Bond is among India's most celebrated English-language authors. His first novel, The Room on the Roof, written when he was a teenager, won the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize in 1957 and launched a literary career spanning more than seven decades.
He has authored hundreds of short stories, essays, novels and children's books, many of which have become staples in Indian schools and households.
Known for his evocative portrayals of life in the Himalayan foothills, Bond's stories often explore themes of childhood, friendship, nature and everyday human experiences.
Works such as The Blue Umbrella, A Flight of Pigeons and Our Trees Still Grow in Dehra have earned critical acclaim, with several adapted for film and television. He received the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1992, followed by the Padma Shri in 1999 and the Padma Bhushan in 2014, two of India's highest civilian honors.
Bond has lived for much of his adult life in the hill town of Landour, near Mussoorie in northern India, a setting that has inspired many of his best-known stories and helped shape his reputation as a chronicler of life in the Himalayas.
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