Book Review: Tales Of The Open Road

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Book title: Tales of the open road

Author: Ruskin Bond

Publisher: Penguin books India

Year of publishing: 2006

 

 

A prominent Indian Author of British Descent, Ruskin Bond has written this book titled “tales of the open road”. It was published by Penguin Books India in the year 2006. This book is a collection of his travel writing over fifty years.

 

All Ruskin’s travel writings are inspired by his grandfather named, Henry William Bond. Since, his grandfather was a foot soldier he did not have any other choice than to walk around and that is how Ruskin pick up his travel writing all across the places –beaches, mountains, roads, valleys, and streets. 

 

Likewise, Ruskin has directly inherited the ability to travel like his grandfather. He always found the genuine ways to discover new things, places, people, streets, etc.

 

However, in this book – he stated the life of an unknown adventure, the 'lonely walker' and 'road inspector'.

 

The ‘Open Road’ tales reflected the glimpse of the plains, the hills and the mountains of - Simla, Mussoorie, Darjeeling, Dalhosie and Nainital. He had randomly described about these places in a beautiful ways.  

 

An endearing view of these places leaves us captivated within. He stated that "the world keeps on changing, but there is always something, that remains the same" – the magnificent "Taj Mahal”. 

 

The most unlikely towns of - Chhutmalpur and Najibabad was also come to his notice.

 

Where in-between his journey on the - Grand Trunk Road, a leisurely ride on the Tonga - “that is nearing to its extinction”.  He stated the beauty of the icy origins of the river Ganga and its slow motion vanishing to west. He stumbles upon robust, good-hearted Punjabis, the gentle dwellers on the hills and friendly strangers with the “frazzled old writer” who loves their company.

 

He described on - an unseen waterfall neighboring Rishikesh, walks alongside the untold streets of Delhi and stopovers in little tea stall in the hills around Mussoorie.

 

I was really moved by his thoughts and touched by his ability to describe things. Normally, he takes us to the smaller, lesser-known corners of the country; explained us with the least-famous things that are missed by others. 

 

Ruskin even shared his experiences on learning new language, customs and religions; the surprising romance in a marriage party. He showed us that we don’t necessarily have to travel around the world to appreciate little places. 

 

He takes much closer look at the least spoken views and things. Thus, "mysterious are more interesting than certainties".