“While I was sitting here, enjoying the masala omelette that my granddaughter Shristi made, I was thinking of the various things that make young people happy, and one of them is cooking. When Shristi is cooking, she is singing or humming a song. When Siddharth [his grandson] - who makes yummy momos - is in the kitchen, he is usually whistling. Cooking is a great hobby. Although speaking for myself, I can only boil eggs. I think I am very good at it, but there are times when some of them come out half-boiled. In fact, I am thinking that my next book should be called '50 Different Ways of Boiling an Egg'. On a serious note, I think people who cook and enjoy doing it are generally very cheerful people and happy by nature. So, if you are not already a cook, why not try and become one!”
These were the words of celebrated author Ruskin Bond in a recent video posted on his official Facebook page. Known for his writings that are as vivid as images, generations of book lovers have grown up reading his stories that quickly transport you to the mountains and while flipping through the pages, you feel the breeze and joy. Well almost. Not magic realism, these are real people and their daily lives that come alive in the form of text that Ruskin weaves in his notes and novels. With the smells, sights, and sounds of ordinary Indian life, he has lured young readers and adults alike for decades. And when you indulge in conversations about the lanes and bazaars of Landour, Shamli, Dehradun, and Mussoorie, how do you not talk about the chai and pakoras; the chaats and omelettes; and the cafés and streetside shops that serve them? Admittedly, the author is not much of a chef himself, but it’s obvious that he enjoys eating good food and even more likely to write about cooking and local dishes.
In fact, in his first novel - The Room on the Roof - published in 1956, repeated references are made to a chaat stall in Dehradun. Some of his other books too are filled with radiant descriptions of his grandmother’s cooking adventures as well as Uncle Ken’s love for Duck Roast. Now an octogenarian, Ruskin still prefers to start his day with some bread toasts, butter, and jam or a ghee-lathered stuffed paratha, clearly defying his dietician’s advice to switch to a ‘healthy bowl of dalia’ for breakfast. His fondness for the good old English breakfast means that there is also a glass of milk or juice on the table, along with a boiled (or fried) egg and some cut fruits. He is also said to be an ardent fan of marmite sandwiches and his morning cup of tea. It looks like, in food he finds the little joys of life, which then translate to delicious words in his books.
The cover of one of his recent collections - titled Miracle at Happy Bazaar: My very best stories for children - has a quirky and colourful illustration of Melaram’s Tea Shop in Dehradun and the many foodie encounters that take place under its roof. Conversations in the book are punctuated by quick mentions of pakoras, peanut toffees, stuffed turkeys, mince pies and even ‘chocolates at midnight’. This reminds us that Ruskin has a sweet tooth too. As the author turned 88 earlier this year, he celebrated his special day with lots of cake and jalebis. The ‘two eights’, he says, look a lot like the syrupy whorls of the desi delight.
He reportedly likes to keep his lunch and dinner simple - often comprising rice and roti, with some dal and sabzi. That said, there are also days when he tucks into pulao and mutton curry, and a piece of chocolate cake for dessert. Aloo tikkis are also his favourite, while it’s the classic Fish and Chips that he opts for usually when he is eating out. Now, whether or not he eventually writes a book on different ways of boiling an egg, the foodie shenanigans hidden in his pages will keep tempting us to read them.
Apart from eggs, what’s also spoken about a lot is Ruskin’s soft spot for pickles and condiments, so much so that he calls himself a ‘pickle fiend’. Apparently, his pantry is full of several varieties of pickles from across India - some common flavours, the others exotic. His dining table displays an array of jars - including mango, lime, garlic, ginger, hing, lotus stem, and jackfruit, among others. If you are a regular reader of his books, you would probably know that in his early days, he used to have a collection of cookbooks too.