SUBJECT: 4/5
RELEVANCE: 4.5/5
WRITING: 4/5
GENRE & THEME: Nonfiction, Writings, Small Towns, Nostalgia
“Villages become small towns, small towns become big towns or even cities, and cities become mega cities. In my ninety years on this cherished land, I have seen this transformation take place… but in the hills, on some rugged ranges, you will find ghost villages…” – Ruskin Bond
It is no secret, my love for everything Ruskin Bond. And so, the moment I spotted this on the new releases list, I knew I had to have it. I love small towns and the life they promise, especially because I live in one myself and cherish its many simple offerings.
Ruskin Bond’s The Ghosts of Indian Small Towns looks back on the small towns of India and how they now lie buried under an ever-growing mass of concrete and pollution. These small towns are no longer small, and perhaps that is exactly why they have lost so much of their original charm.
About the book
Ruskin Bond has been hailed as the foremost chronicler of Indian small-town life, and in this edition, he brings to us nine different essays on different small towns of India. His memories of them—from when he was just a child to the reflections of an old writer comfortably ensconced in his hill town—flow with warmth and familiarity.
His sharp observations, tinged with passion, along with his vivid recollections, help make this book a truly memorable one.
What does it talk about
We witness Jamnagar By The Sea, its cricketing circles, elaborate banquets, and its small port full of fish and Arab dhows, through the eyes of a six-year-old boy. In Meerut after Rain, we are gently acquainted with the sleepy old cantonment of the 1960s, and with Captain Saulez, the owner of a beautiful bungalow on a tree-lined road—a man who loved horses and quietly disliked humans.
In Small Town Cinemas, we are introduced to the many small towns and their signature cinemas of yesteryear. Bond fondly recalls how the Jamnagar cinema hall screened an English-language film just once a month, turning it into a much-awaited event.
In Dehradun, he shares his adventures as a ten-year-old boy who received five rupees a month as pocket money and spent most of it on movies. He even struck a memorable deal with Mr Mann of the Odeon, offering him gramophone records in exchange for a weaver on the ticket prices.
In Old Bangalore of the 1960s, we encounter muted traffic, bungalows with sprawling gardens, and quiet tree-lined streets that seemed to move at an unhurried pace. And then there was that treasure trove for every book lover, the Select Bookshop, a magical place that sold antiques, books, postcards, and old gramophone records, offering an entire world of second-hand nostalgia waiting to be discovered.
Others still recall formative experiences that shaped his worldview and deepened his understanding of life. From Punjabi breakfasts in Dehradun, to Dehradun’s quiet transformation during World War II days to the many adventures involving leopards in small towns, which he details most vividly in Leopards in the Lounge.
Finally, on a parting note, we are introduced to a heartfelt tribute to those beautiful Queens of the Hills—Shimla, Mussoorie, and Nainital. Shimla, as celebrated by Rudyard Kipling in Kim and Plain Tales from the Hills; Darjeeling, the favourite of Mark Twain and Satyajit Ray; Nainital, with its enduring legend of Jim Corbett and his hunting escapades; and finally Mussoorie, Bond’s own hometown, which he has lovingly recorded in many of his books, including The Hill of Enchantment, Rain in the Mountains, and Lone Fox Dancing, among others.
Ruskin Bond writes as only he can, full of nostalgia, understated charm, and a quiet, lingering romance. His love for nature, and for the people and places of this country, shines through every page. Even though he may not have liked many of these people, he still makes them the heroes of his writings, preserving them with rare tenderness and honesty.
The Ghosts of Indian Small Towns is not loud, nor is it thrilling. It is like an old friend that one remembers with a serene calm, gently recalling all that is lost and will never come back again.
So, for those Ruskin Bond fans out there, this is yet another gem from your favourite author. For those new to his writings, this may not be the best book to start with. It is perhaps best read as a companion to his more popular works, both fiction and nonfiction. But is it worth reading? Yes, every single bit. And as I pen this, I already know that I will be going back to it again, if only to relive its quiet magic.
Can’t wait to read it? Buy your copy of The Ghosts of Indian Small Towns right away!
