A Country Through Its Children’s Eyes

In Children of India, celebrated author Ruskin Bond takes readers on a gentle yet eye-opening journey across the length and breadth of the country, introducing us to children from different regions, backgrounds, and walks of life. From the snow-covered villages of the Himalayas to the sun-drenched fields of the South, each child’s story is a vivid slice of real India—told with empathy, humour, and Bond’s signature charm.

The children in this book are not fantasy figures or exaggerated heroes—they are real, grounded, and entirely relatable. There’s a boy who drives a rickshaw to support his family, a girl who dreams of becoming a doctor, and many others who represent the spirit of resilience and hope. Bond captures their voices authentically, making each story tender and touching.

What makes Children of India a powerful read is not just its storytelling but the sincerity with which it portrays childhood. There’s no glossing over of hardships—but there’s no despair either. Instead, the book celebrates grit, joy, mischief, innocence, and the indomitable will to thrive, even in the face of odds.

A literary gem in its simplicity, the book’s strength lies in Ruskin Bond’s ability to see greatness in small moments and quiet lives. With unpretentious prose, he weaves social realities with heartfelt storytelling—making this a meaningful and enlightening read for both young readers and adults alike.