Delhi Is Not Far: A Novel by Ruskin Bond

Book Summary:

The residents of Pipalnagar, a dull and dusty small town, hope to one day leave behind their humdrum lives for the thrills of Delhi. Deep Chand, the barber, dreams of giving the prime minister a haircut; Pitamber wishes to ride an autorickshaw instead of pulling a cycle-rickshaw; and Aziz will be happy with a junk shop in Chandni Chowk. Sharing their dreams of escape is the narrator Arun, a struggling detective-fiction writer. As he waits for inspiration to write a blockbuster, he seeks and discovers love in unusual places—with the young prostitute Kamla, wise beyond her years, and the orphan and epileptic Suraj, surprisingly optimistic despite his difficult circumstances. In Delhi Is Not Far, one of his most enduring novels, Ruskin Bond sketches a moving portrait of small- town India with characteristic sympathy and quiet wisdom.

About the Author:

Ruskin Bond is an acclaimed Indian author of British descent, known for his evocative storytelling and deep connection to the Indian landscape. Born in 1934, Bond has written over 500 short stories, essays, and novels, with his first novel, The Room on the Roof, winning the John Llewellyn Rhys Memorial Prize in 1957. He received the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1992 and the Padma Shri in 1999 for his contributions to literature. Bond resides in Landour, Mussoorie, where he continues to write and inspire readers worldwide.