A review by dhw_ani
A Long Walk for Bina by Ruskin Bond
4.0
Published in Red Turtle by Rupa Publications, this books has been well illustrated by Lavanya Naidu.
Bina, a resident of village Koli has shifted to a school in Nauti village for her sixth grade and it is a long way from her village. To reach her school everyday which is several miles away, she crosses the mountain, river and jungle. Her two companions on the way are her brother Sonu and Prakash. As they reach the school, they get the news of the disappearance of Mr. Mani, their teacher. The hows and whys of Mr. Mani's disappearance throws light upon this quirky character. On the way back home from the first day of school, they receive the news of a wayward leopard from the postman and are told to hurried home. When the school decides to take the children to Tehri to see a new dam being built, Mr. Mani disappears again during a tea break only to return with a bag full of Dahlia bulbs. Meanwhile, the rains have graced their presence in June and a landslide stop the children from going to school. Upon the return to their home, they witness the leopard and his cubs. In September, Mr. Mani's Dahlia is in a magnificent bloom and the entire village turns up to witness it. The story concludes with their academic year coming to an end and the children discussing what they want to be when they grow up. In the background, the leopard waits for them to pass and then continues on her trail of a deer.
What the book reminded me of are the first days of school when we all used to be pretty excited to meet our friends with our new school stuff. On the other hand, I realise what a privileged life I have had. The story showcases the simple yet a life full of hardships in the mountains. The small incidents are full of life and charm. I long to live a life that Mr. Bond writes about.
Bina, a resident of village Koli has shifted to a school in Nauti village for her sixth grade and it is a long way from her village. To reach her school everyday which is several miles away, she crosses the mountain, river and jungle. Her two companions on the way are her brother Sonu and Prakash. As they reach the school, they get the news of the disappearance of Mr. Mani, their teacher. The hows and whys of Mr. Mani's disappearance throws light upon this quirky character. On the way back home from the first day of school, they receive the news of a wayward leopard from the postman and are told to hurried home. When the school decides to take the children to Tehri to see a new dam being built, Mr. Mani disappears again during a tea break only to return with a bag full of Dahlia bulbs. Meanwhile, the rains have graced their presence in June and a landslide stop the children from going to school. Upon the return to their home, they witness the leopard and his cubs. In September, Mr. Mani's Dahlia is in a magnificent bloom and the entire village turns up to witness it. The story concludes with their academic year coming to an end and the children discussing what they want to be when they grow up. In the background, the leopard waits for them to pass and then continues on her trail of a deer.
What the book reminded me of are the first days of school when we all used to be pretty excited to meet our friends with our new school stuff. On the other hand, I realise what a privileged life I have had. The story showcases the simple yet a life full of hardships in the mountains. The small incidents are full of life and charm. I long to live a life that Mr. Bond writes about.