There is something distinctly magical about reading Ruskin Bond’s journal entries in “Another Day in Landour: Looking Out from My Window.” At age 88, Bond gives us an intimate glimpse into his daily life through a year of observations, musings, and memories—all centered around his beloved window in Landour, Mussoorie. Much like the maidenhair fern he so admires for its delicate resilience, Bond’s writing remains fresh and vital, even as he acknowledges his advancing years.
Written between July 2022 and July 2023, this collection captures the essence of a writer who has honed his craft over seven decades yet still approaches each day with childlike wonder. “Can a window give you stories and poems and essays and memories over a period of many years?” Bond asks early in the book. By the final page, the answer is a resounding yes.
The View from Ivy Cottage
Bond’s window at Ivy Cottage serves as more than just a physical frame for his observations—it becomes a metaphorical lens through which he processes the world. From this vantage point, he catalogs the changing seasons, the behaviors of local wildlife, the comings and goings of tourists, and the rhythms of mountain life in Landour.
What makes these observations special is Bond’s ability to find profound meaning in seemingly ordinary events:
- A blade of grass prompts reflection on what sustains our planet
- A skink lizard falling from his sweater inspires a nonsensical poem
- The presence of crows at his window becomes an omen worth pondering
- An old maidenhair fern pressed in a diary sparks memories of Dehradun canals
His entries often begin with “Flower of the Day” or “Flavour of the Day”—small anchors that ground his wandering thoughts. This structure gives readers a sense of the seasonal shifts and Bond’s corresponding moods, from the vibrant energy of spring entries to the more contemplative tone of winter observations.
Intimacy with Family and Friends
One of the most heartwarming aspects of “Another Day in Landour” is Bond’s portrayal of his family life. Unlike the solitary figure some might imagine a writer to be, Bond lives in a home bustling with activity. We meet:
- Rakesh and Beena, who care for him with devoted attention
- Their children: Siddharth, Shrishti, and Gautam, who take him for drives and prepare special dishes
- Mimi the cat, whose moods and behaviors Bond chronicles with affection
- Bat-cat, a new feline addition who disrupts the household peace
Bond writes with particular tenderness about Beena applying turmeric to cure his fungal infection and Shrishti staying home an entire week to care for him. When he reflects, “Fortunate are those who have family to look after them. I am twice fortunate,” the gratitude feels genuine rather than saccharine.
His occasional outings—to a restaurant in Kempty, a wayside café called “On the Edge,” or lunch at the Savoy—become small adventures, made possible through the support of his family. There’s a touching dependence acknowledged here, as Bond notes that the steps to his home are “probably the most tortuous flight of steps in all of Landour. Twenty-two of them!”
Philosophical Reflections on Aging
Perhaps most valuable are Bond’s honest reflections on aging. At 88, he confronts the physical limitations of advanced years—gout in his wrist that makes writing painful, difficulty walking, failing eyesight, and trouble sleeping—yet maintains his characteristic humor.
“After the age of eighty, every day is a bonus,” he writes in his final entry. “So, savour the moment, make it count.” This sentiment permeates the journal, creating a masterclass in how to approach one’s twilight years with grace:
- Find joy in small pleasures (a strawberry milkshake, sunshine after rain)
- Maintain curiosity about the world
- Appreciate beauty in all forms
- Keep a sense of humor about bodily decline
- Treasure memories while staying present
His entry after a nosebleed is particularly representative of his approach: “I placed a cold wet handkerchief on the back of my neck and lay down for an hour.” The matter-of-fact tone, without self-pity or dramatization, exemplifies his philosophical outlook.
The Craft of Simplicity
Bond’s prose style remains a marvel of clarity and precision. His sentences are short, his vocabulary accessible, and his metaphors drawn from the natural world. Yet this simplicity is deceptive—beneath it lies decades of disciplined craft. As he notes about his writing practice: “Once there’s a pen in my hand, I have to put it to some use.”
There’s a rhythmic quality to many passages that verges on poetry:
“Where there is grass there is water. Where there is water there is life.”
“A little love, a little kiss, and if you’re lucky, some spicy malabari curried fish.”
These moments of lyricism punctuate the conversational tone, creating a pleasing cadence throughout the text.
Criticisms and Limitations
Despite its many charms, “Another Day in Landour” is not without its weaknesses. The journal format naturally leads to some repetition and unevenness. Some entries feel underdeveloped, like the brief note on October 31 (“Wrote two stories last month. Tore up one of them.”) that leaves readers curious about what story was discarded and why.
The book occasionally indulges in a “get off my lawn” sensibility when discussing tourists, modern buildings, or technology. Bond laments the destruction of old trees to make way for apartments, the replacement of litchi gardens with shopping malls, and the environmental impact of mass tourism. While these concerns are valid, his nostalgia sometimes borders on romanticizing a past that wasn’t ideal for everyone.
Additionally, Bond’s journal entries offer limited engagement with contemporary social issues beyond environmental concerns. Given his long life spanning colonial and independent India, readers might wish for more reflection on the societal transformations he has witnessed.
A Sense of Place and Time
What elevates this collection beyond a simple diary is Bond’s ability to situate his personal experiences within larger historical and environmental contexts. Mussoorie emerges as a character itself—a hill station with colonial origins that remains “an excrescence” separate from surrounding villages even after two centuries.
Bond’s observations capture the tension between development and preservation:
- The original plum trees above his house replaced by a guesthouse
- The narrow link between Mussoorie and Landour crumbling under the weight of tourist vehicles
- The contrasts between the simple village dwellings and tourist accommodations
- Catastrophic landslides in Joshimath from too much roadbuilding and tunneling
These entries create a time capsule of a Himalayan town undergoing rapid change, documented by someone who has observed it for over five decades.
Final Assessment
“Another Day in Landour” succeeds brilliantly as both a personal chronicle and a meditation on what makes life worthwhile. Bond’s entries reveal a man who has cultivated the art of noticing—whether it’s a scarlet geranium opening to the sun, the varied shades of the dawn sky, or the resilience of a dandelion growing through concrete.
The book will particularly resonate with readers who appreciate:
- Nature writing that connects observations to larger themes
- Reflections on aging with dignity and humor
- The beauty of ordinary moments transformed through careful attention
- A window into life in the Indian Himalayas
For those familiar with Bond’s extensive bibliography, including classics like “The Room on the Roof,” “The Blue Umbrella,” and “Scenes from a Writer’s Life,” this journal provides a fitting companion piece—more intimate and unstructured, but with the same warmth and clarity that has endeared him to generations of readers.
Like the maidenhair fern he so lovingly describes—“ever fresh, as long as its thirst is quenched”—Ruskin Bond’s writing continues to flourish well into his ninth decade, nourished by his undiminished curiosity about the world outside his window.
Similar Works Worth Exploring
Those who enjoy “Another Day in Landour” might also appreciate:
- “A Book of Simple Living” by Ruskin Bond (his earlier reflections on mindful living)
- “Walden” by Henry David Thoreau (mentioned by Bond as an influence)
- “The Story of My Heart” by Richard Jefferies (which Bond cites as a cherished book)
- “The Consolation of Philosophy” by Boethius (which Bond turns to during a sleepless night)
In conclusion, while not without minor flaws, “Another Day in Landour” stands as a testament to a life well-observed and a powerful reminder that, as Bond puts it, “thought is free” and that in a world where we must pay for everything else, our ability to notice, reflect, and find meaning remains our most precious resource.