Bibliofile
Regional publishers go all angrezi. The name is Bond, but must he ride an elephant? And which author would rudely tell the lensmen to 'push off' and snub a young fan?
He's no J.K. Rowling but one of his many publishers wanted to bring him to the book fair on an elephant. Ruskin Bond is too nice to say no, but the fair authorities objected. They allowed living installations (including a man in a tub), musicians, clowns, but drew the line at live beasts. But even without the elephant, Ruskin Bond must be the most overworked author at this book fair, diligently signing books for his fans as he is guarded by the publisher who has bagged him for the day. Readers love him because he'll sign anything, even a textbook of mathematics. And publishers love him because he can not only produce a saleable book at the drop of a hat (he's scored a century by now in book titles under his name), but will readily engage with the youngest and oldest readers.
Not all authors are nice men to know, though. For instance, photographers and TV cameramen who attended Upamanyu Chatterjee's book launch last week were rudely told to push off because the high-strung author couldn't read with the cameras on. And at least one adoring young fan who went up to him to exchange a few words with her idol was snubbed for her pains.