Abstract
Existentialism is an important aspect of modernism in art and literature and as conceived today,
it is basically a philosophy of existence which was pioneered by Nietzsche and Kiekegaard and
later disseminated by Sartre etc. In the 20th Century, existentialism became identified with a
European cultural movement. It implies „quest‟ of an individual for the assertion of „self‟,
despite his failures and limitations. Amidst grim facts of life, existentialism presents a philosophy
of hope, ecstasy and exultation. It stresses on choice of responsibility and freedom for
consequences of one‟s acts. It is a representation of rejection of all abstract thinking and insists
that philosophy should be connected with an individual‟s own life and experience. Ruskin Bond,
the renowned Indian author of British descent has interminably been categorized as an
inspirational writer. His books have the capacity to bring in a fresh breath of air into the lives
whose existence has become dull and meaningless. Every time he takes up a different issue,
which is common to all, envelops it up in a wonderful philosophic story thus, showing the
readers a ray of hope. The impact it has created, have made his novels time and again the
international best seller. Bond, while motivating his readers considers the existential questions,
the ones that are debated by philosophers and counsellors. This paper of mine intends to talk
over Ruskin Bond as an existential author as he discusses various problems in his two famous
novels A Room On The Roof and Vagrants In The Valley moulded in the form of beautiful
stories.
Keywords: Ruskin Bond, novels, existentialism.
References
Bond, Ruskin. The Room on the Roof. New Delhi: Penguin Publishers, 1993. Print.
Bond, Ruskin. Vagrants in the Valley. New Delhi: Penguin Publishers, 1993. Print.
Abrams M.H..1993. A Glossary of Literary Terms. 6th ed. Bangalore, Prism Books.