CHENNAI: Our Trees Still Grow in Dehra, A Flight of Pigeons — do these titles take you back to your childhood and remind you of the legendary author, Ruskin Bond? Here’s a 12-year-old Chennai boy who has won a chance to meet the Padma Bhushan recipient. As part of Landmark’s fourth edition of ‘Child Reading to Child initiative’, Jonathan Nelson took part in the competition conducted in June and won it. He read out the book, The Best of Tagore. “I took part in the competition last year as well, but unfortunately couldn’t win. This year, I gave my best. I am excited to have won it,” shares Jonathan.
He was introduced to Ruskin Bond’s books only last year but, Jonathan has become an avid fan of his writing already. “I read The Blue Umbrella and it’s now one of my favourite books. When I meet him, I’ll ask for his autograph and also ask a few questions about the book. I am quite thrilled and excited to meet him,” he shares. Jonathan is a voracious reader and credits his mother for inculcating the habit in him. “She always buys and reads a lot of books. So, I picked the habit of reading as well. I’ve even received many certificates in school,” he says.
A well-told story has the potential of reaching its listeners and sticking in their mind for years to come.
Ask Jonathan if he’s a good storyteller, and he says, “I was nervous when I had to read a book to a large audience. But, I’ve done it in school. I emote the feelings of the characters when I read it out in class. So, it was easy. After I got through the first round, my confidence increased and I did really well in the final round. I have the potential to be a good storyteller,” says the class 8 student of Indian Educational School (Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan), Kuwait.
“When I was young, my mother bought me audio books of Marie Curie. That inspired me to dream of becoming a scientist. I am sure that meeting Ruskin Bond will help me in learning the tricks of the trade,” he adds.
His dreams
Jonathan Nelson aspires to become a scientist in future and is interested in drawing and sketching fictional characters. Although, reading and honing his skills as a reader will be something that he will always do. He believes that meeting Ruskin Bond will help him learn the tricks of the trade