Osmania University Hyderabad-
Degree English sem-4
The Kitemaker by Ruskin Bond(born 19 May 1934,)
The Kitemaker is a short story written by well-known children's writer and Indian author of British descent Ruskin. He was born on 19th May 1934 and lives in Missouri. His first novel 'The Room on the Roof' was received well by the readers. Bond created a fictional character named Rusty. His literary output includes a wide range of genres, including autobiographical works, novels, short stories, non-fiction, and children's literature.
His popular books are Flight of Pigeons, The Blue Umbrella, Our trees still grow in Dehra. He received the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1992 for the novel ‘Our Trees Still Grow in Dehra’.
Roads to Mussoorie and All Roads lead to Ganga are his popular memoirs.
It is the story of Mehmood, an old man, expert in kite-making. Mehmood feels nostalgic about his past. The writer compares Mehmood's past happy kite making life to his present unhappy retired life. The story's themes include tradition, modern materialistic life, and patronage of the arts. The story begins with Ali, the grandchild of Mehmood, running to his grandfather as his kite is stuck in a banyan tree at an abandoned mosque in Gali Ram Nath. Grandfather makes another kite for Ali. Ali promises him that he will not lose the kite again. The old man thinks of his bygone days. Not many children are buying kites. They prefer to spend money on movies. Though he sold his kite shop premises, he still makes kites for his own pleasure and for his grandson, Ali.
In those days kite playing was a favourite pass time to kings and grown men. There were great kite battles till others kites string was cut. Mehmood made a special kind of kite, Dragon kite for Nawab. The dragon kite was launched in the presence of Nawab and a large gathering in ground. He presented a musical kite to Nawab which makes a violin sound while flying in the sky. Once kite makers also had patrons like poets but now no one knew Mehmood. Neighbours used to enquire about his health. Now he laments that there are not enough open spaces for flying kites. Modern men are busy with their routine, living a materialistic life, struggling for a living. Now men don't have time to fly kites and his neighbourhood don't show concern for the old man, Mehmood.
At present, he is content with his grandson Ali's kite playing, and he now makes kites only for his grandson
The writer notices the similarities between men and trees.Bond compares Mehmood to a Banyan tree as his hands are twisted like banyan roots and Ali to a young Mimosa plant(అత్తిపత్తి).
The Banyan tree represents old and traditional, just as Mehmood represents memories and experiences of his kite making craft.
Mehmood dreams of a beautiful and powerful kite, which resembles Garuda bird, Lord Vishnu's vehicle. He has nothing else to give Ali as an heirloom. Only thing he can handover to Ali, is a new kite.Ali calls Mehmood repeatedly but he doesn't get any response from the old man. Since Ali hears a faint sound, runs outside of the house to call his mother. The butterfly leaves the old man 's beard and flies to the Mimosa tree. A strong wind carries the torn kite into the blue sky. The writer symbolically represents the death of the old man.
Symbols used in the story are Banyan tree, Mimosa tree, butterfly and torn kite.
For complete story click the link below.
S.Rajesh kumar
Thanks for such nice summary
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