I am working harder than ever: Ruskin Bond

New Delhi: India's beloved author Ruskin Bond, who celebrates his 82nd birthday today, says he is working harder than ever and has no plans to retire.

When asked what keeps him young, Bond attributed it to his active lifestyle and the hills. "You know some times people ask me 'Sir, are you still writing books?'. It is a strange question because probably I am working harder than ever in my life because the demand for stories and books keeps increasing.

"I actually write for two to three hours everyday. You can't retire. One should never retire in life. That's a great mistake," he told PTI.

Bond, best known for his series of books and short stories set in his hometown Mussoorie, says he has stopped using his old typewriter and instead prefers writing by hand.

The author says he has a number of projects, including a set of mystery stories, children books and his autobiography to finish.

"I am writing mystery stories now. I have to write another children's book and stories. If my mood allows, I write a poem or essay or just jot down thoughts in my diary and they sometimes turn into stories.

"I still write by hand. I don't use computer and I have thrown away my old typewriter as it was giving me neck pain. I write entirely by hand and nobody seems to mind."

Many of his stories have been turned into movies be it Shyam Benegal's "Junoon", which was based on Bond's "A Flight of Pigeons" or Vishal Bhardwaj's "Blue Umbrella" and "7Khoon Maaf".

Bond, who had a cameo opposite Priyanka Chopra in "7Khoon Maaf", says he never writes with the intention to see his stories on the big screen but does not mind if they are adapted.

While the author was a movie buff in his youth, he now prefers watching football matches. "I don't watch as many films as I used to. I grew up on them. I used to like 'Laurel & Hardy' movies, musicals and films based on classics. I do watch some movies in the evenings but most of the times I watch football matches."