Books are one of the best sources for knowledge and information regarding any topic. Reading a book helps in enhancing our knowledge and develops our imagination. Also reading keeps our mind active and healthy. We also learn a lot of moral values from the story as well as from the author’s background which we should inculcate in our life.
The Cherry Tree is one such book by the Indian author of British descent Ruskin Bond. He was born on the 19th of May, 1934 in Kasauli. His father, Aubrey Alexander Bond and mother Edith Clarke. When Ruskin Bond was 8 years old, his mother separated from his father and married a Punjabi Hindu, named Hari.
When small Ruskin Bond was very studious; and grew up to become a famous author and a poet. He has written many stories, novels and poems. Most of his works are influenced by life in the hill stations where he had spent most of his childhood.
Ruskin Bond begins his career with the story The Room on the Roof. The novel was an autobiographical story of an orphaned Anglo-Indian named Rusty.
The Blue Umbrella, Rusty, the Boy from the Hills, Time Stops at Shamli ,A Flight Of Pigeons, Roads to Mussoorie,Delhi Is Not Far are some of the famous books written by him
For his writing he is awarded many prestigious awards like the Padma Shri and the Padma Bhushan.
The cherry tree is one of the very famous books written by Ruskin bond. It is truly a very inspiring and an amazing book.
This story is about a small boy Rakesh who is the protagonist of the story. He lived with his grandfather at the foothills of Himalayas. He once had planted a cherry seed and had forgotten about it. One day Rakesh notices a small plant which had grown from the seed, and recalls that he had planted it a year ago. The plant had grown into a small twig with a leaf or two on it. He feels very happy to see the plant and runs towards his grandfather to show him the plant. Grandfather is very delighted to see the plant and advises Rakesh to take good care of it.
The monsoon season arrives; the ferns, the grass and the cherry tree grow very quickly. It grows up to a height of two feet.
But an unexpected incident takes place during monsoon; a goat enters the garden and eats all the leaves leaving the stem all alone. Rakesh is disappointed on seeing this but his grandfather cheers him up saying that cherry trees are very strong; they will grow back very soon.
This was just one such incident, the cherry tree had to face many such problems, once it was split into two by the woman who was cutting the grass in their garden. Rakesh had lost hope that it wouldn’t grow back but to his surprise, by the next summer it had repaired itself and had started to grow back.
Second time all the leaves were eaten away by a hairy caterpillar, but despite these attacks the cherry tree revives itself and continues to grow.
Few days later Rakesh, who had grown up to become a big boy, finds flowers on the cherry plant which had grown taller than him. On seeing the bees buzzing around, insects and butterflies collecting nectar made him feel blissful. The cherry tree continues to grow.
That summer, there were small red cherries on that tree; Rakesh was delighted to see this. He tasted one but it was very sour, so grandfather suggested that he wait for a year, so that he could taste sweet cherries.
Finally the day arrived it was a warm sunny afternoon .the tree was filled with small bright and red cherries. Rakesh tastes one and indeed it was very sweet; he feels very happy and satisfied.
From this short and sweet story the author tries to give us a very valuable message that, never run away from the difficulties or challenges that you come across in your life. Be strong and face the problems and keep moving on the right path, as difficulties don’t weaken you but make you stronger, they bring out the potential in you. So stay strong and believe in yourself, never give up in life and follow your dreams.
By reading this story one can inculcate all these moral values which will prove to be very useful at some or the other point in their lives.
By Neha S
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