Adventures in a Banyan Tree by Ruskin Bond
Adventures in Banyan Tree is a beautiful short story written by a well-known Indian author Ruskin Bond. He describes his wonderful childhood encounters with nature in this storey. When we read his storey, we experience both the beauty and wildness of nature.
Ruskin Bond spent his childhood in a village near the town of Dehra, at the foot of the Himalayas, with his grandfather and grandmother. There were numerous trees. Birds and small animals sought refuge beneath tree leaves and in bushes. There were always the sounds of these birds and animals.
We can deduce from this story that his grandfather was a great lover of nature. Grandfather had not destroyed bird and animal habitats. Grandfather had always taken care of his home’s surroundings. Additionally, Grandfather purchased ‘white rats’ from the market. The grandfather was unable to reach the top of the banyan tree. Grandmother teased him constantly and made comparisons to the Countess of Desmond. Countess of Desmond was an English woman who died when she fell from an apple tree at the age of 117. Ruskin Bond’s grandfather, like that elderly English woman, was a diligent worker. However, due to his physical infirmity, he was unable to climb the banyan tree.
Ruskin Bond considered the banyan tree’s crown to be his domain. The banyan tree was older than grandfather, the house, and the town of Dehra combined. Ruskin Bond formed an attachment to a grey squirrel. At first, the squirrel was fearful. However, when it was discovered that the author was not holding a catapult or an airgun, it became more receptive. Later on, the squirrel developed the courage to jump into the author’s pocket in search of food. However, the squirrel’s relatives and friends regarded the squirrel as arrogant and foolish for trusting a human being. Because they believe humans are constantly destroying their habitat and assaulting them with an airgun or a catapult.
The banyan tree was abundant with red figs during the spring season. Numerous birds and small animals would have made their way to the banyan tree in search of these figs. During that fig season, the banyan tree was the noisiest spot on the road.
Ruskin Bond had constructed a small platform on the banyan tree’s summit. He’d spent his summer afternoons there. He had read nearly all of the world’s classics while seated on that platform. He would have observed his surroundings from the top of the banyan tree in the interim. He frequently observed grandmother washing clothes or arguing with a vegetable vendor, while grandfather spent time in the garden.
He once witnessed a vicious fight between a snake and a mongoose beneath a banyan tree. Inside the house, grandfather and grandmother were. He observed the fight with interest. The Cobra was an accomplished and skilled fighter. He was able to move at breakneck speed and strike at the speed of light. Additionally, the cobra’s venom was lethal. Three feet long was the grey mongoose. Cobra was well aware that the mongoose was an excellent fighter, cunning and aggressive. Cobra’s body was raised and his hood was spread. He launched an attack on the mongoose. Mongoose’s tail was bushed. The mongoose’s tail was covered in thick hairs that had protected him from fatal bites.
Apart from the author, a myna and a jungle crow were also on hand to observe the battle. They’d gathered around the cactus to observe the outcome. The cobra attempted to hypnotise the mongoose into making an error. However, the mongoose was astute. He was well aware of the cobra’s glassy, unwinking eyes’ strength. As a result, the mongoose avoided looking into the cobra’s eyes. It was a championship bout. Nobody could predict the outcome. The crow and myna flew towards the snake and mongoose in unison but collided. They made their way back to the cactus plant. The birds flew towards the fight site once more, but collided and returned to the cactus plant. The third round was markedly different. Birds flew towards the snake and mongoose once more. They did not collide. However, halfway through the fight, the myna decided not to participate and returned to the cactus plant. However, the crow flew directly towards the snake. However, the cobra whipped his head back and struck hard. The crow was discarded and died. However, the myna did not intervene further in the fight. It was merely observing the altercation.
The cobra was dwindling in strength. The mongoose continued his attack fearlessly and eventually killed the snake. The snake was dragged into the bushes by the mongoose. The myna congratulated the mongoose with a shrill cry and flew away.
