Ruskin Bond is an Indian author who lives in Mussoorie. The story is about a boy named Rakesh who lives with his grandfather on the outskirts of Mussoorie. One day after buying cherries from the market, Rakesh plants the seed of the last cherry. Over the next few years, with the care of Rakesh and his grandfather, the seed grows into a cherry tree. The tree faces difficulties from insects and being cut but continues to grow. Rakesh and his grandfather develop a strong attachment to the tree they planted themselves.

1. The cherry Tree
- Ruskin Bond
Prepared By:
Rasila Jambucha

2.  Ruskin Bond (born 19 May 1934) is an Indian author of
British descent. He lives with his adopted family in
Landour, in Mussoorie.
 The Indian Council for Child Education has recognised
his role in the growth of children's literature in India.
 He got the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1992 for Our
Trees Still Grow in Dehra, for his published work in
English.
 He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1999 and Padma
Bhhushan in 2014.
 “The Room on the Roof” was Bond’s first novel, written
when he was seventeen.

3.  Rakesh lived with his grandfather on the outskirts of
Mussoorie
 One day he went to the bazaar and bought a packet of cherries
 He ate them all the way and when he got home, only three
cherries were left
 On reaching home, Rakesh gave one cherry to his grandfather
and ate the remaining two. He ate the last one so slowly that he
could taste it for long.
 Thinking that cherry seeds were lucky, Rakesh decided to keep
the last cherry’s seed but grandfather advised him to sow/bury
it so that it could grow to a cherry tree.

4.  Rakesh got his spade ( a metallic tool with which we dig the
earth to plant plants) and begun to dig in the garden
 Grandfather advised him to sowed cherry seed in the
shady corner of the garden where wind and snow could
not easily trouble the cherry
 After a while both Rakesh and his grandfather forgot about
the seed
 During winter, Rakesh listened wonderful tales/stories told
by grandfather - about people who turned into animals,
and ghosts who lived in trees
 And in turns, Rakesh would read paper for him because
grandfather eyesight was weak

5.  After one year, in winter at one morning; he saw a small
twig, he called his grandfather, come and look the cherry
tree has come up!
 Then Rakesh gave it sprinkling and circled it with pebbles
 He looked at the tree every morning and thinking about its
growth
 In the rainy season when got ate all the leaves it was just
two feet high. Only main stem and two branches
remained.
 Rakesh was upset, grandfather said ‘never mind’ it will
grow again because cherry trees are tough
 Towards the end of rainy season new leaves appeared on
the tree

6.  But after that, it was cut by woman while cutting grass
 By the time, summer came, Rakesh was eight now and
tree again sent several new shoots with tender green
leaves.
 And then in monsoon, at the end of rains, cherry tree had
grown another foot. It was now up to is shoulder.
 In February it was Rakesh’s birthday. He was nine – and
tree was of four
 In one morning , grandfather saw pink blossom at the end
of a branch. He called Rakesh come and look
 In summer, there were small cherries on the tree, he
tasted it. They will be better next year said grandfather

7.  Grandfather like to sit on a cane chair under the cherry tree,
when grandfather had came indoors, Rakesh went into the
garden and lay down on the grass beneath the tree
 ‘ There are so many trees in the forest (or garden)’, said
Rakesh. ‘what’s so special about this tree? Why do we like it
so much?’
 ‘we planted it ourselves’, said grandfather. “that’s why it’s
special”.
 Rakesh touched the smooth bark of the tree that had
grown. He ran his hand along the trunk of the tree and put
his finger to the tip of a leaf and said, “Is this what it feels to
be God?”