The Kitemaker By Ruskin Bond

Introduction

In “The Kitemaker,” the past is shown to be considerably different from the present in terms of human
relationships, the social order, and nationhood. Mehmood is a grandfather who recalls his past life as
the title’s kite maker. He worked for the local chief, or nawab, under the now-dismantled hierarchical
social system. They resided in a big British colony that has now been divided between India and
Pakistan.

Ali was the grandson of Mahmood the kite maker. Mahmood’s business was struggling since the
younger generation preferred to watch films than flying kites. Additionally, there was the issue of kite
flying space. There was a time when grownups enjoyed flying kites and engaging in exciting kite battles.
Mahmood recalls the days when he constructed magnificent kites for the Nawabs. They were dragon
kites and musical kites, respectively. In ancient days, the Nawabs patronised kite producers. However,
Mahmood was a poor man in those days. He creates kites for Ali, his grandson. He lost consciousness
and died one day while he sat thinking of his magnificent old days and watching Ali fly kites. Ali
approached him, but the elderly guy remained silent.

Theme of  the story ‘The Kitemaker’

In “The Kitemaker,” the past is shown to be considerably different from the present in terms of human
relationships, the social order, and nationhood. An old man in rural India wonders how the world has
changed as his grandson flies a kite nearby. Bond uses natural imagery as a metaphor, with an elderly,
gnarled banyan tree representing the grandfather and a youthful, spry mimosa tree representing the
grandson’s vigour.

Ali, a young Indian boy, plays with a kite while his grandfather, Mehmood, relaxes beneath the street’s
lone banyan tree. Ali’s kite becomes entangled in the tree’s branches, and he seeks assistance from his
grandfather. Mehmood is too elderly to retrieve the kite or teach Ali how to properly fly it, but he builds
him a replacement. Ali pledges that he will not lose this one and departs to fly it.

Mehmood reclines beneath the banyan tree, reflecting on his old career as a professional kite maker. In
the past, he recalls, adult men flew kites joyfully. There was more open space back then, and the town
was less hectic. Men would compete and wager on the outcome. Even the Nawab, the village chief,
would pay attention. Mehmood was well-known and respected for his skill as a kite maker. He once
created a magnificent kite for the Nawab, one that resembled a flying dragon. Because that kite was too
tough for even Mehmood to fly, he created the Nawab.

Mehmood thinks about how much has changed in the intervening years. The nawab is no longer alive,
and his progeny are common folk like Mehmood. He no longer has a patron and is unknown to his
neighbours. The speed of life has sped up, and those who live in his community are pressed for time.
One of Mehmood’s sons works in a neighbourhood garage, while the other remains in Pakistan. When
India and Pakistan were partitioned, he was on the wrong side of the border and unable to return home.
Mehmood is appreciative that his other son lives close since it allows him to watch Ali, his only
grandchild, grow up. He takes pleasure in watching Ali perform. Ali, he believes, is comparable to the
mimosa seedling at the courtyard’s edge. They are immature and will develop into tall and muscular
adults. Mehmood is akin to the banyan tree behind which he rests. Both are elderly, stooping, with
twisted bones and branches. Mehmood is becoming exhausted and wonders if he will dream of the kite
he wishes to construct, one that resembles a giant white bird. He believes he should have something to
leave Ali. He hears Ali calling him, but the youngster’s voice is weak and distant. Ali returns to the
banyan tree and comes face to face with his grandfather, who has closed his eyes. On his beard is a
small white butterfly. Ali makes an unsuccessful attempt to awaken Mehmood. Fearful, he flees,
pleading with his mother for assistance. The butterfly flies from Mehmood’s beard to the mimosa tree,
and Ali’s kite soars into the sky.

The Kitemaker is a short story by British-Indian author Ruskin Bond. In it, an old man in rural India muses
on how the world has changed while his grandson flies a kite nearby. Bond uses nature imagery as
symbols, with an old, gnarled banyan tree standing in for the old man, while a young, spry mimosa tree
represents the vitality of the grandson.

Ali, a young Indian boy, plays with a kite as his grandfather, Mehmood, rests under an old banyan tree,
the only tree on the street. Ali’s kite gets caught in the tree’s branches, and he asks his grandfather for
help. Mehmood is too old to retrieve the kite or teach Ali to fly it properly, but he makes him another
kite. Ali promises not to loose this one, and goes off to fly it.

Mehmood sits under the banyan tree and thinks of his former profession as a master kitemaker. In the
old days, he remembers, grown men happily flew kites. There was more open space then, and less
hustle and bustle in the town. Men would compete against each other and bet on the outcome. Even
the nawab, the local village chieftain, would come to watch. When he was a kitemaker, Mehmood had
been known and revered for his skill. Once, he had built a spectacular kite for the nawab, one that
looked like a dragon in the air. That kite was too difficult for even Mehmood to fly, so he made the
nawab a prettier, easier one.

Mehmood muses on just how much has changed since then. The nawab is dead, and his descendants
are ordinary people, just like Mehmood. He no longer has a patron, and none of his neighbors know
him. The pace of life has changed, and those living in his village are busy and harried. One of Mehmood’s
sons works in a local garage, and the other is stuck in Pakistan. When India and Pakistan were made into
two separate countries, he was on the wrong side of the border and cannot come home.

Mehmood is grateful that his other son lives nearby, as it gives him an opportunity to see Ali, his only
grandson, grow up. He enjoys watching Ali play. Ali, he thinks, is like the mimosa sapling at the edge of
the courtyard. They are young, and will grow up tall and strong. Mehmood is like the banyan tree he sits
beneath. Both are old, stooped, their bones and branches twisted.

Mehmood feels himself growing tired and wonders if he’ll dream of the kite he wants to make, one that
looks like a giant white bird. He should have something to leave Ali, he thinks. He hears Ali calling to
him, but the boy’s voice sounds faint and far away. Ali returns to the banyan tree and sees his
grandfather, whose eyes are closed. There is a little white butterfly resting on his beard. Ali tries to wake
Mehmood, but can’t. Frightened, he runs away, calling for help from his mother. The butterfly flies from
Mehmood’s beard to the mimosa tree, and Ali’s kite suddenly takes flight and disappears into the sky.