India, April 18 -- William McKay Aitken, popularly known as Bill Aitken, died in Dehradun on Wednesday night at the age of 91. His death has cast a pall of gloom over his admirers, the literary fraternity, and friends, particularly in Mussoorie, where he was a beloved figure.

The celebrated Scottish-born writer who made Mussoorie his home for decades authored many acclaimed books, including Seven Sacred Rivers, Divining the Deccan: A Motorbike to the Heart of India, Footloose in the Himalaya, The Nanda Devi Affair, Touching Upon the Himalaya: Excursions and Enquiries, Exploring Indian Railways, Branch Line to Eternity, Literary Trails, and Mountain Delight.

Sunil Arora, owner of the iconic Cambridge Book Depot in Mussoorie, where Aitken...