The Epitome of Warmth and Simplicity: Best Books by Sudha Murty

From being the first female engineer of India and chairperson of Infosys, Sudha Murty is also the most loved writer of India. Her stories are simple yet profound and capture the essence of life in the best possible way. She writes about social issues, love, family, gender, and much more. Her stories are appreciated and loved dearly. She is a recipient of the prestigious Padma Shri and also the R.K. Narayan Award for Literature. 

Sudha Murty writes with utmost honesty which makes you feel the emotions strongly. We have curated a list of her best books which will make you laugh, cry, and feel all the things in between! 

The Daughter From A Wishing Tree

The Daughter From A Wishing Tree is not your usual book on Mythology since it talks about the lesser-known women who had fierce personalities. The book is divided into three parts and consists of twenty-four short stories.  From Parvati to the diverse forms of Lakshmi and the origin of rivers, this book by Sudha Murty talks about all the unknown gems of Mythology. Sudha Murty narrates the stories with so much ease that you can not help but fall in love with her writing. 

The stories are so simple that anyone above the age of 10 can find this book interesting and dive into the world of Indian Mythology. For starters, this can be the best book to impart the knowledge of our culture and customs. 

The Old Man and His God: Discovering the Spirit of India 

In this book, The Old Man and His God, Sudha Murty go on to interact with villagers from every field and facet of life who share their hardships and struggles with her. She listens to them patiently and henceforth, puts these stories together in this beautiful book. It consists of 25 short stories that will appeal to your heart and soul. 

If you love reading Sudha Murty’s stories, then this book is a must-read for you. It will force you to change for the better and inspire you to be the change. The best thing about this novel is the utter honesty with which it is written. These real-life experiences will definitely help you in life. 

The Serpent’s Revenge: Unusual Tales from the Mahabharata 

This is yet another book on Mythology by Sudha Murty. In this book, The Serpent’s Revenge, Murty retells the stories of the great Indian Epic in her own subtle way. It talks about the various names of Arjuna, the King of Udipi who cooked during the Kuru War. There are numerous such stories that are unheard of till today. 

The book follows the subtle and simple language used by Sudha Murty. It is the perfect book that will introduce children to Mahabharata. With its easy to understand language and exciting tales, this book is sure to enthrall you. Sudha Murty takes you on a journey that is sure to amaze you. It is a complete package. 

Three Thousand Stitches: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Lives

Three Thousand Stitches by Sudha Murty is the compilation of numerous stories that she encountered while interacting with people as a chairperson of the Infosys Foundation. Through her writing, it is clear that she is not only a fantastic writer but also a humble and grounded human being. The book consists of 11 stories that are derived from her life. 

The story focuses on the life of devadasis or sex workers working in Karnataka. After many failed attempts at awaring them about AIDS among other things, she did not give up. Infosys worked tremendously to make them independent. For now, there are no sex workers in Karnataka temples. That’s the power of Sudha Murty! The aura of her personality is unmatchable. Her stories are greatly inspirational and effortlessly beautiful. 

Mahashweta 

Sudha Murty has the power of questioning the narrow-minded people and their hollow beliefs that govern society. In her book, Mahashweta we come across the life of Anupama, an extremely beautiful young girl. She falls in love and gets married to Anand, a doctor. Her life is going well until she contracts Leukoderma, a skin disease. Her world turns upside when she is forced to move out and live with her parents. 

Posing as a liability to her parents, she contemplates suicide and then moves to Mumbai for a better lifestyle. Anupama is an epitome of inspiration for everyone who falls prey to the pathetic mindset of society and gives up. Sudha Murty brings out the indomitable spirit of her character, thus, inspiring many in the process. 

How I Taught My Grandmother to Read and Other Stories 

Sudha Murty’s How I Taught My Grandmother to Read and Other Stories is a collection of twenty-five short stories that derive inspiration from her real-life. The stories are short, vivid, and highly inspiring. The book will help you reestablish your forgotten value in life. This book talks about the bond between the author and her grandmother when she asked her to teach her the alphabet when she was 12. She also talks about her meeting with J.R.D. Tata. Several other such stories grace this book. 

Sudha Murty has a brilliant way of storytelling. Her stories are simple, honest, and heart-warming. A reader can learn a lot from a simple story that talks about saving money. The stories take place during her entire life span from a daughter to a wife to a teacher and mother. Every story is sure to strike a chord in you and leave you with a smile. 

Wise and Otherwise 

In this book, Sudha Murty recounts her experiences of interacting with people as a social worker. Due to her work, she has interacted with people from all over the country. She knows India in its length and breadth. With the diverse stories, she shows the myriad of emotions that a human mind can capture. The stories include the story of a tribal in the Sahyadri who teaches the author that there is humility in receiving too. In one story, she talks about an old woman who thanks her by giving her flowers and so on. 

The stories have a hint of humor in them which makes them really interesting. The popularity of this book is such that it has been translated into all major Indian languages. This book is an eye-opener and will give you a new perspective on life. 

The Day I Stopped Drinking Milk 

Just like the other books by Sudha Murty, this book is not a work of fiction either but real-life experiences collected by the author. The writing style is so elegant and simple and it can be read by people of any age group. The collection of short stories includes a personal account of the author wherein two young boys seek monetary help from her for their education but deny recognizing her at a later stage in life. 

The impeccable honesty with which Mrs. Murty writes is worth appreciating. The stories are so admirable that you will not get bored of reading them. There is no frill or fancy in her words and the honesty of her emotions reflect in her work. 

House of Cards 

House of Cards by Sudha Murty revolves around the life of Mridula and Sanjay. Mridula, a young and zesty woman hails from a village in Karnataka. She falls in love with Sanjay, a doctor and they get married. They decide to settle in Bangalore. Mridula being an aware woman despises the materialistic and corrupt world. When Sanjay falls prey to the same, she decides to leave him and start a journey of her own. 

The most heartbreaking thing about this story is the relevance even after years of its publication. Greed and materialism drive people into a cycle of sins and corruption that robs them of their goodness and humanity. Sudha Murty depicts it all beautifully in her story and presents a clear picture of today’s world. 

How The Sea Became Salty 

With the perfect Indian setting and beautiful illustrations, this is the first picture book by Sudha Murty. She takes us on a journey that involves magic, dwarfs, and whatnot. The main plot of the story revolves around how a sea once fresh and sweet becomes salty at last. Through the story, she unravels the secret and also provides numerous life lessons for children. 

The narrative of the story is so simple that kids will love it. The beautiful illustrations are sure to catch their attention and lure them into the magnificent world of stories. This is highly recommended for children between 6-8 years of age. This can be their first step towards entering the creative world and also add wings to their imagination. 

If you have read any of these books by Sudha Murty, be sure to drop a comment about it. If you have any more suggestions to the list, do give your valuable response on the same. 

If you liked this blog, you will also enjoy our blog on “Best Books by Khushwant Singh”, here.