Sudha Murthy

Fifty vignettes showcase the myriad shades of human nature A man dumps his aged father in an old-age home after declaring him to be a homeless stranger, a tribal chief in the Sahyadri hills teaches the author that there is humility in receiving too, and a sick woman remembers to thank her benefactor even from her deathbed. These are just some of the poignant and eye-opening stories about people from all over the country that Sudha Murty recounts in this book. From incredible examples of generosity to the meanest acts one can expect from men and women, she records everything with wry humour and a directness that touches the heart. First published in 2002, Wise and Otherwise has sold over 30,000 copies in English and has been translated into all the major Indian languages. This revised new edition is sure to charm many more readers and encourage them to explore their inner selves and the world around us with new eyes.

Wise & Otherwise

Sudha Murty writes in Kannada and English and her works--- novels, technical books, travelogues and short stories---have been translated into all major Indian languages. These timeless stories include those that the author listened to as a child and those she later heard from friends all over the world. The tales will entertain and delight young readers and remain a favourite down the years.

(Penguin Petit)

The Horse & The Burrow

Is there such a thing as too much cleverness? When three intelligent brothers set out on a journey to make a fortune using their powers of reasoning and logic, they couldn’t have imagined even in their wildest dreams that they’d be taken to the king—as criminals! Can they get out of this situation when in fact it was their cleverness that put them in it in the first place? Another gem from Sudha Murty’s treasure of witty tales, The Clever Brothers is entertaining and delightful.

The Clever Brothers

When someone uses their powers for the wrong reasons, only they reap the benefits. But when someone uses their powers for the right reasons, an entire kingdom can reap those benefits. Sumant was a smart man, who loved using his cleverness to make a quick buck—sometimes tricking shopkeepers into giving him free sweets and sometimes conning people in order to earn a lot of gold. But he might face his biggest challenge yet when the king of Vidishanagara orders his arrest. Sumant has to put his brain to the ultimate test and somehow turn his situation around. Find out in Emperor of Alakavati, another one of Sudha Murty’s gems that deftly shows the two sides of having a clever mind.

Emperor of Alakavati

The beautiful princess Chandravati loved all jewellery, but the piece she loved most was an expensive diamond necklace, which she wore every day. One day, before going for a dip in the pond, Chandravati leaves her necklace in the care of her most trusted old servant. But the old woman drifts into a slumber and the necklace is stolen from her hands. Several likely culprits are captured but are found to be innocent. Who could be this mysterious offender? In this humorous tale, narrated by the inimitable Sudha Murty, amid chaos and confusion, there is also an important lesson: Jumping to conclusions has never really helped anybody. Read on to find out who could have outsmarted Chandravati, her maid and all the royal guards!

The Case of the Missing Necklace

The Seed of Truth

The Last Laddoo

Keshava, the lonely washerman, had only one friend—his donkey. One day, when he overhears a teacher scolding his students, 'You are all donkeys! And I am trying to make you human!' Keshava is fascinated. Hoping that his best friend will turn into a human, Keshava approaches the teacher and hands over his donkey to him along with a fee. But that is the problem with taking things literally—there will always be people ready to take you on a ride. Find out what happens to Keshava’s best friend in this amusing tale, narrated in classic Sudha Murty style.

The Best Friend

The White Crow

A king is only as clever as his people. When Srimukha, a poor farmer, hears that the king will be passing through the village, he decides to gift the monarch his best rooster in order to earn a reward. However, Srimukha’s intelligence is tested when the king asks him a very tricky question. Can Srimukha impress the king and earn the reward he so desires? Read on to find out in this tale of competing wits by the queen of clever writing, Sudha Murty.

A Question of Maths

The Tastiest Of All

Indians believe that you must serve your guests well, for they come to your house in the form of god. This is the exact mentality Sudha Murty’s hosts have when she goes to volunteer in a small village in Odisha. Because of the heavy rain, Murty decides to take shelter in one of the villagers’ hut—already low on supplies, what are the hosts ready to give up in order to serve their guest? Murty delves into the great extent hosts are willing to go to in order to please their guests. Read more to see what Sudha learns about the Indian values.

Sudha Murthy

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