Simplicity making it's way into many hearts.

  HERE, THERE & EVERYWHERE

The author, Mrs.Sudha Murty needs no introduction, for her work both in literature & philanthropy are commendable. She wears many other hats including now being India's MP yet, making it all look so easy at her silver -hair age! I miss the grandma tales that other kids got to hear as a child, which I wasn't fortunate enough to experience & hence, I can rightly say, that this book feels like a hug from a grandma! 

Literature is often appreciated when complex words are intelligently intricated into the sentences. However, this book clearly proves it wrong!! The book breaks the monotony by keeping each story short & apt all along, making the book one of my favorites. 

Simple language with a tint of humour & topped with values & wisdom is the best combination for readers across all age groups. My favorite stories have to be - 'Honesty Comes from Heart' & 'Rahman's Avva', while the former is a serious &  touching story making oneself reflect on his/her actions, the latter is comical yet, hinting at communal harmony. 

In brief, this book is all about the strange yet, unique interactions Mrs.Murty has had, which shaped her into the person she is today. Be it her daughter, her grandmother, or the beggar who makes his way into one of her stories .. she is said to have taught  & learned many values to be a better person & a citizen.

 The title couldn't be more apt, as it explicitly says  "examples all around us" to learn from; if we are willing to break the pride, and ego within us & the societal barriers we have latched onto for so long.

 My key takeaways:

1. "Honesty comes from the heart".

2. Mr. Murty's simple 4 words to the author (his beloved wife) - "From me to you"  screamed their deep love for one another, giving me a better perspective of love.

3. One is never too old to dream big if she is willing to work for it.

4. " Whenever you want to give something, give the best you have, not the second best".

My experience: 

My father hails from a small village in Karnataka, where even today untouchability is practiced in a silent form. The helpers are treated very differently there compared to the city where I was raised. A village with just over 300 people, is one of the neglected parts of Karnataka. As a child, I never really understood untouchability & my step-grandmother though kind from the heart, used to be an ardent follower of it but, somehow the changing times have mended her for the better. 

When our car drives through, children flock around our house to just peep into the window of our car. That is not all, the elders too come with a request. "Ma'am can we touch your hand?"..ever since I was a child I would let them touch my hands, which they caressed with a smile beaming on their face, wanting nothing else. Luckily my parents & the city life I was brought up in, never really taught me to distinguish people around me based on any information I knew of them. 

Their question appeared quite simple to me at first but as I grew, I realized how deep the caste system had penetrated into their minds, making them believe they were to be treated the age-old way. 

Thus, simplicity in our conduct (here, not differentiating people based on class or caste) is one of the best values my parents hold. Thus, naturally made me pick it up.

SNIPPET ON THE AUTHOR

    Draped usually in a saree, hair tied into a bun ornamented with flowers, wearing a smile on her face is Mrs. Murty. Her air of warm jocularity & simplicity shines through her writing. She's a celebrated author in Kannada & English, however, translations of her work in other native languages have only brought her closer to her readers.

Hailing from Karnataka, and the daughter of a doctor, she went on to become the first female engineer at TELCO. 

She & her husband share the same love for books that kindled their romantic story in their youth. She quite often jovially mentions the financial aid she lent to her husband Mr.Narayan Murty, that led him to co-found the renowned Infosys company, for which even Mr. Murty gives her credit for.

She takes a keen interest in philanthropic work hence,  founded the Infosys Foundation, which earned her Padma Shri & many other accolades. As an author, ex-chairman of Infosys Foundation & professor & an educator, she is truly an inspiration for many. Her recent speech at the Indian Parliament regarding HPV vaccines & UNESCO heritage sites is the right start to her journey as our MP. 

My favorite parts of the book:

The book begins with her journey into the literature world with the chapter - 'A Tale of Many Tales'. Growing up in a family that is so well-read, she always had an interest in books. The compulsory assignment that her mother gave, her was to scribble everything that happened in her day, to put to use her tiny fingers & young mind; without which she wasn't served food, sowing the seeds of writing in Sudha at a tender age. Though as a child, she wrote columns for Kannada magazines & newspapers, later Dollar Bahu & Mahashweta earned her fame. Her journey in English literature wasn't an easy one. This celebrated author had her own set of challenges, for her simplicity in narration. However, she made the choice to retain her distinctive style of writing.

The chapter 'Honesty Comes from Heart', is the story of a high-school boy named Hanumanthappa, a son of a coolie who earns a meager. When Sudha offered him to sponsor his tuition fee, he chose to study in Bellary at Teachers Training College which was about Rs 300 a month, while he had the choice to choose any without worrying about the expenses. Sudha happily paid half yearly fee initially & when she paid for the 2nd term, he honestly returned some money stating the reason as holidays. 

'Rahman's Avva' is a story of a child "Rahman", a boy who loses his mother at birth & later at a young age his father. Being a neighbor of Kashibai, the lady who mothered him as her own for the rest of her life did not pay heed to the communal differences between her community & Rahman's & put back the dislikeness that she had towards Rahman's mother. Communal rivalry is a sensitive subject in diverse countries like India. But, this story is the best reflection of India's ethos.

'Three Thousand Stitches' is a title that has its own book today. This moving story is about Sudha's frontal attack on the age-old Devadasi system, that pushes women into unbearable circumstances. Though she began her philanthropic work with enthusiasm bubbling within her, the reality seemed like a checkmate! Her offers of help were rejected with a stiff initially. Sometimes with chappals & tomatoes flying at her. Nothing could stop her from changing these Devadasis' lives. It took her nearly 17 years to bring changes into 3000 lives. Scholarships and banking system facilities were provided to make them independent. Thus, this story is a tale of her bravery & the determination to better the lives of the sufferers.

RATING: 9/10                 
FEEDBACK: Enjoyed it thoroughly.  

Link: https://www.amazon.in/sk=HERE+THERE+%26+EVERYWHERE&i=stripbooks&crid=24B174UJV2BA7&sprefix=here+there+%26+everywher%2Cstripbooks%2C258&ref=nb_sb_noss

                                                                                                                                                         Neethi