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10 Absolutely Must-Read Sudha Murthy Books

Sudha Murthy Books: Sudha Murthy (Born Sudha Kulkarni) is an Indian Philanthropist and Educator, who heads the Infosys Foundation, the philanthropic wing of India’s tech giant Infosys, which supports the underserved segments of society, create opportunities, and strives for a more equitable society. She is a recipient of Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian award, for her social service endeavours. She is the wife of N R Narayana Murthy, the Founder of Infosys.

Murthy has authored a number of books that have witnessed commercial success. Her books are mainly short stories with valuable lessons or about social phenomena. Kids and teenagers love reading her books. Since she has authored a plethora of books, selecting one can be a tedious task. Thus, in this article, we provide you with a list of the Top 10 Must-Read Sudha Murthy Books for Kids you might want your child to read.

Top 10 Sudha Murthy Books

The following will be helpful if you are looking for Sudha Murthy Books for Kids, Sudha Murthy Best Books and Sudha Murthy Novels

1) Grandma’s Bag of Stories: Collection of 20+ Illustrated Short Stories

We all have memories of our grandmother reciting a story that our imaginative minds used to get scupper. At the top of our list of Sudha Murthy Books is such a book that would remind one of their childhood. This book is appropriate for young children as well as those aged 5 and above. Colourful illustrations and morals accompany the stories. The book’s clear and simple language makes reading enjoyable.

Anand, Krishna, Raghu, and Meena arrive at their grandparents’ house in Shiggaon to begin the story. Grandmother and Grandfather are overjoyed as they prepare the house for the children. Finally, everyone assembles around Grandma as she decides to open her large bag of stories. She tells tales of kings and swindlers, princesses & onions, monkeys & mice, scorpions & hidden treasures. Stories are perfectly logical when Grandma is narrating them, despite their unlikely combination.

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2) Three Thousand Stitches: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Lives

The second book in our list of Sudha Murthy Books is Three Thousand Stitches: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Lives. In this book, she narrates her own experiences and opinions that she had gained from her extraordinary life as a philanthropist in the form of stories. She tells them in her trademark clear-eyed, warm-hearted tone. She speaks openly about the significance of her work in the downtrodden community, her struggles as the sole female scholar in her engineering college, and the unforeseen and inspiring implications of her father’s compassion. From the peaceful joy of uncovering the overseas viewership of Indian cinema as well as the provenance of vegetables to the vacuousness of trying to judge somebody else based on their appearance, she narrates the small and large daily struggles and victories.

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3) How I Taught My Grandmother to Read and Other Stories

The third book that has made it to our list of Sudha Murthy Books is  How I Taught My Grandmother to Read and Other Stories. In this book, Murthy narrates her experiences when her grandmother asked her to teach her how to read, when the President of India asked her to accompany him on a train ride, and when her teacher gave her more marks than she deserved. There’s also an interesting story about a student who frequently skipped school. The story of how her mother’s suggestion to save money did come in handy once she wanted to assist her husband to establish a software firm, as well as the heartwarming story of the promise she had made and kept to her grandfather to keep her little library well-stocked with books.

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4) Wise and Otherwise: A Salute to Life

The third Sudha Murty book in our list, Wise and Otherwise: A Salute to Life, will take you on a journey across India through the narration of 51 narratives inspired by her extensive travels. This book has piqued people’s interest not only as an interesting and inspiring book about people’s struggles and how they achieve their goals but also because of its settings. It paints a reasonable picture of India, with all of its values, traditions, and flaws, and it presents the readers with a set of ethical values whose truthfulness they must determine for themselves. It dissects human nature, revealing both its good and bad aspects, as well as how it is frequently shaped by purpose and circumstance.

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5) Here, There and Everywhere

The fifth book in our list of Sudha Murthy books is Here, There and Everywhere. This book is a collection of the best and most critically acclaimed stories penned by Sudha Murthy. Readers of all ages will enjoy reading this quick read that narrates the multifaceted stories included in this 200th book of Sudha Murthy.

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Also See:

Top 5 Sadhguru BooksTop 10 Shashi Tharoor Books
Top 10 Hindi Story Books for KidsArun Sharma CAT Book

6) The Daughter from a Wishing Tree: Unusual Tales about Women in Mythology

India is a land rife with mythologies. The sixth book in our list of Sudha Murthy Books is a must-read for people having an interest in mythologies as it could reveal many unknown facts and beliefs to the reader. The book reveals many unheard stories about Indian goddesses including Parvati Ashokasundari, Bhamati, Mandodari etc. The book is an account of the feminine power India has accorded to women. The book also highlights the importance of the goddesses in Indian mythologies. 

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7) The Mother I Never Knew

The novel that has made seventh to our list of Sudha Murthy books is The Mother I Never Knew. The book revolves around two characters, Venkatesh and Mukesh, who while living their individual lives, cross paths when they are told that they both are half-brothers. Both of them are linked by the same conundrum and emotional complexities. It is critical that they locate their way back and make their lives stable. The book’s central question is whether it is possible to reconcile with reality as obvious and deceptive as Venkatesh and Mukesh’s.

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8) Dollar Bahu

The eighth book in our list of Sudha Murthy Books is a special one. Dollar Bahu is her only book which has been adopted as a TV series. It is the narrative about how money can wreak havoc on any family’s life if things get out of hand.  Vinuta, who is newly married to Girish, a Bank Employee, moves to Bangalore to live with his husband’s family. When Girish’s elder brother, Chandru, marries, things take a turn for the worse. Chandru lives in the United States with his partner, the ‘Dollar Bahu,’ and they live a lavish lifestyle due to Chandru’s high income. Vinuta is now subjected to constant comparisons with her new sister-in-law. The story is relatable to many middle-class Indians. 

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9) Something Happened on the Way to Heaven: 20 Inspiring Real-Life Stories

The ninth book in our Sudha Murthy Books list is Something Happened on the Way to Heaven: 20 Inspiring Real-Life Stories. The book is a collection of twenty different stories. These stories capture the faith, hope, joy and kindness that life has to offer, even as we go about our daily lives. Any person who chooses to believe in the kindness of the human soul will be captivated and entertained by this collection. The stories in this book are intriguing and elevate the reader’s spirit. It is a collection of stories that take you through the lives of various individuals as they go through Childhood, Adulthood, Morals, Societal Issues, Choices, Middle Age, Old Age, and the unavoidable – Death.

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10) The Magic Drum and Other Favourite Stories

The final book in our list of Sudha Murthy Books is Magic Drum and Other Favourite Stories. These stories were told to Murthy by her elders and friends while she was a small kid. These stories express most of Murthy. These stories are highly philosophical and have valuable lessons at the climax. The book is a real gem of Murthy.

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Thank you for visiting Vocation India and giving this article on Sudha Murthy Books a read. 

Gautam Kukreja

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