By Sudha Murty
SUMMARY
The story is a touching account of the author’s childhood in Karnataka, where she lived with her grandparents. Her grandmother was illiterate but had a deep love for stories, especially those published in the Kannada magazine Karmaveera. She would eagerly listen as young Sudha read them aloud.
One day, Sudha went away for a few days, and during her absence, a new episode of the story was published. The grandmother felt helpless because she could not read it on her own. This made her realize the pain of being dependent on others for something as simple as reading.
Determined to become independent, the grandmother decided to learn how to read and write, despite her old age. She asked Sudha to become her teacher. With great dedication and discipline, she practiced regularly and worked hard to master the Kannada alphabet.
Within a few months, she successfully learned to read. On the day of Saraswati Puja, she showed her progress by reading a novel independently. In a deeply emotional moment, she touched Sudha’s feet as a mark of respect for her teacher, even though she was older.
The story beautifully highlights that age is no barrier to learning and emphasizes the importance of determination, self-respect, and education.