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Grandpa’s Bag of Stories by Sudha Murthy

My take on the book:

Ajja and Ajji are planning to visit Mayawati, a hill station in Uttarakhand, to visit Ajji’s brother Shyam Ajja who volunteered at a local hospital in Mayawati for four months every year. Coincidentally their grandchildren got school holidays suddenly around the same time and hence Ajja and Ajji decided to take Raghu, Meenu, Krishna and Anoushka to Mayawati. Ajja, Ajji and their four grandchildren met Kukri who is the driver for Shyam Ajja and Kukri’s wife Kusum.

From the beginning of their journey, Ajja started narrating stories to the kids to keep them entertained and engaged; stories that are apt for the scenario the kids were experiencing but also stories that are filled with subtle message that need to be ingrained into young minds. Along with Ajja, Shyam Ajja, Ajji, Kukri and Kusum also joined in narrating beautiful stories to the kids.

There are a total of eighteen stories and the stories range from imaginary fairy tales set in the past to those set in recent times. About the King who wanted to help the gardener with watermelons, how bitter gourds got their bitter taste, why the moon looked like it had a rabbit embedded in it or may be a deer is inside it, the miser who ultimately wished he donated than be penalized for his greed for money, the ambitious son who tried spending away his money to inherit his father’s fortune — each of these eighteen stories are gems.

My favorite is the story of addiction where a Sanyasi becomes a common man’s obsession, which is synonymous to how we are addicted to smartphones, internet and social media. Each story is accompanied by interesting illustrations that portray the story well.

The book also takes the reader through the beautiful landscapes of Mayawati and the surrounding areas, highlighting the many unexplored hidden tourist attractions that India has. The book also showcases the Pahadi way of life — how farming is done in such hilly terrain, the rituals followed for marriages.

Highly recommend this book for kids as well as adults for the message that it delivers as well as the virtual tour it provides of Mayawati and the surroundings.

My rating:

5/5.