Sudha Murthy’s common yet uncommon resonates with relatable characters

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Sudha Murthy's talk at the Lit Fest was really interesting, attracting people of all ages. She discussed her new book, "Common Yet Uncommon," set in North Karnataka, focusing on 14 people who left a lasting impact on her.

The story begins where Sudha Murthy grew up, between the Tungabhadra and Krishna rivers.

In the fourteen tales that make up the collection, Sudha Murthy delves into memories of childhood, life in her hometown and the people she's crossed paths with.

She highlighted that this area is different from what city folks like Narayana Murthy might know. According to her, the unique culture of North Karnataka is reflected in the book's characters, who, in their way, positively influenced her without realising it.

In her book, Sudha Murthy introduces the character Lunch Box Nalini, a whimsical portrayal inspired by her own experiences.

Nalini, much like the author, travels across the town, relishing lunches and securing dinners in a tiffin box from every household.

Sudha humorously declares, "If I visit Hubli, I don't need to cook at all. I can have lunch at one house each day and have dinner in a tiffin box. I don't need a kitchen."

This anecdote provides a heartwarming glimpse into the tightly-knit community that shaped Sudha's formative years. The tiffin box, as she explains, serves as a bridge fostering connections and offereing a reason to revisit and maintain relationships.

Through her storytelling, Sudha Murthy unveils a past era of openness and communal warmth, where shared meals were the building blocks of relationships, giving rise to what she affectionately calls her "family forest."

Sudha Murthy introduced more characters from her book "Common Yet Uncommon," inviting readers to embark on a nostalgic journey with these relatable figures.