The Old Man and His God: Discovering the Spirit of India - Softcover

Murty Sudha

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0144001012 ISBN 13: 9780144001019

Publisher: Penguin Books, 2006

Synopsis

In the introduction to The Old Man And His God, the author says that she is often asked how such interesting incidents happen to her. Her answer is that these are ordinary incidents and encounters that occur in the life of everyone. It is just that many people do not observe and record them. The book contains stories that hold up a mirror to every characteristic of humanity, generosity, selfishness, greed, contentment, and ambition. These are tales of people s behavior and reactions in ordinary circumstances and during crisis. She tells the story of a banyan tree in a remote village in Karnataka that gives shelter to travelers under its shade, and of the man who sits on a stone under the tree and lets passersby share the seat and their troubles with him, acting as a counselor to them, letting them unburden their worries on him for a while. There are stories of women trying to make a difference in the community against odds, of acts of selfishness and generosity in times of disaster, of young professionals and the attitudes that make some of them succeed in the corporate race. There is also the title story of an old couple in a small temple, who give the author shelter during a storm. They then refuse an offer of help from her, saying that they are happy with what they have, offering a lesson in contentment. As the author herself points out, the stories in The Old Man And His God are ordinary events that might happen to anyone. In her case, she is sensitive enough that they leave a lasting impression upon her and she learns from each of them. She also happens to be a good writer who shares these experiences with her readers.

About this title

Review:

very well written and has tried to explain every aspect of life's journey,the people we meet,the things which happens and those things which permenantly changes our attitude and makes us think twice... must read for all.. --sanjay parekh Jul 7, 2012

nother slice-of-the-life read by Sudha Murty...just love her style of reading...all the stories are straight from the heart and can be easily related to...she definitely is one of my top-authors! 2 of her books are pending and can't stop to start reading them! --Nishant Jha Mar 26, 2013

we all heard those stories from our grandmother/father, this is just an interpretation in modern day life and the lessons we learn. Mrs.Murthy is great... --Deepak Sahu Mar 23, 2015

Synopsis:

As she goes about her work with the villagers, slum dwellers and the common men and women of India, Sudha Murty, writer, social worker and teacher, listens to them and records what they have to say. Their accounts of the struggles and hardships which they have at times overcome, and at other times been overwhelmed by, are put together in this book. A blind old man in a little Shiva temple offers the author shelter and peace in the midst of a storm and emerges as the most generous, unselfish soul she has ever met. A little stone bench under a banyan tree in a village in Karnataka is the perfect place for travellers to rest and forget their burdens for a while as they chat with the man sitting there patiently listening to them, a better counsellor than one can find anywhere in the city. There are stories about people's generosity - and selfishness - in times of natural disasters like the tsunami; women struggling to speak out in a world that refuses to listen to them; and tales of young professionals trying to find their feet as they climb up the corporate ladder.

About this edition

• Publisher: Penguin Books
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 0144001012
• ISBN 13: 9780144001019
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 144