How I Taught My Grandmother to Read
by Sudha Murty
1. Note on the Author
Sudha Murty is a well-known Indian author, social worker, and educator. She was born in 1950 in Karnataka, India. She studied engineering and later became the first female engineer hired at TELCO (now Tata Motors). Murty is also the chairperson of the Infosys Foundation and is known for her extensive charitable work in education, healthcare, and rural development. She writes mainly in English and Kannada and is admired for her simple, clear storytelling style that often highlights human values and everyday experiences. Some of her famous books include Wise and Otherwise, The Day I Stopped Drinking Milk, and Grandma’s Bag of Stories. Her works inspire readers through themes of kindness, humility, and lifelong learning.
2. Summary
The story “How I Taught My Grandmother to Read” is a touching autobiographical narrative by Sudha Murty. It describes the strong bond between the author and her grandmother and highlights the importance of education.
When the narrator was about twelve years old, she stayed with her grandparents in a village in North Karnataka. In those days, newspapers and magazines arrived late because the transport system was slow. Everyone in the village waited eagerly for the bus that brought the weekly magazine Karmaveera. At that time, a popular Kannada writer, Triveni, was publishing a novel called Kashi Yatre as a serial in the magazine.
The narrator’s grandmother, Krishtakka, could not read because she had never attended school. Therefore, every Wednesday the narrator would read the new episode of the story aloud to her. The grandmother listened carefully and later discussed the story with her friends at the temple.
Once the narrator went to a nearby village for a wedding and stayed away for a week. During that time, the magazine arrived, but the grandmother could not read the story herself. She felt helpless and embarrassed because she depended on others to read for her.
This experience made her realize the importance of education. She decided to learn to read and write Kannada, even though she was sixty-two years old. The narrator began teaching her the alphabet every day. The grandmother worked very hard and practised reading regularly.
By the time the festival of Dassara arrived, she successfully learned to read. On Saraswati Puja day, she read the novel Kashi Yatre herself. As a mark of respect, she touched her granddaughter’s feet, thanking her for being her teacher. The story shows that learning has no age limit and education brings independence and confidence.
3. Key Turning Points
Village life and arrival of weekly magazine
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Granddaughter reads the serial story Kashi Yatre to her grandmother
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Granddaughter goes away for a wedding for a week
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Grandmother cannot read the new episode and feels helpless
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She decides to learn the Kannada alphabet
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Granddaughter becomes her teacher
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Grandmother studies with determination
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On Dassara, she reads the novel independently and thanks her teacher
4. Character Briefs
The Narrator
The narrator is a young girl of about twelve years old who spends time with her grandparents in a village. She is caring, patient, and intelligent. Every week she reads the serial story Kashi Yatre from the magazine to her grandmother, showing her love and affection. When her grandmother expresses the desire to learn how to read, the granddaughter becomes her teacher and teaches her the Kannada alphabet. Although she initially laughs at the idea of her grandmother learning at such an old age, she later supports and encourages her wholeheartedly. Through this experience, she learns the value of determination and education. The story also suggests that this experience later influenced her decision to become a teacher.
Grandmother (Avva)
The narrator’s grandmother is a loving, hardworking, and determined woman. She never went to school because in her childhood education for girls was not considered important. Although she cannot read, she enjoys listening to stories and eagerly waits for the weekly magazine episodes. When she realizes she cannot read the story herself while her granddaughter is away, she feels helpless and dependent. This motivates her to learn how to read and write, even at the age of sixty-two. She shows strong determination and discipline while studying. Her respect for education is clearly shown when she touches her granddaughter’s feet as a teacher. Krishtakka represents the idea that learning is possible at any age.
5. Themes / Main Ideas
The story highlights several important themes. One major theme is the importance of education, which helps people become independent and confident. Another theme is lifelong learning, showing that age is not a barrier to gaining knowledge. The story also emphasizes determination and perseverance, as the grandmother works hard to achieve her goal of learning to read. Additionally, the narrative reflects respect for teachers and education, which is a strong cultural value in Indian society. The story also explores family bonds and love, as the granddaughter patiently teaches her grandmother. Through these themes, the author encourages readers to value education and believe in their ability to learn at any stage of life.
6. Key Message / Moral / Author’s Purpose
The main message of the story is that learning has no age limit. Education gives people independence, confidence, and dignity. The author also highlights the importance of determination and respect for teachers. Through the grandmother’s efforts to learn reading at the age of sixty-two, the story teaches readers that with dedication and hard work, anyone can overcome obstacles and achieve their goals.
7. Literary or Writing Features
The story is written in a simple autobiographical style, making it easy for readers to understand and relate to. The tone is warm, emotional, and reflective. Sudha Murty uses simple language and real-life experiences to convey powerful values. The narrative structure moves from childhood memories to an important life lesson. Dialogue and descriptive details help bring the characters and their emotions to life, making the story engaging and meaningful.
How to Prepare This Chapter for Exams
- Start by understanding the sequence of events in the story. Focus on how the grandmother’s decision changes her life.
- Learn the key turning points so you can explain the story clearly.
- Revise the main themes such as education, determination, and respect.
- Practise writing answers in simple language. Keep your responses clear and to the point.
- Understand the message of the story because it is often asked in exams.