📚 Wise and Otherwise by Sudha Murty – A Collection of Life in 51 Stories

Hey readers 📚,
This morning, I finally found a quiet moment just for myself. No debugging, no rush to open a laptop for coding. Just peace, chai, and a book.

So I thought—let’s write something from the heart today.
And what better book to talk about than one filled with stories? Real, raw, human stories that feel like they’ve come straight from the corners of our own lives.

Today’s blog is a personal review of a book that touched me deeply:
📖 “Wise and Otherwise: A Salute to Life” by Sudha Murty

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🧒 Why This Book Took Me Back to Childhood

Before I tell you about the book itself, let me take you back to a simpler time…

Growing up, we didn’t have the luxury of buying new books every month. But I still managed to read—because I wanted to.

I had a neighbor who used to read Champak, Nandan, Chacha Chaudhary—and I’d literally wait for him to finish so I could borrow them. Sometimes I didn’t even wait; I’d just run to his home and ask, “Tumne book padh liya kya?,mujhe chaiye tha, mai padh kar wapas kar dugi” 😄

And of course, my grandparents were the original storytellers—the kind who could turn even a glass of water into a life lesson.

Since then, stories have always felt like home to me.
That’s why this book felt so personal.
Because “Wise and Otherwise” is not just a book.
It’s 51 small windows into real Indian lives—and each story teaches you something without shouting it.

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📝 What Is “Wise and Otherwise” About?

It’s a collection of 51 real-life stories Sudha Murthy experienced first-hand or came across during her time working with the Infosys Foundation.

These aren’t made-up or over-dramatized. They’re simple yet powerful, just like life itself.
Stories of kindness, betrayal, gratitude, greed, love, and everyday wisdom that make you stop, smile, or even tear up a little.

The beauty?
👉 You can read one story a day.
👉 No heavy commitment.
👉 And every story leaves you with something real to carry forward.

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💫 A Few Stories That Stayed With Me

There are so many good ones, but here are a few that deeply touched me:

🌸 “A Lesson in Life from a Beggar”

Sudha Murthy meets a beggar who gives her one of the most powerful lessons in dignity and gratitude.
It’s not always the rich who are generous.
Sometimes the people who have the least are the ones who give the most.

💡 It reminded me that how you give matters more than what you give.

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🧓 “Three Thousand Stitches” (Okay, this one's from another book, but equally relevant!)

She writes about rehabilitating women from the Devadasi system—and how difficult, yet important, the journey was. The title refers to the embroidery work done by the women to reclaim their dignity.

💡 We often judge others without knowing their story. This book reminds us to listen before we label.

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🧓 Aged Father Abandoned in an Old-Age Home

Sudha Murthy recounts meeting a man at an old-age home who shockingly claimed the elderly man with him was a homeless stranger—and his father. He abandoned his dad there, only returning after his death to claim money from the old man's belongings. This story is a stark reminder of how we can lose humanity even within our own families. (Metro Reader, Penguin Random House India)

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🌄 Grace in Receiving from Sahyadri Forests

On a visit to the tribal belt of Sahyadri, Sudha meets a tribal chief. After she offers him a gift, he gently tells her, “There is grace in receiving too.” It’s a profound lesson in humility—receiving kindness is as dignified as giving it. (MouthShut)

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🤝 The Truth About Women in Identity and Respect

Sudha meets a woman with strong degrees who, despite her qualifications, remains emotionally and financially controlled by her husband. It underlines that true empowerment requires self-respect and agency beyond just education. (Metro Reader)

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📜 Where There’s a Will… Family Feud

A simple will spirals into a bitter inheritance conflict among children—revealing how poor planning and unclear intentions can fracture families more than any asset disputes.

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📚 Why These True Stories Matter

Each of these vignettes highlights a distinct facet of human nature and Indian society:

• Family Obligations – Even blood ties can fracture without empathy.

• Humility in Acceptance – Receiving well is as noble as giving well.

• Genuine Awareness – Degrees don’t equal understanding.

• Empowerment Means More Than Education – It needs inner strength.

• Legacy Goes Beyond Assets – It’s also about relationships and clarity.

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❤️ Why I Recommend This Book to Everyone

📌 You don’t have to be a regular reader to enjoy it.
📌 Each chapter is short—just a few pages.
📌 It’s perfect for young readers and adults.
📌 You’ll learn values without feeling like someone’s lecturing you.
📌 It reminds you that life’s biggest lessons come from the smallest moments.

And the biggest reason?

Because somewhere in these stories—you’ll find yourself.

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👩‍💼 My Personal Take

I’m not a superfan of Sudha Murty.
But I deeply respect her.
She doesn’t write to impress. She writes to connect.
And this book made me feel like I was sitting across from her, hearing life stories over tea.

As someone who codes for a living, I often live in a logical, structured world.
But reading these stories… it made me feel soft again. Human again. Connected again.

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📣 Final Thoughts + A Small Request

I’m still that little girl who loves stories.
And today, through this blog, I just want to pass on that feeling to you.

👉 Please read Wise and Otherwise.
Even one story a day will add quiet wisdom to your life.

If you enjoyed this blog or felt connected to my story,
💬 drop a comment,
🤝 share it with someone you care about, and
📚 maybe even buy this book for a young reader at home.

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📖 Here’s the book link:
Wise and Otherwise by Sudha Murthy – Amazon

Thank you for reading.
And thank you for making time—for stories, for stillness, and for yourself. 🌸

With warmth,
Richa – the grown-up child who still believes in the power of stories.

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