Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur, University Nagpur

1. RashtrasantTukadojiMaharaj Nagpur, University Nagpur ShriSaibabaLokPrabodhan Arts College, Wadner Ta:- Hinganghat, Distt:- Wardha Subject: Compulsory English Class: B. A. I, Semester – I Presented By Asst. Prof. NiteshTelhande Head of English Department ShriSaibabaLokPrabodhan Arts College, Wadner

2. In Sahyadri Hills, A Lesson In HumilityBy SudhaMurty (Born - 1950)

3. SudhaMurty is a computer scientist, engineer and social worker. • She is keenly involved in initiatives such as setting up orphanages, computer labs and libraries in rural areas of Karnataka. • Her well-known works are ‘How I Taught My Grandmother to Read and Other Stories (2004), ‘The Magic Drum and Other Favourite Stores (2006), The Bird with Golden Wings: Stories of Wit and Magic (2009), ‘The Day I Stopped Drinking Milk: Life Stories from Here and There (2012) and Grandma’s Bag of Stories (2012) etc.

4. A prose, ‘In Sahyadri Hills, A Lesson in Humility’ has been taken from the collection ‘Wise and Otherwise: A Salute to Life (2002). • It is a touching account of Murty’s interactions with the tribal people living in the dense forests of Karnataka. • The story records the changes in the vision of the tribal folk who are all set to join the computer revolution, which has not only helped India grow in tandem with the changing times but has also enhanced the employability of our youth. • The conclusion of the piece is a lesson on human nature. Giving and accepting are equally important. No one is too great only to give and never to accept in return. In acceptance lies humility and camaraderie.

5. Characters: • SudhaMurty – Narrator • Thandappa- Headman of Thanda • The local groups of tribals • Watchman-cum-peon • Village Children

6. Once the writer went to the Sahyadri Hills, a densely forested region in Karnataka. • She was there to visit a tribal village school deep in the forest area. • The charitable trust with which she was connected wanted to help improve the school. • The local groups of tribals are called Thandas. Normally there is a headman in each Thanda. He is known as the Thandappa. • Normally there is a headman in each Thanda. He is known as the Thandappa. He is the senior most man of the tribe and is considered the supreme power, almost a living God. Everyone obeys and respects him. He practices the customs taught to him in his childhood and everyone follows him.

7. When the writer arrived at the village, it was raining heavily. Reaching the school now seemed an adventure itself. • The villagers stood staring at her. She asked a lady, who was carrying pots of water on her head, the way to the school. Then lady made an exclamatory sound and walked away. • Then the writer saw an old man on the way. She asked him how to reach the school. The man indicated with his hand, the directions to the school. • The school was an old thatched building built by the tribal themselves. It was a primary school. • The writer saw a few children playing outside, while others were busy under a shed-like shelter doing something with leaves and straws. • The writer walked in and found a small room with two chairs, two tables, and a backboard, with a pot of water beside it. • There were no electric lights or fans. • Instead, a small shutter less opening served as the window. This appeared to be the office room.

8. Writer found no staff around the school. She met an elderly man who turned out to be the watchman-cum-peon of the school. He rendered free service to the school because his grandson was studying there free of cost. • He lived in a small hut in the courtyard of the school. He informed the writer that the state government ran the school. • He informed the writer that the state government ran the school. There were two teachers and around fifty students. There was no compulsory uniform. The writer was impressed by the number of children. The illiterate parents were eager to educate their children.

9. The old man, the watchman-cum-peon of the school, took the writer to a cottage nearby and introduced her to the Thandappa who looked more than ninety years old. • He was happy to see the writer. When asked about the problems faced by the school, the Thandappa informed her that commuting to school was difficult during the rains. • Besides, the school clothes wouldn’t dry in the rainy season. After listening to these problems, the writer left. But she decided to bring some umbrellas and clothes for the children on her next visit.

10. The writer went back to the village once again, this time during the winter season. The rains were over and the whole atmosphere of the surrounding was transformed into a paradise. There was no mud and there were no frogs croaking. • Birds were cooing. The sky was clear. Many rare flowers had bloomed. • Thus, the whole landscape had changed, and it appeared more pleasant and more heart-warming than when she had visited the place the first time. It was indeed a welcome change.

11. The writer asked some of the children in the village what they wanted to learn. After much hesitation, they answered that they wanted to learn about computers. • They asked her if she had any books on computers in Kannada language. The writer was delighted to hear what the children had to say. Their ideas were surprisingly fresh and modern despite the fact that they belonged to a backward region. • The writer promised that she would look for the books in Bangalore. If she didn’t find any, she would write on for them herself.

12. The writer met the Thandappa on her second visit too. He recognized her and greeted her with a smile. Then she gave him the big bag of gifts she had brought for the children. He in turn presented to her a bottle of juice extracted from wild red fruit saying that it was good for health. • The writer was embarrassed. She had come to give and not to take. Therefore she declined the gift. Then the Thandappa insisted that if she did not accept his gift, they would not take her gifts. The writer was shocked, embarrassed and schooling, practicing a highly principled philosophy of life-give when you take; do not take without giving. This was culture at its best. • The Thandappa added in the end that, ‘There is a grace in accepting also’.