Book Review: Two Unforgettable Lessons by Sudha Murty

Sudha Murty’s stories are inspired by the tales from Panchatantra. The stories are simple and the message that they relay is often simple and straightforward. Somehow Sudha Murty’s stories are predictable and sound too simple to read – perfectly fit for children.

This short story, Two Unforgettable Lessons, is about the lies and exploitation carried out by rich people to damage the lives of poor. Two landlords, though living in different villages, are extremely cunning and never lose a chance to exploit the poorest of poor. Well, one day a young man named Manikya enters into their house and life, one by one. He charges no money for his work on their fields but food and some clothes. Also, he has some terms and conditions. Both landlords agree to his terms, thinking that his terms will never cause any harm to their property and reputation.

For the first land owner, he works silently for a year; as a result the owner earns greater profits for the year. Well, on one occasion Manikya lies to the owner and his mistress separately. This causes great amount of gloominess in their life. When confronted with Manikya, he says that lies cause a great damage to poor. Thus, he showed his owner that he should not lie to take advantage of the situation.

With the second land owner in different village, Manikya digs up the wall of the owner’s house causing him great damage. Soon, he cuts down his mango orchids. Finding him too expensive, as per the terms and conditions, the owner gives him gold coins and orders him to go away.

That’s how Manikya teaches the two meanest landlords in the land lessons they will never forget.

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