Pages

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

"Bombay To Bangalore" by Sudha Murthy

Sudha Murty, chairperson, Infosys Foundation and author, is known for her ability to glean interesting stories from the lives of ordinary people and weave these narratives into a unique blend of anecdote and fable.
 
Her latest collection of stories, 'The Day I Stopped Drinking Milk', features a fascinating cast of characters, each of whom made an indelible impression on the author. Extracted here is a nugget from 'Bombay to Bangalore', one of the most heartwarming stories in this collection:

 
 
It was the beginning of summer. I was boarding Udyan Express at Gulbarga railway station. My destination was Bangalore. As I boarded the train, I saw that the second-class reserved compartment was jam-packed with people. I sat down and was pushed to the corner of the berth. Though it was meant for three people, there were already six of us sitting on it...

 
The ticket collector came in and started checking people's tickets and reservations.. Suddenly, he looked in my direction and asked, 'What about your ticket?' 'I have already shown my ticket to you,' I said.

'Not you, madam, the girl hiding below your berth. Hey, come out, where is your ticket?' I realized that someone was sitting below my berth. When the collector yelled at her, the girl came out of hiding.

 
She was thin, dark, scared and looked like she had been crying profusely. She must have been about thirteen or fourteen years old.She had uncombed hair and was dressed in a torn skirt and blouse. She was trembling and folded both her hands.. The collector started forcibly pulling her out from the compartment. Suddenly, I had a strange feeling. I stood up and called out to the collector. 'Sir, I will pay for her ticket,' I said.

 
Then he looked at me and said, 'Madam, if you give her ten rupees, she will be much happier with that than with the ticket.'

 
I did not listen to him. I told the collector to give me a ticket to the last destination, Bangalore, so that the girl could get down wherever she wanted.

 
Slowly, she started talking. She told me that her name was Chitra. She lived in a village near Bidar. Her father was a coolie and she had lost her mother at birth. Her father had remarried and had two sons with her stepmother. But a few months ago, her father had died. Her stepmother started beating her often and did not give her food. She was tired of that life. She did not have anybody to support her so she left home in search of something better.

 
By this time, the train had reached Bangalore. I said goodbye to Chitra and got down from the train. My driver came and picked up my bags. I felt someone watching me. When I turned back, Chitra was standing there and looking at me with sad eyes. But there was nothing more that I could do. I had paid her ticket out of compassion but I had never thought that she was going to be my responsibility!...

 
I told her to get into my car. My driver looked at the girl curiously. I told him to take us to my friend Ram's place. Ram ran separate shelter homes for boys and girls. We at the Infosys Foundation supported him financially. I thought Chitra could stay there for some time and we could talk about her future after I came back from my tours.

 
I was not sure if Chitra would even be there. But to my surprise, I saw Chitra looking much happier than before. Ram suggested that Chitra could go to a high school nearby. I immediately agreed and said that I would sponsor her expenses as long as she continued to study. I left the shelter knowing that Chitra had found a home and a new direction

in her life.

 
I got busier and my visits to the shelter reduced to once a year. But I always enquired about Chitra's well-being over the phone. I knew that she was studying well and that her progress was good.. I offered to sponsor her college studies if she wanted to continue studying. But she said, 'No, Akka. I have talked to my friends and made up my mind. I would like to do my diploma in computer science so that I can immediately get a job after three years.' She wanted to become economically independent as soon as possible.. Chitra obtained her diploma with flying colours. She also got a job in a software company as an assistant testing engineer. When she got her first salary, she came to my office with a sari and a box of sweets.

 
One day, when I was in Delhi, I got a call from Chitra. She was very happy. 'Akka, my company is sending me to USA! I wanted to meet you and take your blessings but you are not here in Bangalore.'.

 
Years passed. Occasionally, I received an e-mail from Chitra. She was doing very well in her career. She was posted across several cities in USA and was enjoying life. I silently prayed that she should always be happy wherever she was.

 
Years later, I was invited to deliver a lecture in San Francisco for Kannada Koota, an organization where families who speak Kannada meet and organize events. The lecture was in a convention hall of a hotel and I decided to stay at the same hotel. After the lecture, I was planning to leave for the airport. When I checked out of the hotel room and went to the reception counter to pay the bill, the receptionist said, 'Ma'am, you don't need to pay us anything. The lady over there has already settled your bill. She must know you pretty well.' I turned around and found Chitra there.

 
She was standing with a young white man and wore a beautiful sari. She was looking very pretty with short hair. Her dark eyes were beaming with happiness and pride. As soon as she saw me, she gave me a brilliant smile, hugged me and touched my feet. I was overwhelmed with joy and did not know what to say. I was very happy to see the way things had turned out for Chitra. But I came back to my original question. 'Chitra, why did you pay my hotel bill? That is not right.' suddenly sobbing, she hugged me and said, 'Because you paid for my ticket from Bombay to Bangalore!' 

36 comments:

  1. A heart touching anecdote, must read for everyone proving that people who are humane are still there. As an English teacher teaching her fiction how I taught my grandmother to read I really loved this. I'll certainly share this with my students and colleagues at school.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:53 AM

      It's fake story . How come Mrs Murthy travelling in 2nd class

      Delete
    2. Anonymous12:47 PM

      It is a lovely written story. Not real life fact.

      Delete
  2. Anonymous12:31 PM

    Amazing story

    ReplyDelete
  3. One of the best stories as I have read.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous9:33 PM

    Today I got the whatsApp message from one of my friend related to this story. I thought this is fake. But surprisingly it is true...Great Sudha Murthy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. whatsapp so story tells differently,Usha battacharya helped chithra, then she become sudha murthy, but here sudha murthy helped chithra.. chithra now an software engineer..

      Delete
  5. WHATSAPP version of the story makes sudha Murthy as "Chitra", which is,here, proves false ! The story is good one...."How I taught..." is superb to teach in the class...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes,You are right.According to the story, Chitra is not yet all Smt. Sudha Muthy.Whats App story is misguiding us.

      Delete
    2. Yes,This story is entirely different from the Whats App story.But Sudha Mam is an ideal woman of the present era.Hats off madam.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous8:19 PM

      This is real story because siddha murthy say this think in youtube

      Delete
  6. i received a massage on whatsapp from one of my freind related to this story, but there names was changed instead of Sudha Madam therewhere wrote Usha Bhattacharya (Professor) but this story proves false. Heart touching story, Salute to Sudha Madam and we all should learn from this inspiration story.

    One of the best story as i have read.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I too got the forward on my what's app i could not believe it so googled the news and got the correct version.Sudha Murthy Madam is really gem of a person.

      Delete
  7. this story made me cry!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Just one question to sudha mam.. Did u really travel in 2nd class compartment?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I too was wondering about it

      Delete
    2. Anonymous9:44 AM

      Surely. In fact when this couple went to Mantralaya a few years ago, a newspaper had put a photo of both of them alighting from the train ! Though they can afford a private jet itself they live a simple middle class life.

      Delete
    3. It's just a story not a documentary..

      Delete
  9. WhatsApp message shows Chitra became later as sudha Murti, Usha Bhattacharya as proff. Who paid the ticket,. It is confusing, can anyone correct?

    ReplyDelete
  10. I have read this story from the book "Here, There and Everywhere by Sudha Murthy"..
    It's really heart touching.. I have got tears too..:-(

    Really appreciate the effort of this story extraction Rajan.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Heart touching story.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hearttouching story....☺☺☺

    ReplyDelete
  13. Don't blame yourself try to do something for your betterment of the society. everyone is doing job but try to do something extra which you love. Do something try to give 300 hrs for your self to earn and learn with challenges. Doing network marketing(also work in IT industry) and i love it, feel proud to work for indian company..

    ReplyDelete
  14. Why Usha bhattacharya shows herself to become a celebrity. Entering into the world of what's app fool making express!!! It's very bad .

    ReplyDelete
  15. Madam you are great and you are continuing doing great things. God bless ypu and your family.
    I simply salute you

    ReplyDelete
  16. Help or sharing, your immediate resources, in whatever form will definitely return 1000 fold.

    Take 1 noble step towards God's creation, for "Maanava seva is Madhava Seva".

    Service to Human is service to God.

    Smt.Sudhamurthy is blessed in this aspect. Her Vision and Mission is clear.

    May the Almighty bless her

    ReplyDelete
  17. Every one of us are obligated to serve society in all possible ways. We should not miss any opportunity. Smt Sudha Murthy has demonstrated one such. She walks the talk. Many many thanks to her . Let's make a beginning. I have committed.

    ReplyDelete
  18. This story is definitely a must read for everyone! It shows that humanity still has some hope left, and that a small act of kindness can change a person's whole life!!

    ReplyDelete
  19. I hope we all are inspired by this fact of life and to do our bit for the society. May I highlight that simple minded people 20 to 30 years ago prefered to travel in second class.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Maclean9:43 AM

    Everything that flows from a kind heart, will bear good fruit. God bless Sudha ji.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Anonymous11:38 AM

    Heart touching story,great human

    ReplyDelete