Bengaluru: Renowned author and Rajya Sabha MP Sudha Murty marked a significant milestone in her literary journey with the launch of her 300th book, Grandpa’s Bag of Stories, on Sunday. Published by Puffin, an imprint of Penguin, the book is a collection of 19 stories for children.
A Journey of Storytelling
In an engaging conversation with columnist and actor Twinkle Khanna during the launch event, Sudha Murty reflected on her four-decade-long writing career. She recounted how she felt apprehensive when she published her first book in Kannada 40 years ago. “But today, when I look back at this journey, I feel writing has given me a sense of purpose and belongingness, and a way to transcend time and touch hearts,” she shared.
Sudha Murty’s impressive portfolio includes 46 books that have been translated into 23 languages, including Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Odia, Konkani, Tibetan, Urdu, Assamese, Sanskrit, Kashmiri, and Italian. Her works span six different genres, showcasing her versatility as a writer.
New Book and Future Projects
When asked about the title of her latest book, Sudha amusingly clarified that although her husband, Narayana Murthy, might not have stories to share with children, she does. “In my voice, I told his stories in my new book. He would rather write books titled Python for Six-Year-Olds,” she quipped.
Sudha also revealed her interest in exploring new literary forms, stating that she would like to experiment with writing shlokas in her next project.
Challenges of Writing for Children
Writing for children, according to Sudha, is a meticulous and lengthy process. She emphasised the importance of carefully filtering the narrative, noting that she often seeks input from children, which leads to multiple stages of editing.
Interactive Launch Event
The launch event, moderated by social entrepreneur Deepa Rao Acharya, included an interaction with the audience. The session was well-attended by industrialists, entrepreneurs, writers, and young readers, who engaged with Sudha Murty on various aspects of her writing journey.
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