"The Mother I Never Knew"

Pic: KAPMI Library

Sudha Murthy is an Indian Engineering teacher and kannada and english author. She began her professional career in computer science and engineering. She is the chairperson of Infosys foundation. Mrs. Murthy wrote more than 21 books and one among them is 'The Mother I Never Knew'.

 It's a short book has two novellas. Both the stories are not related. It mainly revolves around men who discover that the mothers who grew them are not actually their birth mothers. And they go on to find about the real mother.

First story is about Venkatesh, who is the main character of this story. He is a bank employee in Bengaluru. Everything was completely normal until he had transferred to Hubli. There in Hubli, wherever he used to go he was assumed to be someone else. So it was more like as we have heard there are seven look alike persons in the world. Venkatesh was quite puzzled. Venkatesh got to know that he has look alike in the same town. So what Venkatesh start off the curiosity? Where Venkatesh wants to find out who's this person? It soon changes into life changing event, where Venkatesh realises that there are some secretes and conspiracies in family. Thus the story is about how Venkatesh and his efforts in order to find the truth and his approach to rectify the situation.

Second story is about Mukhesh. He is happily married with his wife. While they're on vacation in Europe, Mukhesh gets a call saying that his father has recently passed away in India. He immediately took a flight to India to perform all the ceremonies. A couple of days later he opened his father's cabinet and get some document and find his picture. This picture is turning point in this story. When Mukhesh soon realises that he has been adopted. So the story then revolves around how Mukhesh in quest for his biological parents. And as he starts discover where he actually came from, he is conflicted as to where should to direct his responsibilities to whether it should to be the mother who looked at him or the mother who given birth to him.

Both the novellas have simplicity and suspense. As you read the book you'll easily connect to the story without any confusion. The stories have lot of curiosity and thrill which will make you to turn the pages. A deep reader will definitely be able to get the message that " we need to be honest and loyal no matter what circumstances life throws at us ". This book glimpse you that Kunti and Karna's story from Mahabharath.

 

Shanthala M.V

2nd BA

Kateel Ashok Pai Memorial Institute