The Power of Knowledge: Education as a Catalyst in Sudha Murty’s Narratives

Abstract

This paper examines how Sudha Murty foregrounds education as a powerful instrument for social change in her short stories How I Taught My Grandmother to Read and Books for “At Least one Library” from the short story collection How I taught My Grandmother to Read and Other Stories. The narrative presents education not merely as a formal process but as a lifelong pursuit essential for personal dignity and independence. This article also highlights how these stories focus on lifelong learning, and the emotional bond between generations. Through the transformation of an elderly woman from illiteracy to literacy, the story challenges age-related stereotypes and emphasizes determination, self-respect, and empowerment through learning. Moreover, this paper analyzes how the author uses character development, cultural context, and narrative simplicity to focus on the importance of education and its transformative power through the select short stories of Sudha Murty.