About Three Thousand Stitches

Unmasking both the beauty and the ugliness of human nature, each of the true stories in this collection is reflective of a life lived with grace.

Here I present a brief summary of each story and a quote from it. 

Three Thousand Stitches

The story of how Sudha Murty helped 3000 devadasis get out of that system and become independent and live a life of dignity and honor. To show their appreciation they gifted her a quilt stitched by all 3000 of them.

“This is from our hearts to yours. This will keep you cool in summer and warm in winter-just like our affection towards you. You were by our side during our difficult times, and we want to be with you too.”

How to Beat the Boys

The story of her engineering college days where all students in her college were boys and the ensuing difficulties and prejudices she faced because of that.

“I aimed to become self-sufficient; I would be my best friend and my worst enemy.”

Food for Thought

A delicious story detailing India’s vibrant and diverse appetite for its food.

“Who really said that India is a country? It is a continent – culturally vibrant, diverse in food and yet, distinctly Indian at heart.

Three Handfuls of Water

A trip to Kashi for a dip in the Ganga and the vow to give up a desire while offering three handfuls of water changed the author’s life forever.

“The truth is that the vow turned out to be a gateway to freedom. The desire to acquire has vanished over time.”

Cattle Class

A hilarious story and a very popular one about Murty’s experience at an airport, while waiting to board her flight using the business class privilege.

“The concept that you automatically gain class by acquiring money is an outdated thought process.”

A Life Unwritten

An important message is conveyed through this story of Murty’s father R.H.Kulkarni, that a single act of kindness can mean the world to someone.

“A few kind words and encouragement had changed a young girl’s life.”

No Place Like Home

This one is a sad story about the plight of women who for the sake of a better lifestyle for their family relocate to countries like Kuwait and Dubai under the pretense of higher pay and a comfortable lifestyle and become slaves to the whims and fancies of their masters. The author gave up on her life’s dream to send these women back home safely.

“India is changing. Gone are the days when people worked for a minuscule salary. Honesty carries a high price in India now.”

A Powerful Ambassador

This story narrates the impact and influence that India’s Bollywood industry, especially the actors, has globally.

“If somebody talks about the importance of good values, it may impact one person in the crowd. If someone writes about them, then it may change a few more. But if it is shown in Bollywood through a powerful story, then the impact is much more drastic. As an actor, one must own the responsibility to spread the right messages.”

Rasleela and the Swimming Pool

The 21st-century version of the age-old stories of Krishna’s Rasleela and Draupadi’s story of the Akshayapatra is edited and narrated by Sudha Murty’s granddaughters.

A Day in the Infosys Foundation

The summary of the story is in the title itself. The twist is Suddha Murty tagged her friend along everywhere with her one day, as her friend was unable to understand why she could not attend a ceremony at her friend’s house.

“It isn’t that simple. A day at the foundation is filled with many activities, some of which aren’t easy to explain.”

I Can’t, We Can

Alcoholics Anonymous, a community that helps alcoholics give up the habit of drinking for good. What is their story? What do they do? How do they help others? Where do they operate from?

“In a lifespan of many years, you can take time off for a year to figure out what’s good for you. It is worth it.”

“The drinking hadn’t harmed me but it had labeled my child special. He had done nothing to deserve this, and yet he was the one paying for my sins.”

One of life’s goals is the ability to understand human nature and raise a fellow being from rock bottom to becoming a useful member of society. We all lose a few battles in our lives, but we can win the war. There’s always hope.