The Day I Stopped Drinking Milk by Sudha Murty

The Day I Stopped Drinking Milk Reviews

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  Book'd Hitu

  This was one of the most simple and elegant books I have read in a long time.
  A very simple prose but highly effective and gripping. No use of complex word and grammar. Simplicity of this book touched my heart.
  
  Sudha Murty is always been my favourite author, however I have read her books in Gujarati translation and have always been close to my heart.
  
  The title of this book can be misleading, the fact is, The day I stopped drinking milk is one of the story in this book along with some others. Actually these stories are not work of fiction but they are actual experiences of Sudha Murty.
  
  These lively stories are real, filled with emotions, lessons and are heart touching. As I progressed with the book, I loved each story more than the earlier one. This book teaches us the lessons of humanity; it teaches us how to become a good human being. I wish I could put some of the lessons in my life to make it a worth living.
  
  I would recommend this book to every individual who want to read a simple but inspiring tales.
  
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  Darshana Unnikrishnan

  i really liked this book. this book is not a literary treat with complicated usage of words. the language is very simple. it is just a collection of sudha murty's experiences over the years working for the infosys foundation and also from her personal life. it is told in a very simple manner. some of the lessons are worth learning and some are worth pondering about.
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  Soumya Gudiyella

  Sudha Murthy is a social worker and a writer. I read her book, ‘The day I stopped drinking milk’. This book is about her life experiences. There is a proverb, ‘A wise man learns from the mistakes of others, the fool has to learn from his own’.
  What I learned from this book is that the world has become a place of personal gain and selfishness. Sudha Murthy recounts two of her experiences in which she helped two youngsters complete their education by providing monetary aid. After these two people completed their education and became successful they do not even acknowledge her help. When they meet her after a few years by chance they pretend not to recognize her.
  Sudha Murthy writes her experiences in the form of short stories, in no particular order. The book is written in a very simple language with no frills. Few of the stories were interesting but most of them were written more in a report format. It would have been more captivating if there were a little bit more showing & telling. She fails to paint a picture of her memories to the reader and we are not part of her world. There is also very less dialogue, reading through most of the stories was more like reading a text book. I feel that she is much better at writing magical stories for children rather than her life experiences (
  http://soumyagudiyella.blogspot.in/se...)
  
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  Kamala

  Absolutely LOVED this book. Sudha Murthy's work is admirable because she's so disarmingly honest. Most social workers (especially people who donate on such a large scale) are guilty of being extremely proud of their work and their contribution, so much so that they feel the world revolves around their own humanitarian tendencies to the exclusion of all else. But here is someone who is so qualified, doing such good work and doing it very matter-of-factly with a quiet kind of confidence and ability. This book contains a series of essays, thoughts and reflections that occurred to Sudha Murthy during the course of her social work. It's interesting because of the unusual situations, the interesting people she's met and the way she's handled it all. Every story is exceedingly well-written, in such a simple, engaging style. There's never a dull moment. The book is not an excuse for her to trumpet Infosys' virtues (though it could very well have been just that had anyone else written it). There is no holier than thou attitude here. The first story is especially mind-blowing. There is a deep and gentle wisdom in every page. Highly recommend this!
• 
  Arti

  The Day I Stopped Drinking Milk : Life stories from here and there is a recollection of 23 life experiences by Sudha Murty. She has narrated them is a simple flowing language and as with every story Mrs Murthy writes, they reach the core of the heart. The characters are ordinary people she has met in office, at home, in her village, during a journey and so on. Most of us would also have met such people whom we would have forgotten but with all credit to her, she has narrated the incidents in first person and we can also relate to and learn a lot from them.
  
  In Bombay to Bangalore, Chitra remembers the train journey which she had undertaken when she was 13-14 years old, how her life changed after the journey and shows her gratitude. Rahman’s Avva is about Kashibai who is uneducated but far advanced in human values. Ganga’s ghat makes us realize that anyone can do social work like Ganga who provides bathing water in a village. The Day I Stopped Drinking Milk is about a family in Odisha who want to offer her something to eat or drink but she is unable to accept the glass of milk they offer her. How the perceptions of people regarding India have changed in the United States in 30 years is what Changing India is about. Genes talks about “how only diseases and not honesty and integrity are passed down to the next generation through genes”.
  
  Helping the dead is about a group of young people who form a voluntary organization to help poor people who have nobody to cremate of bury their dead ones. Three ponds is about the sacrifices of three different women for providing water to others. No man’s garden is about a rich farmer growing vegetables in a wasteland for the poor and needy. Sticky bottoms is about her friend whose only concern is talking about himself. Too many questions is about how the managers try to come in between the donor and the receiver. Gift of sacrifice is about a young cowherd who sacrifices his life for his village while giving the message from a soldier to the captain. Bad Help is about how helping somebody may be lifelong burden for him to carry. Sharing with a ghost is about a young man who learns from a ghost that “in life sharing is important”.
  
  Foot in the mouth is about people who gossip and how they find people to gossip about. In Miserable success, we realize that being successful doe not necessarily mean being happy. In Shraddha, we realize that in the eyes of God, girls and boys, sons and daughters are equal. In Lazy Portado, we learn that as a student, we should study, get knowledge, learn skills and work hard. Uncle Sam is about a person who regrets his going to America. You should have asked me is about how people want their egos to be fed. A mother’s love is about how a mother climbs a hill and jumps down in order to be with her baby. Do you remember tells us that we remember all that we consider as important.
  
  The last story in the book is Life’s Secret Lessons wherein the author learns seven lessons in life.
  First lesson: Only children tell the truth and are real judges of one’s talent.
  Second lesson: You cannot substitute many things in life with money.
  Third Lesson: Wherever there is money, people like to take advantage of the situation and maximize their return.
  Fourth lesson: If we keep collecting material things, it becomes a burden to the next generation
  Fifth lesson: To be patient and to recognize people’s intentions.
  Sixth lesson: We must stand up for ourselves and follow our heart, even if other people do not always agree with us or like it.
  Seventh lesson: We should not hear other sounds and can concentrate on what we are doing.
  Eighth lesson: When a person becomes a compassionate leader, they do not belong to one country.
  
  A MUST READ.
  
• 
  Njkinny (Njkinny's Blog)

  The Day I Stopped Drinking Milk by Sudha Murthy is a compilation of instances from her own life. She shares her experiences at different times and with different people in the form of short stories which are enlightening as well as an eye opener.
  
  One of the few authors who have the skill to write
  simply yet have an impact on their readers, Sudha Murthy has always fascinated me with her observations and her thoughts on matters most diverse. Here also she talks of different situations and gives us her own perspective to her experiences.
  
  I liked and really enjoyed the very diverse stories compiled in this book but also didn't agree to some of her observations and conclusions.
  
  A light and breezy read with no difficult terminologies to confuse you, I give The Day I Stopped Drinking Milk a 3.5 out of 5 and recommend it to all who are in search of a light book which entertains as well as teaches the readers a lesson in humanity and humility.
  
  This review is also available on my blog
  http://njkinny.blogspot.in
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  Urmila

  When I bought this book, I didn't think I would enjoy it so much! Mrs. Murthy says it like it is. No frills, no fancy words. Real stories are something else altogether; in a way they are better than fiction. I enjoyed every story, as simple as it was. Life's important lessons as written by Mrs. Murthy. Her penmanship conveys her own simple personality.
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  Shilpa

  
  https://livinginfictionsite.wordpress...
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  Chinmaya Patnaik

  A book with multiple real stories some of which definitely would be life lessons for those who can relate to some of the stories.
  
  
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  Krutika Puranik

  | Book Review | The Day I Stopped Drinking Milk.
  •
  "Whenever you want to give something to somebody, give the best in you, never the second best. That is what I have learned from life. God is not there in the temple, mosque or church. He is with the people. If you serve them with whatever you have, you have served God." - Sudha Murty.
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  When I spot Sudha Murty's book on a shelf, I buy it without even reading the blurb. My faith in her stories is something that makes me go back to her books time and again. What's even better is the fact that her books can be enjoyed by people of all age groups. It's simple, straight to the point and so full of morals. Though this book contained few stories from her other book (Here, there and everywhere), I did not mind reading them again. But tucked in between these familiar stories were new ones that made a significant impact on me. Those who know Sudha Murty, will already know how grounded she is as a person and her books share the same personality. She always stresses on honesty and kindness. To be a bit more human.
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  In this book, Sudha Murty talks about people who serve others without expecting anything in return. My personal favourite was Ganga Ghat where a poor old lady opens a bathing facility in her village without asking for help from others. She fetches water from a far away well and keeps it warm for homeless people who start coming in from all the neighbouring villages. In another story she talks about how an old man grows vegetables in his tiny scrap of land to distribute it amongst the needy ones who cannot afford to buy it from the shops. Contrary to these stories, she also narrates few of her personal experiences where people cheated her after taking donation from her foundation, or about the ones who shed their modesty once they taste money. Having supported bright students all her life, she still feels taken aback when few of them fail to be humble. Mrs Murty's books are always a portrayal of human emotions and this is why readers find it so relatable.
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  I finished this in a single sitting like how I did with all of her other books. When she speaks in such simple terms, it's hard not to breeze through it. I often think about how wonderful the world will turn out to be if everyone thinks of others as she does. Not only her stories are enjoyable but they leave a lasting impression on those who take her books seriously. We are all human but what makes us better is an ounce of empathy and helpfulness towards others. If I could, I would gift her books to all the children so that they can grow up to be responsible and warm hearted.
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  Rating - 4.2/5
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  Shweta Bharati

  Sudha Murty is a lady of wisdom. The book is simple but the life lessons are torchbearer. Keeps you grounded. It’s about the human values and the lessons you learn through different experiences and people you meet along the way. I like the way she handles decision making; uninfluenced by anyone’s opinion, belief and mindset. Yet her deeds are so justified.
  
  I love an anecdote she writes in one of the stories in the book which clearly explains her unorthodox and logical thinking.
  
  “My father used to tell me a story. There was a person who used to perform puja every day and a cat used to trouble him during his puja. So, he told his son, Tie the cat and give it some milk every day when I do puja. The cat never troubled him again. After a few years, both the man and the cat died. The son took over and started performing the puja. Since the cat had died, he brought the neighbour’s cat, tied it and poured milk for the cat every day during puja time. The son had never understood why his father had asked him to give milk to the cat everyday. It had become a meaningless ritual.”
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  Kushagra Singh

  Sudha Murty is one of the few authors whose writing style, purity of thoughts and simplicity make you fall in love with the stories, the characters and reading itself! I have a read a few of her works before, books of short stories, "Gently Falls The Bakula"(remaining one of my favorite books till date and also an apt representation of Feminism for me) and reading her again just makes me wonder and beat myself for not having read more of her. As I complete these fantastic set of stories, I make a mental note and commitment to read more from her this year. Highly recommended.
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  Achala

  Simple stories, told in simple words. Gives a look into human nature in all its forms.
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  Priyanka

  Review @
  http://PriyankaReads.com
  
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  Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  
  Genre: Nonfiction
  
  Age Recommended: 11 and up
  
  One woman. Twenty-three people. Twenty-three stories.
  
  "The Day I Stopped Drinking Milk" is a book full of heartwarming experiences of the author, Sudha Murty, written as she walks the roads of rural and urban India and aspires to become the voice that many never had. She confronts the issues of child marriage and gender inequality in the workplace through eloquently written tales. She weaves the everyday life of men and women in India into short stories and each story has a unique takeaway that you'll never forget.
  
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  My favorite one: The three ponds- Bhagavathi
  
  There is an empty pond in a village. The people are very thirsty. The pond will never have water unless a daughter-in-law goes into the water and prays to the goddess. There is a wealthy man who has three sons but no daughters. His youngest son is off to fight in the war.
  
  The people of the village come to him and ask that he let his youngest daughter-in-law walk into the pond so that they may have water. The wealthy man is very angry at this proposal and refuses immediately.
  
  None of the people notice the daughter-in-law, Bhagavathi, listening to their every word. Who will save her from making the ultimate sacrifice to save her village?
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  Prajakta | dancingbibliophile

  This is a collection of short stories about real life incidences from the author's life. The way in which they are articulated and narrated is simply amazing.
  🌼
  The author throws light on Relationships, human emotions, money and so much more. She subtly puts forth her own point of views adding the personal touch to each story.
  🌼
  Reading about her journey and experiences has always been wonderful. This is again one such book which will make you realise the trivialities of life and the importance of cherishing it.
  Recommended for all those who love reading about People and their experiences. Easy language makes it a great pick for beginners!
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  Anupum Pant

  Two star rating does't mean that I hated the book and one should not read it.. No book is bad when you look at it like I do. The stars mean - It's OK.
  A light and easy read for a lazy afternoon. Won't take up much of your precious time. Hence, read it once.
  Little kids to old men will enjoy these small and random stories equally.
  The writer shares some of her rich life-experiences here in a very simple language. Cheers to her for that.
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  Anoop Warrier

  Its the same thing that one gets when reading Sudha Murty everytime. Not the best from her non fiction, but the real experiences makes us think.For Sudhamurty fans a must read , for others go for her other works like - Wise or otherwise , Old man and his god etc.
  
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  Jaskiran

  Nice stories but some are to boring .......
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  Varun Kapila

  The book is Sudha talking about "I, me, myself"
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  Ramya

  Nice read. Especially liked the story with the name "Shraddha".
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  Ritu Arjun

  While the stories are short and simple. It felt like reading a Tinkle without pictures.
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  Atheeb Rahman

  Someone how doesn't know the lady and her work might consider this a work of pretension.
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  Ayati Choudhary

  These real life stories of Sudha Murty were amazing and are sure to left an everlasting effect on the readers. They are full of inspiration!
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  Deepali Jain

  This captivating yet straightforward book contains handpicked real episodes, written in the form of stories, of Sudha Murthy's own life, particularly those that left a lasting impression on her. It interweaves multiple moral lessons in its journey.
  
  As I started reading it, I found it quite fascinating as half of the time we don't read storybooks by Indian authors. I felt warmly comforted by the back and forth mention of Indian names, places and a few regional words at scattered places.
  
  As I moved forward, I would be honest in saying that the constant suggestive praise of Sudha Murthy herself in her self-written narratives didn't give me much of a good impression. But I still kept at it.
  
  One superb quality of the book (as is of all Sudha Murthy books) is the simple and comprehensible language. I am an English language skills tutor, and so I recommended a few of my students to read her books since they would be able to grasp the written word and would also be able to notice grammar, vocabulary, etc. and eventually attain good fluency. If you or anyone you know is somewhere between elementary to mid-intermediate level in English, then reading precisely such books can prove to be highly beneficial.
  
  By the time I reached the last of the stories, my perception of our author dramatically changed. I started feeling that she is just a lady who likes to call a spade a spade. She is not distinctively praising herself at junctions, rather just being righteous, benchmarking her own account of right and wrong. Her few remarks and opinions might feel outdated to the newer generations, and a few might come out as updated ones. Still, as you keep traversing from story to story, you will nonetheless end up having a good mocktail of underlying emotions.
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  Swetha - a chronically perturbed mind

  When I started reading this book, I was under the impression that it would be one of those how the author helped someone and their rags to riches story. I was wrong for one. It wasnt those alone. She explored the human mind and tendencies through her experience and narrates the stories like a well loved grandmother would do.
  I did not find much “wow” factors in most of the stories, but the content was good enough.
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  Somya Tulshyan

  The day I stopped drinking milk is a collection of short stories by Sudha Murty. Much like the woman herself, her stories are simple and tugs at the heart strings you don't know you have. She writes about simple everyday incidents about ordinary people that she's come across in her life and somehow still manages to make the stories larger than life. The language is simple and easy to understand and it feels more like watching a movie inside your own head in HD. I love reading her books mostly because they make me want to be a better person.