Gently falls the Bakula
Book - Gently falls the Bakula
Author - Sudha Murty
Publisher - Penguin Books
This book is based on the life of Shrikant Deshpande and Shrimati Deshpande. Both of them were very intelligent and excelled in academics. They both were in the same class, were neighbours and were teased by their classmates due to the resemblance in their names (as Shrimatis full name was Shrimati Shrikant Deshpande). Both their families, being neighbours, were enemies especially Shrikant's mother and Shrimati's grandmother.
Shrikant always thought that he was much better in academics than Shrimati. He always thought that he was much better in science and that Shrimati was only good in arts subjects. He believed that he could easily score more marks than Shrimati in the tenth board exams. Whereas, Shrimati believed that marks did not matter as long as one gains knowledge which is important.
When the boards results were declared, Shrimati had come first in the state and Shrikant had got second rank. At first he was frustrated, but once he talked to her, he came to know that she was more intelligent than him. There was a Bakula tree in between their houses and they decided to meet there by making an excuse of collecting flowers. Slowly they fell in love with each other and decided to get married. When Shrimati was in college she met professor Mike Collins and showed him the historical places in Karnataka. Professor Collins was very impressed with her and wanted her to do her further studies in the US with him. But Shrimati refused and told him about her marriage.
With much discussions both their families agreed for their marriage. Shrikant had passed out of IIT Bombay and was working there. So after marriage he took Shrimati with him to Bombay. Shrimati sacrificed all her dreams and ambitions just to be with Shrikant. Initially her Mother-in-law used to trouble her a lot. But since her Mother-in-law was in the village and they were in the city, it was not much of a problem.
Shrikant slowly started getting recognition for his hard work and sincerity. He got promoted and was climbing the ladder of success. He used to work so hard that he did not give any time for Shrimati. but she did not complain.
After some years, Shrikant was a very successful person and a millionaire. Shrimati, on the other hand, was not very happy despite all the comforts and luxuries. At first she did not understand the reason for this. But then she understood that Shrikant never had time for her, he was busy pursuing his dreams and being successful. He never praised her for her efforts in supporting him. Rather he praised his mother for her sacrifices. He always thought that Shrimati was obedient, sensitive, sensible and understanding. He was so busy being accomplished that he forgot to love his Shrimati.
Shrimati was fed up and could not take it any longer. She decides to pursue her dreams and do her PhD in History in the US. When Shrikant heard this, he thought that she was joking. But Shrimati had decided. She left her love and pursued her dreams.
This book really makes you think what you want in your life. At one point in the novel, I started to put myself in the place of Shrimati and thought what I would have done? This book really made me think that if I was in such a situation what decisions I would have made. Would I have left all the luxuries and comforts to lead a hard but independent life? What would I choose, love or my dreams? I feel that every girl must read this book to know the importance of self dependence. And every boy must read this book to understand that a girl sacrifices a lot when she gets married.
Shrikant always thought that he was much better in academics than Shrimati. He always thought that he was much better in science and that Shrimati was only good in arts subjects. He believed that he could easily score more marks than Shrimati in the tenth board exams. Whereas, Shrimati believed that marks did not matter as long as one gains knowledge which is important.
When the boards results were declared, Shrimati had come first in the state and Shrikant had got second rank. At first he was frustrated, but once he talked to her, he came to know that she was more intelligent than him. There was a Bakula tree in between their houses and they decided to meet there by making an excuse of collecting flowers. Slowly they fell in love with each other and decided to get married. When Shrimati was in college she met professor Mike Collins and showed him the historical places in Karnataka. Professor Collins was very impressed with her and wanted her to do her further studies in the US with him. But Shrimati refused and told him about her marriage.
With much discussions both their families agreed for their marriage. Shrikant had passed out of IIT Bombay and was working there. So after marriage he took Shrimati with him to Bombay. Shrimati sacrificed all her dreams and ambitions just to be with Shrikant. Initially her Mother-in-law used to trouble her a lot. But since her Mother-in-law was in the village and they were in the city, it was not much of a problem.
Shrikant slowly started getting recognition for his hard work and sincerity. He got promoted and was climbing the ladder of success. He used to work so hard that he did not give any time for Shrimati. but she did not complain.
After some years, Shrikant was a very successful person and a millionaire. Shrimati, on the other hand, was not very happy despite all the comforts and luxuries. At first she did not understand the reason for this. But then she understood that Shrikant never had time for her, he was busy pursuing his dreams and being successful. He never praised her for her efforts in supporting him. Rather he praised his mother for her sacrifices. He always thought that Shrimati was obedient, sensitive, sensible and understanding. He was so busy being accomplished that he forgot to love his Shrimati.
Shrimati was fed up and could not take it any longer. She decides to pursue her dreams and do her PhD in History in the US. When Shrikant heard this, he thought that she was joking. But Shrimati had decided. She left her love and pursued her dreams.
This book really makes you think what you want in your life. At one point in the novel, I started to put myself in the place of Shrimati and thought what I would have done? This book really made me think that if I was in such a situation what decisions I would have made. Would I have left all the luxuries and comforts to lead a hard but independent life? What would I choose, love or my dreams? I feel that every girl must read this book to know the importance of self dependence. And every boy must read this book to understand that a girl sacrifices a lot when she gets married.
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