137 items in this section. Displaying page 5 of 14
The Survivor
In the Indian ocean was a tiny island, no more than a mere speck on the globe. It was called Aranya. Its people were ruled by a wise and brave chief called Parvat. He was 60 years old. There was a beautiful garden right in the middle of the island. It was dotted with lush green trees bearing delicious fruits and beautiful flowers of every imaginable colour. Once a year on the first full moon night after the rains, the people of Aranya worshipped their deity, Bhumidev....
Know-it-alls and Find-it-outs
Once upon a time, there was an island called the ‘Land of the Sun’. People of all shapes, sizes and appearances lived there. Everybody knew everybody and they were like one big happy family. But slowly, as time passed, the children grew bigger and had more children who grew bigger and had more children. Things reached a stage where there were so many people in the island that not everybody knew everybody else. People started doing their own things,...
Golu Rabbit's Day Out
In the Kanha forest in India, lived a little bunny rabbit called Golu. He was called Golu because of his small round ball of a tail. Golu lived with his mother Molu in a deep burrow under the tall grass of the forest. The burrow had large rooms and many doorways and Golu loved to run from room to room hoppity-skip. Every morning Molu went out into the forest and nearby farms to hunt for carrots and radishes....
The Jungle Contest
“ROAR!” growled the lion. “Everyone is scared of me!” “HRMPHH!” trumpeted the elephant. “Everyone is scared of me!” “What about me?” purred the panther. “I, too, frighten everyone!” The Jungle Contest [Illustrations by Shiju George] “No one can run faster than me!” snarled the cheetah. “Everyone is scared of me!” “GROWL!” growled the tiger, baring his teeth. “I dare any one to cross my path! I’ll gobble them up!” “HA! HA! HA!...
The Friends
Two friends, Hemant and Vikas, planned to go hiking in the woods. They packed their knapsacks, lugged them over their shoulders and started out. One evening, while walking through the dense forest, they heard a bear growl. They were very scared and started to run away, but “Twick, twick”, they could hear the twigs breaking with each step the bear took towards them. Desperate, Hemant saw a low branch hanging from a tree. He quickly caught hold of the life-saving branch and climbed on top of the tree as soon as possible....
The Spirit of Christmas
Tony counted the notes and coins. He had Rs. 163 in all. He put the money in his pocket, the money he had saved from his part time job. Today was Christmas eve and he had some important shopping to do. As he walked towards the market he thought of Christmas eve the previous year. How lovely everything had been. His father, Jacob Kurien, and he had decorated the Christmas tree. He had gone with his mum, Janet and dad to the church to attend the midnight mass....
Excerpts from Ek-kori’s Dream
Ek-kori’s Dream By Mahasveta Devi; Translated by Lila Majumdar; Illustrations by Judhajit Sengupta, Published by National Book Trust, India There was no other way but to take cover as early as possible. The village school would open as soon as it was light and Aunt would certainly send him to school today. The mango tree was outside the house, a huge fajli mango tree. Ekkori’s grandmother used to plant good mango saplings year after year, but Grandfather uprooted them all....
Waiting for the Rain
I hope it rains at least today,” Velu thought, as he opened his eyes. Velu was a farmer. The sun was beginning to rise, glowing crimson like fire. Velu scanned the sky. There was not a cloud. “It doesn’t look encouraging,” he muttered to himself and got up. Rain or no rain, a farmer wakes up early. Velu worked hard. His piece of land never failed him. Season after season he cultivated it, harvesting jowar one season and dal the next....
The Cloud That Refused To Cry
It was a stifling hot day in the second week of June and the animals of Jhilmil forest were miserable. The bumblebees no longer droned but sighed. A tail heavy with perspiration made Billori, the squirrel, sit sadly on a patch of dry earth, as hard as a turtle’s hide. The Cloud That Refused To Cry [Illustrations by Kusum Chamoli] In another corner of the forest, just outside his cave, was Gabru the lion, his tongue hanging out....
The Rainbow
Out in the lush, green garden Binnu chased the multi-coloured butterflies which flitted from flower to flower. Plants take root easily during the monsoon and with plenty of water to nourish them, new sprouts appear. The Rainbow [Translated by:Mala Singh] Suddenly there was a flash of lightening. Soon, the sky was completely overcast and it begun to rain. Binnu and his mother sheltered in the verandah and watched the rain. The rain stopped after a while and the sun peeped out from behind the clouds....