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The Why Why Girl
"Moyna lives in a little tribal village. She cannot go to school because she has to tend the goats, collect the firewood, fetch the water... But she is so full of questions that the postmaster
calls her the ‘why-why girl'!"
calls her the ‘why-why girl'!"
24 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
About the author
Mahasweta Devi
184 books290 followersMahasweta Devi was an Indian social activist and writer. She was born in 1926 in Dhaka, to literary parents in a Hindu Brahmin family. Her father Manish Ghatak was a well-known poet and novelist of the Kallol era, who used the pseudonym Jubanashwa. Mahasweta's mother Dharitri Devi was also a writer and a social worker.
She joined the Rabindranath Tagore-founded Vishvabharati University in Santiniketan and completed a B.A. (Hons) in English, and then finished an M.A. in English at Calcutta University as well. She later married renowned playwright Bijon Bhattacharya who was one of the founding fathers of the IPTA movement. In 1948, she gave birth to Nabarun Bhattacharya, currently one of Bengal's and India's leading novelist whose works are noted for their intellectual vigour and philosophical flavour. She got divorced from Bijon Bhattacharya in 1959.
In 1964, she began teaching at Bijoygarh College (an affiliated college of the University of Calcutta system). During those days, Bijoygarh College was an institution for working class women students. During that period she also worked as a journalist and as a creative writer. Recently, she is more famous for her work related to the study of the Lodhas and Shabars, the tribal communities of West Bengal, women and dalits. She is also an activist who is dedicated to the struggles of tribal people in Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. In her elaborate Bengali fiction, she often depicts the brutal oppression of tribal peoples and the untouchables by potent, authoritarian upper-caste landlords, lenders, and venal government officials.
Major awards:
1979: Sahitya Akademi Award (Bengali): – Aranyer Adhikar (novel)
1986: Padma Shri[2]
1996: Jnanpith Award - the highest literary award from the Bharatiya Jnanpith
1997: Ramon Magsaysay Award - Journalism, Literature, and the Creative Communication Arts
1999: Honoris causa - Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU)
2006: Padma Vibhushan - the second highest civilian award from the Government of India
2010:Yashwantrao Chavan National Award
2011: Bangabibhushan - the highest civilian award from the Government of West Bengal
2012: Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Sahityabramha - the first Lifetime Achievement award in Bengali Literature from 4thScreen-IFJW.
মহাশ্বেতা দেবী একটি মধ্যবিত্ত বাঙালি পরিবারে জন্মগ্রহণ করেছিলেন । তাঁর পিতা মনীশ ঘটক ছিলেন কল্লোল যুগের প্রখ্যাত সাহিত্যিক এবং তাঁর কাকা ছিলেন বিখ্যাত চিত্রপরিচালক ঋত্বিক ঘটক। মা ধরিত্রী দেবীও ছিলেন সাহিত্যিক ও সমাজসেবী। মহাশ্বেতা দেবী বিখ্যাত নাট্যকার বিজন ভট্টাচার্যের সঙ্গে বিবাহবন্ধনে আবদ্ধ হন। তাঁদের একমাত্র পুত্র, প্রয়াত নবারুণ ভট্টাচার্য স্মরণীয় কবিতার পঙ্ক্তি ‘এ মৃত্যু উপত্যকা আমার দেশ নয়’ এবং হারবার্ট উপন্যাস লিখে বাংলা সাহিত্যে স্থায়ী স্বাক্ষর রেখে গেছেন।
তাঁর শৈশব ও কৈশোরে স্কুলের পড়াশোনা ঢাকায়। দেশভাগের পর চলে আসেন কলকাতায়। এরপর শান্তিনিকেতনের বিশ্বভারতী বিশ্ববিদ্যালয় থেকে ইংরেজিতে অনার্স এবং কলকাতা বিশ্ববিদ্যালয় থেকে স্নাতকোত্তর ডিগ্রি নেন।
১৯৬৪ খ্রীষ্টাব্দে তিনি বিজয়গড় কলেজে শিক্ষকতা শুরু করেন । এই সময়েই তিনি একজন সাংবাদিক এবং লেখিকা হিসাবে কাজ করেন। পরবর্তীকালে তিনি বিখ্যাত হন মূলত পশ্চিমবাংলার উপজাতি এবং নারীদের ওপর তাঁর কাজের জন্য । তিনি বিভিন্ন লেখার মাধ্যমে বিভিন্ন উপজাতি এবং মেয়েদের উপর শোষণ এবং বঞ্চনার কথা তুলে ধরেছেন। সাম্প্রতিক কালে মহাশ্বেতা দেবী পশ্চিমবঙ্গ সরকারের শিল্পনীতির বিরুদ্ধে সরব হয়েছেন । সরকার কর্তৃক বিপুল পরিমাণে কৃষিজমি অধিগ্রহণ এবং স্বল্পমূল্যে তা শিল্পপতিদের কাছে বিতরণের নীতির তিনি কড়া সমালোচক । এছাড়া তিনি শান্তিনিকেতনে প্রোমোটারি ব্যবসার বিরুদ্ধেও প্রতিবাদ করেছেন ।
তাঁর লেখা শতাধিক বইয়ের মধ্যে হাজার চুরাশির মা অন্যতম। তাঁকে পদ্মবিভূষণ (ভারত সরকারের দ্বিতীয় সর্বোচ্চ নাগরিক পুরস্কার,২০০৬), রামন ম্যাগসেসে পুরস্কার (১৯৯৭), জ্ঞানপীঠ পুরস্কার (সাহিত্য একাডেমির সর্বোচ্চ সাহিত্য সম্মান), সার্ক সাহিত্য পুরস্কার (২০০৭) প্রভৃতি পদকে ভূষিত করা হয়।
২০১৬ সালের ২৮ জুলাই, বৃহস্পতিবার বেলা ৩টা ১৬ মিনিটে চিকিৎসাধীন অবস্থায় তিনি শেষনিশ্বাস ত্যাগ করেন।
जन्म : 1926, ढाका।
She joined the Rabindranath Tagore-founded Vishvabharati University in Santiniketan and completed a B.A. (Hons) in English, and then finished an M.A. in English at Calcutta University as well. She later married renowned playwright Bijon Bhattacharya who was one of the founding fathers of the IPTA movement. In 1948, she gave birth to Nabarun Bhattacharya, currently one of Bengal's and India's leading novelist whose works are noted for their intellectual vigour and philosophical flavour. She got divorced from Bijon Bhattacharya in 1959.
In 1964, she began teaching at Bijoygarh College (an affiliated college of the University of Calcutta system). During those days, Bijoygarh College was an institution for working class women students. During that period she also worked as a journalist and as a creative writer. Recently, she is more famous for her work related to the study of the Lodhas and Shabars, the tribal communities of West Bengal, women and dalits. She is also an activist who is dedicated to the struggles of tribal people in Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. In her elaborate Bengali fiction, she often depicts the brutal oppression of tribal peoples and the untouchables by potent, authoritarian upper-caste landlords, lenders, and venal government officials.
Major awards:
1979: Sahitya Akademi Award (Bengali): – Aranyer Adhikar (novel)
1986: Padma Shri[2]
1996: Jnanpith Award - the highest literary award from the Bharatiya Jnanpith
1997: Ramon Magsaysay Award - Journalism, Literature, and the Creative Communication Arts
1999: Honoris causa - Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU)
2006: Padma Vibhushan - the second highest civilian award from the Government of India
2010:Yashwantrao Chavan National Award
2011: Bangabibhushan - the highest civilian award from the Government of West Bengal
2012: Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Sahityabramha - the first Lifetime Achievement award in Bengali Literature from 4thScreen-IFJW.
মহাশ্বেতা দেবী একটি মধ্যবিত্ত বাঙালি পরিবারে জন্মগ্রহণ করেছিলেন । তাঁর পিতা মনীশ ঘটক ছিলেন কল্লোল যুগের প্রখ্যাত সাহিত্যিক এবং তাঁর কাকা ছিলেন বিখ্যাত চিত্রপরিচালক ঋত্বিক ঘটক। মা ধরিত্রী দেবীও ছিলেন সাহিত্যিক ও সমাজসেবী। মহাশ্বেতা দেবী বিখ্যাত নাট্যকার বিজন ভট্টাচার্যের সঙ্গে বিবাহবন্ধনে আবদ্ধ হন। তাঁদের একমাত্র পুত্র, প্রয়াত নবারুণ ভট্টাচার্য স্মরণীয় কবিতার পঙ্ক্তি ‘এ মৃত্যু উপত্যকা আমার দেশ নয়’ এবং হারবার্ট উপন্যাস লিখে বাংলা সাহিত্যে স্থায়ী স্বাক্ষর রেখে গেছেন।
তাঁর শৈশব ও কৈশোরে স্কুলের পড়াশোনা ঢাকায়। দেশভাগের পর চলে আসেন কলকাতায়। এরপর শান্তিনিকেতনের বিশ্বভারতী বিশ্ববিদ্যালয় থেকে ইংরেজিতে অনার্স এবং কলকাতা বিশ্ববিদ্যালয় থেকে স্নাতকোত্তর ডিগ্রি নেন।
১৯৬৪ খ্রীষ্টাব্দে তিনি বিজয়গড় কলেজে শিক্ষকতা শুরু করেন । এই সময়েই তিনি একজন সাংবাদিক এবং লেখিকা হিসাবে কাজ করেন। পরবর্তীকালে তিনি বিখ্যাত হন মূলত পশ্চিমবাংলার উপজাতি এবং নারীদের ওপর তাঁর কাজের জন্য । তিনি বিভিন্ন লেখার মাধ্যমে বিভিন্ন উপজাতি এবং মেয়েদের উপর শোষণ এবং বঞ্চনার কথা তুলে ধরেছেন। সাম্প্রতিক কালে মহাশ্বেতা দেবী পশ্চিমবঙ্গ সরকারের শিল্পনীতির বিরুদ্ধে সরব হয়েছেন । সরকার কর্তৃক বিপুল পরিমাণে কৃষিজমি অধিগ্রহণ এবং স্বল্পমূল্যে তা শিল্পপতিদের কাছে বিতরণের নীতির তিনি কড়া সমালোচক । এছাড়া তিনি শান্তিনিকেতনে প্রোমোটারি ব্যবসার বিরুদ্ধেও প্রতিবাদ করেছেন ।
তাঁর লেখা শতাধিক বইয়ের মধ্যে হাজার চুরাশির মা অন্যতম। তাঁকে পদ্মবিভূষণ (ভারত সরকারের দ্বিতীয় সর্বোচ্চ নাগরিক পুরস্কার,২০০৬), রামন ম্যাগসেসে পুরস্কার (১৯৯৭), জ্ঞানপীঠ পুরস্কার (সাহিত্য একাডেমির সর্বোচ্চ সাহিত্য সম্মান), সার্ক সাহিত্য পুরস্কার (২০০৭) প্রভৃতি পদকে ভূষিত করা হয়।
২০১৬ সালের ২৮ জুলাই, বৃহস্পতিবার বেলা ৩টা ১৬ মিনিটে চিকিৎসাধীন অবস্থায় তিনি শেষনিশ্বাস ত্যাগ করেন।
जन्म : 1926, ढाका।
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
March 16, 2024
A sweet, little picture book with illustrations.
Depicting the curiosity of a tribal girl and her desire to learn.
She always asks, Why ? Why ? why ?
Some of her why's are...
'Does he ever thank me? Why should I?
Why can't we eat rice twice a day?
Why can't fish speak?'
and at one place, she asks...
'Why shouldn't I study too?'
Mahasweta Devi is a prominent name in Indian writing, She has worked with many tribal groups, and this little book explicitly gives the message of tribal woman empowerment, but I also notice an allusion in those small floating sentences in the book, and that is,
Depicting the curiosity of a tribal girl and her desire to learn.
She always asks, Why ? Why ? why ?
Some of her why's are...
'Does he ever thank me? Why should I?
Why can't we eat rice twice a day?
Why can't fish speak?'
and at one place, she asks...
'Why shouldn't I study too?'
Mahasweta Devi is a prominent name in Indian writing, She has worked with many tribal groups, and this little book explicitly gives the message of tribal woman empowerment, but I also notice an allusion in those small floating sentences in the book, and that is,
"Who is stopping you?"
May 19, 2017
Wonderfully written and gives a strong message of importance of education for evetyone and also why it is important to ask questions.
October 5, 2016
Mahasweta Devi is a well known literary figure in India, and her work with tribal communities is also well known. In this picture book for children, she combines her strengths to create magic! Moyna is a curious little tribal girl in one of the villages in which the author works, who is forever wanting to know why. Why can't fish speak? Why do we live in a leaf hut? Why do stars look so small if they are bigger than the sun? She moves into Mahasweta Devi's hut with her baby mongoose, promising the author snake curry made of any good snakes caught by the mongoose. She over-rides her mother's protests coolly: 'Why not? It's a big hut. How much space does one old woman need?' Plying the author with questions, she finally comes up with: 'Why do you read books before you go to sleep?' 'Because books have the answers to your whys,' replies Mahasweta Devi. 'Why shouldn't I study too?', asks Moyna. Why did she have to graze the Babu's goats? Why couldn't school open in the afternoon so that the goatherds and cowherds could attend? There is no resisting Moyna. She does go to school and she does acquire a education. Guess what she does next?
I absolutely love this book -- the story, the characters and the illustrations all come together in perfection. It also makes a valuable contribution to the awareness of urban children, who have very little exposure to rural and tribal cultures. Kanyika Kini, the artist, is simply brilliant! She has painted wide-eyed Moyna and her world with a touch of fantasy, rooted in realism. I hope Kanyika will delight readers by illustrating many more books in the future.
I absolutely love this book -- the story, the characters and the illustrations all come together in perfection. It also makes a valuable contribution to the awareness of urban children, who have very little exposure to rural and tribal cultures. Kanyika Kini, the artist, is simply brilliant! She has painted wide-eyed Moyna and her world with a touch of fantasy, rooted in realism. I hope Kanyika will delight readers by illustrating many more books in the future.
February 8, 2022
I read (with the help of mom) this book about 6 years ago and I revisited it.
Questioning is not a crime but not asking anything is
(I call dibs on the quote)
Moyna was my like childhood hero. She is the curious girl with questions who likes to question everything, Most importantly why does not get to go to school, if going to school means all her questions will be answered. This is when she meets the author Mahasweta Devi who helps her go to school
And we have a happy ending. Yayy!!
This book focuses on the importance of curiosity and education to all. A must-read to parents I guess.
Blog
Questioning is not a crime but not asking anything is
(I call dibs on the quote)
Moyna was my like childhood hero. She is the curious girl with questions who likes to question everything, Most importantly why does not get to go to school, if going to school means all her questions will be answered. This is when she meets the author Mahasweta Devi who helps her go to school
And we have a happy ending. Yayy!!
This book focuses on the importance of curiosity and education to all. A must-read to parents I guess.
Blog
September 12, 2020
Curiosity may be a bit uncomfortable to adults from kids due to various reasons, how a curious child makes it to become... Good story with illustrations.
September 2, 2015
Asha Nehemiah reviews the book on Goodbooks: "The Why-Why Girl is an unusual book in that it completely charms the reader while gently raising several unsettling questions. Moyna, the eponymous Why-Why Girl, is a feisty child who manages to retain her curiosity and self-worth in spite of growing up in abject poverty. Her family are Shabars, landless tribals, who have very little work to sustain themselves where they live. Moyna grazes the goats of the village landlords and she and her brother go to the forest everyday to collect firewood." Click here to read the full review: http://goodbooks.in/node/7327
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January 1, 2016I wasn't really into this.
There are bits I liked -- Moyna's incessant questioning, including her refusal to just accept the status quo (when it disfavored her) without reason, and her insistence on getting an education -- but I just didn't feel drawn into and connected with the story like I'd hoped.
There are bits I liked -- Moyna's incessant questioning, including her refusal to just accept the status quo (when it disfavored her) without reason, and her insistence on getting an education -- but I just didn't feel drawn into and connected with the story like I'd hoped.
October 16, 2017
One of the best children's books I have read so far. Children learn the importance of asking questions, self esteem and confidence and the importance of going after what one wants in a positive way. I love the character of Moyna!!!
August 31, 2016
A book I read again and again with my daughter. Such a wonderful way to introduce worlds, people's and why's into our lives.
November 6, 2016
Suggestive age of this book is 6+ but I would say adults must read it because of the concealed meaning in the simple short story.
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September 11, 2020Debe ehh Giro
💖📘📘📘📘
💖📘📘📘📘
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 3, 2019
The why-why girl
By Mahasweta Devi
State: West Bengal
The first picture book of my mission. This simple yet thought provoking read by India's foremost writer is something which tells us about the children whom we all would have come across. The children of forlorn rural areas who have many 'why s' in them but could not find a way to know the answer.
Mahasweta Devi(author) has spent a lot with tribals which resulted in this book which is one of her experiences with a tribal called Shabar in West Bengal.
Moyna - our why-why girl, is a naughty, innocent, intelligent and super active kid who is deprived of education and is sent as day labour. She has a chest of questions in her but no one to answer them.
From questions like "Why stars appear smaller than sun if they are actually bigger than sun ?" to questions like "Why the landlord doesn't thank me for I do a lot of chores in his fields but I am forced to thank him for a penny he parts? "
She unveils the answers slowly on getting education and exposure to the world beyond.
On reading about Moyna I was remembered of small children whom I come across while I visit my parents' hometown. Their hungry yet happy eyes, skeleton yet active body, illiterate yet actions of wits make me feel if they are given equally like the rest the world would have been a better place!
By Mahasweta Devi
State: West Bengal
The first picture book of my mission. This simple yet thought provoking read by India's foremost writer is something which tells us about the children whom we all would have come across. The children of forlorn rural areas who have many 'why s' in them but could not find a way to know the answer.
Mahasweta Devi(author) has spent a lot with tribals which resulted in this book which is one of her experiences with a tribal called Shabar in West Bengal.
Moyna - our why-why girl, is a naughty, innocent, intelligent and super active kid who is deprived of education and is sent as day labour. She has a chest of questions in her but no one to answer them.
From questions like "Why stars appear smaller than sun if they are actually bigger than sun ?" to questions like "Why the landlord doesn't thank me for I do a lot of chores in his fields but I am forced to thank him for a penny he parts? "
She unveils the answers slowly on getting education and exposure to the world beyond.
On reading about Moyna I was remembered of small children whom I come across while I visit my parents' hometown. Their hungry yet happy eyes, skeleton yet active body, illiterate yet actions of wits make me feel if they are given equally like the rest the world would have been a better place!
September 19, 2023
This book was featured in the 2022 Global Literature in Libraries Initiative's #IndiaKidLitMonth (during #WorldKidLitMonth which happens every September). Hence, I bought it and just sat down to read it today. It is completely charming, featuring a young girl named Moyna, who belongs to the Samiti tribal group.
******Spoiler alert****** This book may have a protagonist who is the best advocate for reading since Frederick Douglass himself.
The illustrations by Kanyika Kini are glorious. This would be a wonderful story time read. It's recommended for ages 6 and above. Have your Kleenex handy. You're going to tear up if you enjoyed it as much as me.
******Spoiler alert****** This book may have a protagonist who is the best advocate for reading since Frederick Douglass himself.
The illustrations by Kanyika Kini are glorious. This would be a wonderful story time read. It's recommended for ages 6 and above. Have your Kleenex handy. You're going to tear up if you enjoyed it as much as me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 20, 2018
I got this book for my niece and while we loved the story in general. However, this Marathi translated edition was full of spelling and grammatical errors and was a major disappointment for this reason.
June 10, 2019
Every child must read this book. To learn about becoming a person who questions everything.
March 17, 2020
Well written and the author emphasizes the need for education through her narration . The illustrations are pleasing and beautiful.
Read
August 15, 2020Kaydenandrews email address
March 4, 2021
Great
9
9
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 19, 2022
Madelyn
Narerelyn
Narerelyn
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 22, 2023
Nice Styling Yasheema
February 4, 2016
nice book, but for some reason didn't hit 5 stars for me.
Book Description:
Moyna lives in a little tribal village. She cannot go to school because she has to tend the goats, collect the firewood, fetch the water... But she is so full of questions that the postmaster calls her the 'why-why girl'! Mahasweta Devi is one of India's foremost writers. In this delightful story, her first picture book, and the only children's book she has written in English, she tells us how she meets Moyna (and her mongoose!) and helps her find answers to all the why-whys - in books, that Moyna herself learns to read. Some of the translations have been done by well-known writers: Malayalam by Paul Zacharia, Tamil by Ambai, and Kannada by Girish Karnad.
Book Description:
Moyna lives in a little tribal village. She cannot go to school because she has to tend the goats, collect the firewood, fetch the water... But she is so full of questions that the postmaster calls her the 'why-why girl'! Mahasweta Devi is one of India's foremost writers. In this delightful story, her first picture book, and the only children's book she has written in English, she tells us how she meets Moyna (and her mongoose!) and helps her find answers to all the why-whys - in books, that Moyna herself learns to read. Some of the translations have been done by well-known writers: Malayalam by Paul Zacharia, Tamil by Ambai, and Kannada by Girish Karnad.
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