Horegallu
-Sudha Murty
Detailed Summary
The short story “Horegallu” is a reflective and inspiring piece by Sudha Murty, which highlights the importance of emotional support and compassion in our daily lives.
The story begins with the author recalling a horegallu in her childhood village — a stone bench placed under a large banyan tree where tired villagers rested, drank water, and shared their worries. Her grandfather, a retired schoolteacher, used to sit there, listening patiently to the villagers as they spoke about their personal problems. He didn’t offer solutions but simply listened, and this gave the villagers strength to go on.
Later, the author sees a similar figure in the city — Ratna, a cheerful clerk in her office. Every day during lunch, Ratna would talk privately with someone, listening to their problems. When the author asked about it, Ratna explained that just listening without judgment helps people lighten their emotional burdens.
Murty ends by observing that her grandfather and Ratna, though simple people, performed tremendous social service just by being good listeners. They were, in spirit, like horegallus — providing rest and relief during life’s difficult journeys.
Theme
- Emotional well-being and mental support
- Power of listening and empathy
- Small acts of kindness as silent social service
- Symbolism of horegallu as a metaphor for support systems in life
Message
The story teaches that we all carry emotional burdens. Sometimes, all we need is someone to listen without judging, just like a horegallu allows a traveller to rest and regain strength. Being a horegallu to someone is a noble service.