Dakshin: South Indian Myths and Fables Retold
THE STORY BEHIND THE STORY
MY THOUGHTS
If you want a book that takes you back to stories with grandma, a time when bedtime was cuddles and warmth and when stories were shared among siblings — Dakshin is the book you need! There is something comforting about this book of myths and fables because every one of the stories has an air of familiarity about it. I had heard them, but never before had I read them, until now.
Growing up, we have always equated South Indian tales with Tenaliraman and maybe stories of a wandering Brahmin here and there. But Dakshin helps you deep dive into the mystical forests of South India and come face to face with enchanting fairies, gods, and goddesses. With the towering Nilgiris and the lush greens of Coorg serving as witnesses, these folktales will immerse you in the culture of South India as they regale you with their tales.
Talk to author Nitin Kushalappa for a few minutes, and you can gauge just how passionate he is about collecting, documenting, and preserving oral folklore. He understands that heritage needs to be preserved lest we lose it completely. He has grown up listening to these stories from the elders in his family, and he carries the passion through his work while collecting and documenting stories from Kodagu, Konganadu, Andhra, and various other places around South India, something we talk about in detail in our episode on Tell Me A Story.
These stories are perfect as short reads or as bedtime stories. They help begin conversations with children on the history and culture of a particular region, and they all have fantastic morals! What’s not to love! Also, this book was honoured with a Bal Sahitya Award in 2025.
Add this to your child’s summer reading list today!
If you think your child would enjoy this book, you can buy it here →
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