Summary: The Why-Why Girl

It is an inspiring story by the acclaimed Janapith award-winning writer Mahasweta Devi. 

Moyna belonged to a tribal community called shabars. They were poor and did not own land. The shabars did not usually send their daughter to work but Moyna had to work because Moyna's mother had a bad leg and so couldn't walk properly. Her father had gone to Jamshedpur in search of work and her brother Gora, went to the forest every day to collect firewood. Moyna could not go to the school because she had to tend the goats, collect the firewood, fetch the water and do other works of the landlord. Moyna never thanked the landlords for giving left over rice. She is so full of questions that the postmaster calls her the 'why why girl.' Moyna was barely ten years old when the narrator found her chasing a cobra. She dragged Moyna into the samiti office, where her mother works. 

One day, Moyna went to the narrator's place to live with her, with a set of clothes and her pet mongoose. She asked the narrator countless questions including why she reads a book before going to sleep. The narrator replied that reading is a way of finding answers to all her questions. At that moment, Moyna decided to go to school and find answers to all her questions. At last, Moyna became a teacher of a primary school encouraging students to ask questions. Moyna is an inspiration and motivation for all of us.