The Story of Budhani: A Crow Reborn as a GirlCEFR B1
31 Jul 2025
Adapted from Sanjib Chaudhary, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by Philippe Murray-Pietsch, Unsplash
AI-assisted adaptation of the original article, simplified for language learners.
"Budhani" is an intriguing novel that reimagines an Indigenous Tharu fable. It narrates the journey of a crow, who is reborn as a girl in a predominantly male society. The protagonist fights against the injustices she faces, highlighting significant themes of female empowerment and resilience.
Prawin Adhikari, the author, draws inspiration from traditional folktales but develops a new narrative that showcases the emotional depth of its characters. Indu Tharu translated the work into the Tharu language, helping to preserve cultural heritage and identity.
The story emphasizes strong female characters, encouraging readers to recognize the strength in all women, challenging common portrayals of women in literature as weak. The narrative is not just about fighting injustice, but also explores the complex emotions and relationships within families.
Difficult words
- novel — A long fictional story in book form.
- protagonist — The main character in a story.
- injustice — Unfair treatment or violation of rights.injustices
- empowerment — The process of gaining power and control.
- resilience — The ability to recover quickly from difficulties.
- characters — The people or beings in a story.
- cultural — Related to the ideas and customs of a group.
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- How does the story relate to modern issues of gender equality?
- What role do traditional folktales play in today's society?
- In what ways can literature inspire change?
- Why is it important to preserve cultural heritage?
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