Paati Vadai Sutta Kadhai  is a classic short story for the kids. The story of crow and a piece of morsel (that it stole from an old woman).

The story’s setting maybe the same but the piece of morsel keeps changing from region to region. In South India its Vadai (fritters), in North India its Jilebi, in Afganistan its flat bread, in Greece its cheese, in Iran its meat!.

The Crow and The Fox

An old lady lived alone. She made simple living by making vada everyday and selling it right outside her house.

One day as she was preparing vadas! A crow saw the plate full of vadas from the tree! The moment, that old lady went inside to drink some water. The Crow quickly picked up a big-vada in its beak and flew away, pretty fast! It flew and flew and flew! And, reached a forest. “Old lady cannot follow me this far”, thought the crow! And, it perched down on a tree.

The vada smelled good, it was quite appetizing! The crow got really  hungry and it was time to eat that vada!

All the sudden…out of nowhere…a fox came by! Might be the smell of vada?! “Wow! What is this yummy smell? I wanna eat”, thought the fox.  It looked around. No one at sight. It wondered and then it looked up. It saw the crow having the vada.

Fox said “Hi Beautiful crow! You look great, Can you sing?”

Crow was happy to hear that it is beautiful. And, instantly started singing “Ka Ka Kaaa. Ka Ka Kaaa…”. Soon, the vada fel down. The fox grabbed it as fast as it can. And, ran away into the woods!The crow got highly disappointed!

Moral: Don’t steal or cunningly cheat anyone for your own benefit. And, don’t believe in everyone’s words!

Science:  Crow and Intelligence 

• Scientists compare the intelligence of crows to that of a seven-year-old human child.
• Crows, ravens, and other corvids are the only non-primates that make tools.
• Crows are capable of abstract reasoning, complex problem-solving, and group decision-making.

Feminist Lens The story’s setting is in India. Whenever they say a single old women in a story,  they make sure that she looks like a widow!!! Most of the animations / illustrations depict single old women in white saree without pottu (red dot on the forehead) and without flowers on her hair. In olden days widows were not allowed to wear colorful cloths, nor allowed to wear pottu, bangles and flowers!

Even though am not exactly encouraging to wear pottu, bangles, flowers…etc! Here, as a feminist it is important for me to address this! Here is my take on the illustration!

Recipe For Vada

1. Medhu Vada 

2. Masal Vada