The Magic Puddle

in Rubbakkadubukku
Written by:

Mala Kumar

Illustrated by:

Sugrib Kumar Juanga,

Sanatan Juanga, Ramani Ranjan Sarangi,
Sanatan Juanga, Pradip Kumar Sahoo,
Sugrib Kumar Juanga

Original Story in Kui Bati, Kakkati, Nisiti enga Sajinji Written by Kui Writers Group
Original Story in Juanga Doong Doong, Dum Dum Written by Kui Writers Group
Original Story in Munda Da Jang Written by Munda Writers Group
Original Story in Kui Muddu Krika Lamba Written by Kui Writers Group
Original Story in Saura Panderan da Kulu Written by Saura Writers Group
Original Story in Munda Hathikoa Susun Written by Munda Writers Group
Remixed Story: The Magic Puddle in Rubbakkadubukku by Mala Kumar
Illustrations: Sugrib Kumar Juanga (Page 2) from Asila...Basila...Uthila...Jaucha
Sanatan Juanga (Page 3 and Page 5) from Doong Doong, Dum Dum
Ramani Ranjan Sarangi (Page 4) from The Water Seed,
Sanatan Juanga (Page 6) from The Rabbits Long Ears
Pradip Kumar Sahoo (Page 7) from The Jackals Loss
Sugrib Kumar Juanga (Page 8) from The Elephants Who Liked to Dance
Original publication by Pratham Books
Registered Office:
Pratham Books
# 621, 2nd Floor, 5th Main, OMBR Layout,
Banaswadi, Banglaore - 560 043
Tel: +91 80 25420925
Typesetting and Layout by: Pratham Books, Bangalore

Some rights reserved. This book is CC-BY 4.0 licensed. Which means
you can download this book, remix illustrations and even make a new
story - all for free! To know more about this and the full terms of
use and attribution visit http://prathambooks.org/cc.

The Magic Puddle

in Rubbakkadubukku
Written by:

Mala Kumar

Illustrated by:

Sugrib Kumar Juanga,

Sanatan Juanga, Ramani Ranjan Sarangi,
Sanatan Juanga, Pradip Kumar Sahoo,
Sugrib Kumar Juanga

This story was remixed as a part of the

Retell, Remix and Rejoice Contest conducted by Pratham Books

Rubbak worked very hard as a clerk in a city office. Please may I go on a holiday? he asked
the office manager one day. Where do you want to go? asked the manager.
I will go an a trek to a remote forest near my native place, Rubbakkadubukku! said the
young man. Oh yes, go off, young man!
2

Glibiglobeeeee! shouted Rubbak, because that is what he had heard his great grandfather
shout when he was excited about something. And he started off on his trek.

When he reached the village of Rubbakkadubukku, he saw many people looking at a puddle.
It was not here yesterday! said a boy. Or on dabeffostaday! said a girl, because that is
what people in Rubbakkadubbukku say for day-before-yesterday.
4

Or on dabeffodabeffostaday! said a grandma, because that is what people in

Rubbakkadubbukku say for three-days-ago.

Rubbak tasted the water carefully. Everyone else also rushed to taste the water, not so
carefully. Soon, all the people of Rubbakkadubukku started dancing around the water very
happily. What was it? What had happened to the people of Rubbakkadubukku?
5

In the forest, the animals were all going about their peaceful day-to-day work. Muyali, the
rabbit, was the first to notice the change in the village of Rubbakkadubukku.
Psssst Foxy, he told his friend, the gentle fox. Do you know about the people of
Rubbakkadubukku? Do you KNOW whats happened to them? Oh oh oh do you know?
6

Foxy was stunned to hear Muyalis news. Reallleeee? he asked.

News spread fast in the jungle around Rubbakkadubukku. Ants talked about it. Birds talked
about it. Crocodiles and fish talked about it. The people of Rubbakkadubukku have....!!!!
7

What do you think had happened? What? What? WHAT?

The people of Rubbakkadubukku had all ....changed into animals of the jungle!
The headwoman became an ant-eater. Soma, the tailor, became a peacock. The grumpy
seeds-seller became a hyena. And they all really, really lived happily ever after. Even our
friend Rubbak, who was now an elephant!

Mala Kumar makes up stories for breakfast and lunch.

She also speaks to cats and dogs. She edits other
peoples lovely stories and helps Pratham Books to
publish them as illustrated books for all the children
of India and beyond.

All the illustrations used in this book are the work of

illustrators from Odisha. They have tried to replicate the
beautiful and traditional illustrations of tribal mural styles
of communities like Juanga, Saura, Kui and Munda.

Rubbak goes to his native place,

Rubbakkadubbukku, and a strange thing happens
there. Even the crocodiles talked about it. Really!

www.prathambooks.org
The Magic Puddle
in Rubbakkadubukku
(English)