The Clever Crow and the Crispy Vada: A Tale from Tamil Nadu

Grandmother and the Clever Crow

“Paatti,” Kannan said, breaking a piece ofThe Clever Crow and the Crispy Vada: A Tale from Tamil Nadu the vada from his plate, “Tell me a story! You always have the best ones.”

Paatti chuckled, her bangles jingling softly. “Ah, Kanna, you’ve heard most of my stories. But today, let me tell you one you haven’t heard before. It’s about a clever crow and some delicious vada. Are you ready?”

Kannan’s eyes lit up, and he leaned forward eagerly. Paatti began her story, her voice carrying the rhythm and warmth of Tamil Nadu's folk traditions.

The Story Begins

“Many years ago,” Paatti began, “in a village much like ours, there was an old woman who made the most delicious vada in the whole district. Her vada was so crispy, golden, and fragrant that people came from faraway towns just to taste them.

This old woman had a small shop by the banyan tree near the temple. Every morning, she ground urad dal with care, added the perfect spices, and shaped her vadas with love. She fried them in a blackened iron pan over a wood fire until they were just right.”

Kannan interrupted, “Like the vada you make, Paatti?”

Paatti laughed. “Yes, yes, like mine—but hers had something special. Maybe it was her devotion to Murugan, or maybe the village air gave her vadas their unique taste. But listen now, don’t interrupt.”

Kannan nodded, munching on another piece of vada as Paatti continued.

The Clever Crow

“One fine morning, the old woman fried a fresh batch of vadas and set them on a banana leaf to cool. The smell wafted through the air, and who should catch the scent but a clever black crow sitting on the banyan tree.

This crow was not an ordinary one, Kanna. It was the king of crows, cunning and sharp-eyed. It loved vada more than anything else in the world.

The crow watched the woman from its perch. She turned away to fetch water from the well, and in that moment, the crow swooped down, flapping its glossy wings, and grabbed a fat, golden vada in its beak. It cawed triumphantly and flew up to a high branch to enjoy its prize.”

The Old Woman’s Wrath

“But the old woman was no fool. She turned around just in time to see the crow flying away with her vada.

‘Aiyo! You thief!’ she shouted, shaking her fist. ‘How dare you steal my vada? Give it back!’

The crow, sitting proudly on the branch, tilted its head and cawed mockingly. The old woman was furious, but she was also clever. She decided to teach the crow a lesson.

She picked up another vada from the banana leaf and waved it in the air. ‘Oh, you greedy crow!’ she called out. ‘If you liked that vada, you’ll love this one. It’s even crispier and tastier. Come, take it!’

The crow hesitated. It looked at the vada in its beak, then at the vada in the old woman’s hand. It wanted both, but it couldn’t carry two vadas at once.”

The Plan
Paatti paused, her eyes twinkling. “Now, Kanna, what do you think the crow did?”

Kannan thought for a moment. “Did it try to take the second vada?”

Paatti smiled. “Ah, you’re thinking like the crow! Listen to what happened next.

The crow, still clutching the vada in its beak, cawed loudly, as if to say, ‘I’ll find a way!’ But the old woman had a plan. She pretended to drop the second vada on the ground and turned her back as if she wasn’t watching.

The crow, greedy and confident, thought, ‘If I drop this vada and grab the other one quickly, I’ll have both!’

It opened its beak to let the first vada fall, aiming to swoop down for the second one. But the moment the vada hit the ground, the old woman turned around and snatched it up.

‘Aha! Got you, you clever thief!’ she laughed, shaking the vada in triumph.

The crow cawed in frustration. It realized it had been tricked. The old woman, still chuckling, went back to her shop and placed the vada safely inside.”

The Lesson
“But the crow wasn’t one to give up easily,” Paatti continued. “It flew back to the banyan tree, watching the old woman closely. From that day on, the crow became even smarter. It learned not to let greed cloud its judgment.

And as for the old woman, she became even more careful with her vadas. She kept them covered with a cloth and never left them unattended.

The villagers laughed when they heard the story, and they named the banyan tree the ‘Vada Maram’—the Vada Tree—because that’s where the crow lost its prized snack.”

The Moral

Paatti leaned back with a satisfied sigh. “And that, Kanna, is why we must always be careful not to let greed and impatience ruin what we already have. The crow learned its lesson the hard way, and so should we.”

Kannan clapped his hands, his face glowing with excitement. “What a clever story, Paatti! The crow was so smart, but the old woman was smarter!”

Paatti smiled, patting his head. “Yes, my dear. And now, finish your vada before the crows outside get any ideas!”

Kannan laughed, stuffing the last piece of vada into his mouth as the cawing of real crows echoed in the distance.

And so, under the warm glow of the oil lamp and the loving gaze of his grandmother, Kannan learned a timeless lesson in the most delightful way—a story of wit, caution, and the irresistible charm of crispy vadas.