Savitri and the Flooded River
The monsoon that year was the strongest anyone in the village could remember. Rain poured for days without stopping, and the small river near the village turned into a raging torrent.
One evening, five villagers—three men and two women—became stranded on the opposite bank after returning from the market. The wooden bridge had been washed away by the floodwaters.
The current was too strong for anyone to swim across.
As darkness approached, the stranded villagers grew worried.
Just then, Savitri arrived on her Bullet motorcycle. The towering 8-foot-tall woman looked at the swollen river and knew she had to help.
Near the riverbank lay a huge fallen teak log that had been washed down from the forest. The log was so massive that even ten men together could barely roll it.
Savitri walked over, tightened the end of her saree around her waist, and gripped the enormous log.
With a mighty effort, she lifted the entire log off the ground and raised it high above her head.
The villagers watched in disbelief.
"Get on!" she called.
Carefully, the three men and two women climbed onto the giant log while Savitri balanced it across her powerful arms above her head.
Step by step, she entered the floodwater.
The current pushed against her legs, but Savitri stood firm like a mountain. Water swirled around her waist as she slowly crossed the river, keeping the log and its passengers safely above the rushing water.
The people sitting on the log held on tightly while staring in amazement at the incredible woman carrying them.
After several minutes, Savitri reached the other side.
The villagers climbed down safely and cheered.
One elderly woman folded her hands and said, "Today you weren't just strong, Savitri. You were our bridge."
Savitri smiled modestly.
"A bridge should help people cross," she replied.
From that day on, whenever the river flooded, children would point toward the water and tell stories of the night when Savitri carried five people across a raging river on a giant log held high above her head, proving once again that her strength was matched only by her kindness.

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