Now, here's a good story to tell .. Story telling has been in vogue from time long ago. Particularly in our country. Our paatis, thathas, ammas, appas used to tell stories, especially from our puranas and ithihasas to us when we were small kids.
This is the way we learnt about Sri Rama, Sri Krishna, Shiva and many other Gods and their deeds. Prahlad, Dhruv, Hanuman, Bheem, Arjun became our close friends. We disliked Raavan, Kamsan, Hiranyakasibu, and other bad characters. We remember these stories even today because we listened to these in our very young days, with intent, interest, and dedication. Bhakti was always embedded in such narrations.
In our childhood there was no Amar Chitra Katha books, or TV channels, or VCDs/DVDs to learn the Mythology. It was only our Paatties and ammas who inculcated the habit of listening to stories. These women were gems in story-telling.
With a paththiram full of paruppu Satham or Thayir Satham and surrounded by a few grandchildren, these women would simultaneously feed both their hungry stomach and hungry ears ! That was the way the Puranas and Ithihasas were enshrined in us. (However, I don't remember when and from whom I learnt these kathaikal - not definitely from my Paatties)
Slowly, this habit of story-telling waned off, with arrival of Amar Chitra Kathas, and other books, VCDs/DVDs. And the present generation paaties, and ammas have become "English oriented and modern" so that they deem it below their English-dignity to talk about Sri Rama or Krishna. Or, there won't be paaties at all in the nuclear, hum dono - hamara ek, present day families.
Lately it is being emphasised that, "there is a need for storytelling today as it is a way of compensating for the loss of extended family." More parents, appas included, have indeed started telling their small children stories whenever they find time. If they cannot find time and inclination, then they dump the room with storybooks and DVDs ... !
In US and some other foreign countries, there are open storytelling sessions at parks and public libraries, where a large crowd of old and young alike assemble and listen. This culture is slowly taking roots in India too.
Those olden days there used to be Katha Kalakshepams where persons well-versed in puranas as well as music, would tell stories thru the medium of paattu and kathai. Sengalipuram Anantharama Dikshitar, Sri Embar Vijayaraghavachariyar, TS Balakrishna Sastrigal, Thiru Muruga Kirupanantha Variyar are some prominent names that come to my mind. It was said that people used to come from far away to listen to Sengalipuram.
There were Theru-k-kooththus, Villu Paattus, street-corner dramas and plays through which storytelling was being promoted. Crores of simple folks learnt their Ramayana and Maha Bharata thru these mediums.
Though these ancient forms of storytelling are vanishing atleast from our large towns and cities, there is a ray of hope of their revival emerging of late. Smt Vishakha Hari is a wellknown Katha Kalakshepam personality today, who has single-handedly revived this form. Her programs draw very huge audiences wherever held, like Sengalipuram's.
The art of storytelling has to be revived. I for my part tell stories to my grandchildren Aditi, Sowmya, and Sriram. And these children are very keen to listen, believe me.
Let the Storytelling Begin in Every Home ... ... !
Rajappa
11:45 AM
27 Oct 2010
This is the way we learnt about Sri Rama, Sri Krishna, Shiva and many other Gods and their deeds. Prahlad, Dhruv, Hanuman, Bheem, Arjun became our close friends. We disliked Raavan, Kamsan, Hiranyakasibu, and other bad characters. We remember these stories even today because we listened to these in our very young days, with intent, interest, and dedication. Bhakti was always embedded in such narrations.
In our childhood there was no Amar Chitra Katha books, or TV channels, or VCDs/DVDs to learn the Mythology. It was only our Paatties and ammas who inculcated the habit of listening to stories. These women were gems in story-telling.
With a paththiram full of paruppu Satham or Thayir Satham and surrounded by a few grandchildren, these women would simultaneously feed both their hungry stomach and hungry ears ! That was the way the Puranas and Ithihasas were enshrined in us. (However, I don't remember when and from whom I learnt these kathaikal - not definitely from my Paatties)
Slowly, this habit of story-telling waned off, with arrival of Amar Chitra Kathas, and other books, VCDs/DVDs. And the present generation paaties, and ammas have become "English oriented and modern" so that they deem it below their English-dignity to talk about Sri Rama or Krishna. Or, there won't be paaties at all in the nuclear, hum dono - hamara ek, present day families.
Lately it is being emphasised that, "there is a need for storytelling today as it is a way of compensating for the loss of extended family." More parents, appas included, have indeed started telling their small children stories whenever they find time. If they cannot find time and inclination, then they dump the room with storybooks and DVDs ... !
In US and some other foreign countries, there are open storytelling sessions at parks and public libraries, where a large crowd of old and young alike assemble and listen. This culture is slowly taking roots in India too.
Those olden days there used to be Katha Kalakshepams where persons well-versed in puranas as well as music, would tell stories thru the medium of paattu and kathai. Sengalipuram Anantharama Dikshitar, Sri Embar Vijayaraghavachariyar, TS Balakrishna Sastrigal, Thiru Muruga Kirupanantha Variyar are some prominent names that come to my mind. It was said that people used to come from far away to listen to Sengalipuram.
There were Theru-k-kooththus, Villu Paattus, street-corner dramas and plays through which storytelling was being promoted. Crores of simple folks learnt their Ramayana and Maha Bharata thru these mediums.
Though these ancient forms of storytelling are vanishing atleast from our large towns and cities, there is a ray of hope of their revival emerging of late. Smt Vishakha Hari is a wellknown Katha Kalakshepam personality today, who has single-handedly revived this form. Her programs draw very huge audiences wherever held, like Sengalipuram's.
The art of storytelling has to be revived. I for my part tell stories to my grandchildren Aditi, Sowmya, and Sriram. And these children are very keen to listen, believe me.
Let the Storytelling Begin in Every Home ... ... !
Rajappa
11:45 AM
27 Oct 2010
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