Indic storytelling, deeply rooted in ancient traditions, is a rich tapestry woven with myth, history, and moral lessons. From the Vedic hymns and the epic narratives of the Ramayana and Mahabharata to the intricate folktales and regional legends, this storytelling tradition offers a diverse range of narratives that explore cosmic principles, heroic exploits, and the complexities of human nature. These stories often intertwine the divine with the mundane, using allegory and symbolism to convey philosophical and ethical teachings. Through oral recitations, performances, and written texts, Indic storytelling has preserved and transmitted cultural values and spiritual insights across generations, reflecting the profound interconnectedness of the material and spiritual realms in Indian culture.
In this interview, Deepa Kiran talks about how she has dedicated her life to be with children, with stories, music, dance, art and craft.
How did you decide to turn to storytelling to bring alive our culture and traditions?
Growing up, my world has been rich with Indian classical dance classes, Rabindra Sangeet practice, learning flute, violin and experimenting on my own with other musical instruments like keyboard. It has been about loads and loads of reading ...at home, in book stores and libraries.
I was sent for Bal Vihar and Bal Vikas classes with Satya Sai mission and Chinmaya mission - so stories, shlokas and songs have been an integral part of my growing up years. The stage has been my playground, with dance, drama, debates, oratory, school band as my core joys.
And we lived in different states of India, imbibing local language and culture each time.
I didn't realize at that time, but alongside graduation and post-graduation I was actively involved with strengthening my voice and speech. Secretary of Young Orators Club of Secunderabad, working for All India Radio as a compere, Teaching English and soft skills, writing columns for the newspapers such as The Hindu, The Khaleej Times. All interconnected with the journey of storytelling.
I was informally a popular storyteller among friends and family and knew that I loved it. But didnt realize until much later that I wanted to follow this as my life journey. It was in 2008, when I was 31 years, that the decision to take up storytelling as my life-work happened. My sons were around 3.5 and 1.5 years. I was diagnosed with a kidney malfunction and was put on a daily dose of 80 tablets of Prednisolone steroids. After 5 months of enduring this and with little recovery in my condition, in despair I reached out for hope anywhere and everywhere. A friend from my college days sent me a CD of bhajans and said "Just listen to these and have faith. You will be taken care of."
Like Ramana Maharishi's favourite story where the passenger in the bullock cart is carrying his luggage on his shoulders and complains how painful the journey is, only to be reminded "Put down your luggage...... the bullock cart will carry it for you"
The enchanting singer and his songs....led me to 'let go'. I 'put down my luggage' and of course the mind was cleared out its clutter and then I had this realization that the way out of my condition is..... to do what I love. I had to be with children, with stories, music, dance, art and craft. I soon put out posters for a summer camp, had about 30 registrations, spent three weeks with children, stories, smiles and arts. And in the following check-up the nephrologists said, "You are perfectly fine. We need not put another tablet inside you"
Ever since, I've known storytelling, children, music, dance, teaching....this is my life source and my shine. And when I shine I will spread the shine too. Ever since, I've made a conscious decision to pursue storytelling in my life and I feel really grateful for the journey it has taken me on.
I took it up with commitment in Hyderabad and by word of mouth, I travelled and worked across the country and around the world. And among other special milestones, in 2017 went on to set up our registered trust Story Arts Foundation. In 2015, received a national award for my educational videos for UGC on Storytelling and for research from British Council. These have definitely been encouraging turning points.At the end of it all, continuing to pursue storytelling and continuing despite all odds and being grateful for life's support.......has been a magical story in itself for me.
Bharat has an unparalleled repertoire of stories and a legacy of storytelling. How does one pass it on to the next generation growing up on mobile phones and gadgets?
True! We have a rich heritage of not only stories but unique story-formats such as nested stories (story within a story within a story), and we also have highly developed oral traditions. Mahabhartah, Ramayana, Panchatanatra, Katha Sarit Sagar to name a few. Our ancestors knew the significance of 'Sravanam' listening as far more accessible, universal and democratic tool in comparison to reading, which is restricted to the literate community. Therefore the composers of texts often kept in mind, while composing that the 'oral' essence of the literature they composed had to focus on, as much as 'printed word' essence. Naturally use of stories, poetry, rhythm and musicality in speech became integral to the compositions.
Another interesting aspect is that any audience was understood to belong to one of the three categories. Adhamaadhikari - who listened merely to be entertained. Madhyamaadhikaari - who listened to be entertained, but believed there was more than entertainment here yet may or may not decipher the deeper layers of meaning. Uttamaadhiakri - who listened to be entertained, and expected depth and was equally capable of unravelling the inherent wisdom. What is be noted here is that this categorization is without any judgement on the audience. It was mere information for the composer to keep in mind, the levels of audience one could expect and to accordingly ensure that each category is catered to and satisfied.
Such a simple, beautiful and effective pedagogical tool our oral tradition becomes.
Thus oral storytellers were many times the channel for dissemination of knowledge, news and views. And the skill and the act of listening held a high place. One of the words for a wise person is "Bahu Shrota", meaning 'one who has listened to many'.
In these multi-media and gadget inundated times, people ponder over what role can oral storytelling play? And can it find its way in? Can it leave an imprint and impact at all?
As a mother of two teenage boys, as a teacher for students in schools, as a teacher trainer and as a storyteller...from my various roles, I can reassure you that sharing stories orally still remains a powerful tool for connection and bonding. No amount of Ed-tech and AI can substitute the unique gift that narrating a story offers - the gift of our presence, the gift of personal attention.
While digital technology and multi-media has its immense benefits, it can also become a reason for lack of attention. There is a saying that a story is the shortest distance between two humans. So when digital technology is at times causing a divide in attention, putting aside our screens and gadgets and sitting around, making eye contact and speaking out stories...becomes an act of love, of giving attention, of saying..."I value spending time with you. I value speaking to you. I value knowing you."
By sitting down to tell a story, the elders are learning again, to give attention to their young. By listening to stories the young are receiving the right kind of attention and it builds trust in them.
Storytelling is a simple and powerful act of love, attention and connection.
For those who feel overwhelmed with their busy schedules and lack time to tell stories, I recommend beginning with 2-3 minute story time every day. A fairly achievable goal.
And for the other concern that the traditional stories are disconnected from the reality of the children today, I recommend starting with those few stories that resonate with you and help you make meaning of your life. In due course children will learn to make meaning and interpret the stories in their larger contexts and not just isolated pieces (which may not make sense).
Storytelling becomes an opportunity for bonding, opening up and having conversations.
What are the challenges faced by story tellers today in terms of making stories fun when people have lost touch with our roots
One of the challenges is the pointless yet inevitable comparisons that are sometimes made, between the Indian stories and oral traditions with the non-Indian stories and non-Indian storytelling formats and contemporary storytelling formats. The intent, context, format and other factors vary from story to story, and it would not make sense comparing them. It's more helpful to acknowledge each for its own unique contribution by placing it in its cultural context.
Another challenge is a wrong assumption that children and youth today do not relate to traditional stories. My experience over two decades has been that a well-chosen, well-crafted and well-narrated story does entertain and engage the audience. Whether it is tales from Ramayana, the Upanishads or stories to understand Yoga.
For example: Children relate to stories of Hanuman and baby Krishna. Sundrakandam and Bhagavtaham, thus becominng a rich source of stories that can offer insights that build their life skills like resilience, empathy, dealing with fear and more.
The challenge is to bring back trust and faith of the adults in the potential and possibilities that stories and storytelling has. Challenge is to bring back the faith of the adults that children today are still interested in traditional stories.
How do we make the stories fun?
My biggest inspiration continues to remain Indian oral traditions. From Iran, to South Africa, Scotland to Indonesia, Columbia to Hawaii, Jammu to Trivandrum, Ajmer to Assam, I have experienced audiences of different ages and different backgrounds enjoy musical storytelling from our Itihaasas and Puranaas. I have experienced the universal appeal, like this applause from the audience in Austria, for story of Meera Bai at the Opera House https://youtube.com/shorts/95jgqzSsLmw?si=RCW6GUH_hEuKbT0m
What has worked in making our stories fun?
Practising and honing my craft of storytelling, shaping and sculpting my stories with care ...as a storyteller, a teacher, an orator. And keep the intent, the sankalpa of creating an artistically integrated storytelling experience by weaving in poetry, music and movement.
Have you noticed our Satsangs? It is the stories, music and movement which brings alive not only the performance but the audience who can even relate to these, and join in with the rhythm and actions, clapping and moving!
Stories come in various forms and shapes. Which format is dearest to you?
Yes. With storytelling we have as many styles as the tellers. The range and variety is fascinating. Cultures all over the world have oral storytelling traditions with unique elements woven in.
Coming from this land and having grown up learning Indian classical dance forms Bhrat Natyam and Kuchupudi, as well picking up foundations of musical instruments such as the violin, I was always drawn to musical dance drama elements. The weaving in of music and movement in Indian oral traditions inspires me and my work is entirely based on this inspiration. And of course as a teacher of English, and one who taught children and adults from around the world, English, the challenge I enjoy is narrating stories of our land in simple interesting English, yet rooted in my cultural sensibilities. "Can you do a musical narration of stories from the Dashavatara in English for children of NRIs Deepa?" And that's how I began the journey of weaving together a tapestry based on observations from Hari Katha, adding musical instrumentation, songs in different languages of India, slokas in Sanskrit and movements from Kuchupudi.
LINKS to Musical Storytelling
Dashavatara https://youtu.be/scYXQcFxPp4?si=5t5142VoEwcIf0dQ
Ramayana ina folk tale https://youtu.be/Fh8Xuyvr7RA?si=Uw8-FgGqK_PhfozX
Do we have records of the history of story telling in India. We have had Harikathas where stories of worship are accompanied by music and sometimes dance.
The Jaati Puranas is one oral tradition which orally documents and passes on the origin stories of a community and its people. This is being kept alive in a few places but is struggling for lack of patrons, whether it is the tellers in Adilabad, in Telangana, or the Kaavad storytellers in Rajasthan.
Oral traditions are highly culturally contextualized, with Hari Katha in Andhra & Telangana, Teru Koothu in Tamil Nadu, Yakshgana in Karnataka, Pandvani in Chhattisgarh, Kudiyaattam in Kerala, beng some of them. The list is endless and spread across the length and breadth of the country. True to the saying about the diversity of Bharat, that every 100 kilometers you will find the food, dressing and customs change; so do the versions of stories and styles of their narration.
So consolidated records of oral traditions become a challenge, however the individual learning institutions, mostly informal and some formal ones, are doing their share in documenting and passing on the learning of their specific oral traditions such as Hari Katha, Burra Katha, Yakshagana, Teru Koothhu and many others.
Modern scholars such as Prof Nagaraj Paturi, A K Ramnujan and others have attempted to collate and document folklore and oral traditions of India. It is important to understand that I am referring in a drop, to this vast ocean of "oral traditions". There is much I am leaving out here. However I certainly hope this question, and this platform becomes a point of sharing and exchanging more.
What were some outcomes of the storytelling.
Oh! Many many special moments come to my mind. Most recent is last month, when I had uploaded a story from the Upanishad on my Youtube channel https://youtu.be/pfzB1KRrF2w And a young lady from Nrimal village in Telangana, reached out to me writing, "Ma'am. Thank you so much. I don't know such stories at all. I am learning stories from my culture and also English. Can you please narrate the entire Ramayana like this? Me and many other young people like myself, can learn the Ramayana as well as English." A young audience was impacted enough to write in and ask for more. What could be more valuable and satisfying?
A parent once attended an event of mine and said, "I've been following you and attending all your events ever since my 4 year old came for your storytelling on 'Rock Conservation' Deepa. There are rocks in his school and he used to scared of them. I brought him for your storytelling, hoping he'll sit through for 40 minutes and wishing this would influence him. He sat all through the 40 minutes and next week when he returned to school he was running and playing all over the rocks and telling his classmates, "You know rocks are our friends! And we must take care of them". This was the best evidence of the faith that Rock Conservation Society of Andhra Pradesh had in me and in the power of storytelling.
I received a message from an under-gradutae student once. I had narrated stories at their college and as always before leaving urged them to share the story and spread the joy. This young boy texted me the next day, "Ma'am my mother has been unwell and in the hospital since 15 days. Last evening I narrated the story I'd heard you tell. And for the first time in 15 days, she smiled.
Another one was during a pandemic when I conceptualized and offered a "Yoga and Story Path" program for children. It was so heartwarming to have children attend sessions eagerly and finally give feedback like, "I never knew Yoga could be so interesting Ma'am". And their parents chipped in and saying, "My children complain to attend online classes of school but for this Yoga and Story Path, they log in before time and don't even mind when the session extends". And like one child summed up the essence of storytelling, "ma'am in these lockdown times, sitting in my home I am now feeling so connected to everyone and everything"
Children and even teachers who are shy and nervous, under-confident or termed as introverted, have comfortably and voluntarily opened up and come forward to share their thoughts, share stories, and find their shine. I have seen this repeatedly in storytelling workshops I have conducted for close to 1 lakh teachers across the globe and many more children. Children with behavioral issues have naturally and gently settled down and become cooperative and participative instead of disruptive. My storytelling workshops are intended to offer a safe, comforting, inviting and inspiring space to find one's own unique shine and shine with it confidently! This has been the outcome and as I mentioned, having found my shine with stories my life-work is spreading this joy and bringing out the shine in each one of us.
(Deepa offers performances, workshops and talks/lec-dems on storytelling and oral traditions of India. To know more click https://linktr.ee/Deepa.Kiran)
