Reviving the good old storytelling culture

Many old timers today recall fond memories of being drawn to the streets by snake charmers and madaaris (conjurers) and being told stories - alas, what is now a lost practice. But for renowned theatre artist Kamal Pruthi, "a storytelling movement was necessary to fight the advent of technology, which is hampering children".

Clad in a green kurta-pajama with a pagdi, this 33-year old 'Kabuliwala' is a favourite with children across the country every time they see him with his vibrant jhola, which they know is full of stories. Previously an IT professional, Pruthi is also arguably one of the few storytellers who perform in German, Hindi and Urdu and has been bringing back the culture of storytelling in many households and schools across the country.

"With mobile phones and other devices taking over, dadajis and nanajis don't get to tell stories to their grandchildren any more. A family getting together over stories seems like in a long-gone era," Pruthi said. The monkey shows and the acrobats who performed while telling their tales were experiential mediums which are now banned, he said, adding that children of the 21st century generation have not heard as many stories as their parents would have.

The hunger for knowledge can only be satiated through stories, he maintained. "I'm a modern day madaari (conjurer). My job is to intellectually entertain the humble souls of kids - many of whom have never heard stories before," Pruthi said.

By Bhavana Akella