1. Why storytelling?

2. How can storytelling be included in the curriculum?

3. Will this not increase the load of the already over burdened teachers?

4. With institutionalization, is there a danger of storytelling losing its spontaneity?

5. What does a child learn in your storytelling workshops?

6. How is Kathalaya involved in "revival" of story telling forms?

7. What are the different types of stories that you use?

8. When was Kathalaya born?

9. What is Kathalaya's reach so far?

10. Where can we be reached?

11. Who are the people behind Kathalaya?

Storytelling is a shared process between the teller and the listener. It is personal and customized according to the needs of the people involved and the purpose in question. It is thus an art of communicating subtle values and life skills cutting across barriers of age, while reviving a joy for learning.

Today we live in a world that is marked by unprecedented advances in communication equipment, technology and speed but a breakdown of communication skills on a person to person basis. There is an absence of "feeling" in human interactions. Storytelling can be a powerful tool to sensitise minds, young and old, to the subtleties of communication and connect us to the humane aspects of living.

At Kathalaya, we strive to incorporate the ancient wisdom of oral tradition into the curriculum and teaching methodology thereby making the teaching learning process more child - centric.

Top

2-How can storytelling be included in the curriculum?

Use of story telling techniques makes transforms education into an exciting experience . Apart from improving the communication skills of the teacher, it kindles a spirit of enquiry in the child. The oral tradition has always encouraged interactive learning and the students are encouraged to ask questions.

Top

3-Will this not increase the load of the already over burdened teachers?

In fact, story telling as a teaching aid can lighten the load of the teachers by eliciting more involvement from the pupils. A teacher who can tell stories is more popular with the children and the level of attention is definitely higher in the class. Additionally, this breaks the monotony in the class. The concepts are better absorbed when learnt through the medium of a story. Our trainings are aimed at tapping the creative potential of the teachers, at making them more expressive and efficient in communicating the subject. The teachers are encouraged to be more creative and innovative in involving the pupils in the whole process of learning.

Top

4-With institutionalization, is there a danger of storytelling losing its spontaneity?

While retaining the inherent spontaneity of storytelling we are trying to package it in an organized way using it toward the purpose of delivering concepts effectively and in a manner that the children enjoy. Story telling techniques are used as tools in the delivery of concepts in all subjects. Storytelling as a subject is not proposed to be introduced in the curriculum.

Top

5-What does a child learn in your storytelling workshops?

In our workshops, children are encouraged to open up their minds, to let their imagination run freely, and express their creativity both in words and through action and crafts. They also learn to make simple puppets, origami techniques, simple masks etc. The whole experience is intended to let them explore their inherent creativity for which there is not much scope in their normal school time. Additionally we expose them to a whole range of stories from mythology, folklore, adventure and fantasy.

Top

6-How is Kathalaya involved in "revival" of story telling forms?

The urban - rural divide is steadily widening with technical advancement globally and nationally. People are abandoning rural areas in search of jobs and in the process abandoning rural traditions also. Indigenous arts such as Harikatha, folk theatre, puppetry ,which were once a means of bringing people together are no longer relevant. These skills are faced with the fear of extinction due to lack of patronage. To prevent coming generations from losing touch with their roots and to retain awareness of their tradition and heritage, Kathalaya provides a platform to these artists to showcase their art and skills. All the storytellers at Kathalaya practice these techniques in our storytelling sessions.

Top

7-What are the different types of stories that you use?

India has a rich tradition of art forms like Harikathas, Patakathas, Chitrkathas, Puppet shows , Toy theatre and shadow play. In fact most of our art forms and temple arts such as Kathakali, Ottan thullu, Villupattu and Street plays were nothing but storytelling forms.

Kathalaya tries to bring artists who practice these forms whenever possible for performances. We integrate the essence of these forms into our teacher training programs and applications in education.

Top

8-When was Kathalaya born?

Kathalaya was established in 1998 and registered as a trust in 1999 by Geeta Ramanujam, Lalu Narayan and Sujatha Pai with the aim of using Storytelling as an educational tool in all the schools.

We give story performances in schools and in story reading corners at bookshops, libraries and public places.

Top

9-What is Kathalaya's reach so far?

• Adopted 50 rural schools with the support of Sarva Shikshana Abhyan .
• Reached out to more than 10,000 children so far.
• Trained more than 37,000 teachers in all parts of India, Japan, South Africa, Poland, UK, USA, Thailand, Singapore and Europe.
• Stories on wheels and summer camps .
• Creating post of story educators in schools.
• Non formal education centers using storytelling as a tool.
• Karnataka Government has integrated storytelling into the curricullam of Government schools.

Top

10-Where can we be reached?

Kathalaya
#88, BHBCS Layout
2nd cross, 3rd main
BTM II stage, Bannerghatta Road
Bangalore - 560076.
Phone:26689856
Email: kathalaya@gmail.com

Top

11-Who are the people behind Kathalaya?