Learn Curve for Girls

Girls Education Project for School Story Curriculum

  • Storytelling Video Review  – How a young poor girl became a snake-doctor! Folklore from Kerala by Deepa Kiran

    Of some of the treasures Youtube has to offer, there is the storytelling channel of Deepa Kiran. And within this channel you can find this gem of a story – How a young poor girl became a snake doctor. Deepa Kiran starts us on the storytelling journey with a musical introduction. A custodian of the rare folk instruments of India, Deepa Kiran plays them with ease and finesse. Starting the story by inviting the musical storytelling spirits Deepa Kiran slowly leads our way into the story. Deepa’s storytelling style is filled with musical notes and pauses. She doesn’t rush us into the story as if she is in a speeding hurry to narrate the story and be done with it. Instead, she takes her time. She welcomes us in with a song and hasta mudras. There is a slowing down of time in Deepa Kiran’s narration. As if the space time continuum itself bends to hear her words. Time is an attribute of causation (and what are folktales if not causation). Space is created and expanded in this folktale through the use of an exquisite setting, music from rare instrument collected no doubt with difficulty and a spontaneity of telling. As Deepa Kiran starts you know you listening to teller with unique voice and a uniquer story. Deepa Kiran narrates a story that is so Indian in its ethos and motifs – use of mantras for healing snake bites, the well revered snakebite vaidyan and then makes us reflect on power and hierarchies within the folds, the encasement of a very powerful and positive story that encompasses the triumph of the young nayika Kamala. A story about perseverance and enthusiasm, a story of triumphs. What the story teaches us is that mantra Kamala uses may be useless but powers accrue to her because of her sincere belief in the act of what she is doing. This story about mantras, a fake one that becomes a real source of healing and power, makes thing about the logic of mantras and how they work. Are they a string of sounds in a particular order and of an particular inference or are they invested with the enthusiasm of the sadhaka alone and therein lies their power. This storytelling video is on the whole a meditation on sound and meaning making. Meaning making because this is a story about who makes most meaning of a particular wish – healing and curing others of snake bites. Is it Nambodari Vaidyan who as the guardian of the sacred mantra, and the revered snake doctor, bearer of a tradition that can save from venom, or is it the young girl Kamala who turns a venomous string of sounds into healing source for herself and the whole kingdom?

  • The uses of storytelling – Interview with Nivedita Kolekar – Part 3

    Kathalaya Interview Series

    What are the uses of storytelling?

    Storytelling fosters the social and emotional development of the child. The main offshoots of storytelling are that it fulfils children both socially and emotionally. Schools are not completely equipped to work on some of these areas of each and every student. I felt the need to fill the void. I worked children’s language, communication skills, creative skills, logic and reasoning abilities etc,, I made the sessions interactive.

    How did Kathalaya influence you?

    Geeta has been a great influence and a guide. She works so much towards your growth. She will tell you – “You have reached here; you should reach here.” She helped me get started as a storyteller.

    Some tips for storytelling?

    I am very positive about the connections between storytelling and nature. I use storytelling to make children aware of nature. It is very interesting to note how storytelling and nature go hand in hand.

  • Excellence in storytelling – Interview with Nivedita Kolekar – Part 2

    Kathalaya Interview Series

    Could you talk about the relevance of storytelling?

    Once anything is put in the form of story it can easily be understood and remembered. We never forgot the stories our grandparents told us. When we hear stories – this is the space we return to after so many years. The storyteller and the essence of having stories told to us aligns with us. I have had a chance to understand the efficiency of the storytelling process through my work for children.

    Could you talk about creating a curriculum for early childhood education?

    I did this and built the curriculum for early childhood education. I used storytelling to teach children about maths, science and social science. Basically, I evolved a concept-based storytelling curriculum. I was very clear that I wanted to tell children concept-based stories.

    On your unique storytelling journey?

    It’s been a great journey – but it was least expected of me to take this path. When I made it to the storytelling pathway, I decided to make it financially work out for me too. A lot of people will tell you, “There is no money in storytelling.” But I could make a career out of storytelling. I made it financially lucrative too.

  • ‘Storytelling chose me’ – Interview with Nivedita Kolekar – Part 1

    Kathalaya Interview Series

    Your career trajectory?

    I am an electrical engineer. I was with Konika films. I had great growth in that company. They made camera films. I am a Kannadiga. I was managing aftersales. I was in many managerial roles and managed multiple projects. I worked on System Integration. I worked on seamless management of audio-visual facilities. I was in the managerial area for 24 years – business development, client servicing and everyday operations.

    Your storytelling pathway?

    I had no clue about what storytelling was. I was highly involved in presentations to clients. I was otherwise not someone who would read books. Storytellers are usually from literature background. I took a storytelling course. Storytelling gave a lot of exposure. Other people are an integral part of the storytelling experience. Storytelling opens the heart. Storytelling is deep engagement with children on a daily basis. My feeling is that I didn’t chose storytelling. Storytelling chose me. I did learn a lot with Geeta Maam. She is a great person to learn from. She opened the heart of storytelling for me. The Kathalaya storytelling diploma was a deep dive into storytelling. The diploma internalised storytelling for me and skilled me with different techniques in storytelling. I learnt to use different practices for storytelling. I started preschools in Mumbai. I run eight centres, all in Mumbai, where I teach storytelling. I am part of two international schools where I do storytelling as a part of the curriculum. I teach parents storytelling for their children. I find that storytelling is a skill that helps me breathe. We are all storytellers.

    Can you talk about storytelling for the classroom?

    Once I turned into a storyteller, I have an eye and ear out to absorb details that can help create great stories. I made my own curriculum for storytelling for early childhood development.

  • Rimi – Movie Review

    Rimi has won the Best Screenplay (Student) at  DadaSaheb Phalke Film Festival Award 2021, after which it went ahead to premier at IFFSA – Toronto 2021, Indisches FilmFestival Stuttgart 2021, IDSFFK Kerala 2022 and India’s only Oscar Qualifying FilmFestival – Bengaluru International Short FilmFestival 2021. It has also bagged awards at Regina International Film Festival, Artist Forum – New York City and Sunderland Short FilmFestival 2022, UK. Rimi was also MetFilm’s student entry to the BAFTA Student Awards 2021.

    To return to the beginning. To return to the self. This movie is a story of The Return. It is the heroic journey going inward. The story of a housewife disconnected from her own self, begins in a typical Indian middle-class house and kitchen with the chai boiling. The heroine Rimi, played by Deepa Kiran, is dressed in a nightie in the opening scene a dress as de-energised as her daughter’s friend Riya’s is bright, who makes a dramatic entry at the transformation scene, and is in flamboyant looped earrings and colourful clothing. Back to the beginning scene, the onions are tossed in the pan, husband’s cloths are ironed, vegetables are fried and the whole family of four, Rimi, her husband, her son and her daughter, sit at the table while Rimi pours the cornflakes in a bowl. Food acts as a metaphor, wherein the chai in the traditional Indian glass cup, the cut onion, the milk all are invested with the power that the banal holds over the spontaneous and creative. Life giving nutrition suppressing life. Mid-way through Riya arrives as a guest and asks Rimi about what she feels about the rain outside. And yes, it has been raining since the very beginning. Watch the film to experience Rimi’s return to herself.

  • Rimi – Dada Saheb Phalke awarded short film

    Rimi, an Indian housewife, feels trapped in the roles of a mother and wife, bound by domesticity. After years of entanglement, everything comes crashing down on a rainy day when she meets Riya, a free-spirited woman whose beauty and magnetism stir a deep longing in her. Rimi realizes she has sidelined her dreams for her family. As an awakening unfolds, she stands at a crossroads—torn between the life she has known and the liberation she now craves.

    Released world-wide 

    Watch @ https://www.watchmyfilm.com/movie/rimi

  • The culture of India through the stories – Interview with Preeti Yadav – Part 2

    Story Knowledge Systems of Mothers and Grandmothers of India

    How does Indian culture get transmitted through its stories?

    Indian Culture through its stories makes a distinction between the good and bad. These stories give a strong foundation to children. These stories encapsulate the values we pass on to the younger generation. These stories are an introduction for every child to the world of morality. Storytelling strengthens our culture in a sure way. Stories teach us about righting wrongs. The Ramayana makes an important point about respecting women. Stories can make the point much clear.

    Can you talk about Indian stories in the context of world stories?

    Other cultures will have their folklore and folk stories. The aim behind such storytelling in all societies is to create a good society. Other cultures will have their stories where the broad guidelines to have a peaceful and content life are defined. Indian cultural stories are as relevant today as they were in the past. In the Mahabharata, we when we read it, we can see the stories are still happening today. The learnings from the epic can be still implemented in today’s climate and scenario. When we look at the stories around us and hear stories of disrespecting of women, we can see that Mahabharata is as relevant today as it was earlier.

    The basic moral stories can relevant even today. The story where the crow puts in stones to get a level water teaches us still about patience and logical thinking.

    Could you talk about Indian tales?

    I read the Panchatantra in the 1st and 2nd standard. These stories cover basic values. Akbar and Birbal stories show how intelligent and quick thinking can solve any problem in a witty way. In our culture, mythological stories become the very foundation of our culture.

    Stories come into play at a very young age. We hear them from our parents and it comes before we go to school and before we learn to read. It is our first introduction to the world.

  • The stories of India – Interview with Preeti Yadav – Part 1

    Story Knowledge Systems of Mothers and Grandmothers of India

    Could you talk about the traditional stories of India that you heard as a child?

    Most of the stories were like mythological stories like reincarnations of Vishnu, Ram, Krishna and Narasimha. These have been very close to me. These are certain moral stories. There was this story of a Shepard who would scream everyday, “The lion has come to eat me, the lion has come to eat me,” He used to say this for fun. And the villagers stopped believing him. One day a lion actually appears, and the Shepard is unable to get the help of the villagers to protect him against it. What we learn from this is that you shouldn’t lie to others. You should be jolly in certain matters. You should be simple and straightforward with other people. Another similar story is the crow and the water. It teaches about patience. You need to have patience. In Indian mythology, the stories show the difference between the truth and the untruth. These stories show that truth always wins. The stories always show the contrast between good and evil.

    What is your favourite story?

    Narasimha Avatar is my favourite story. This incarnation of Vishnu shows the victory of good over evil. It’s now how you have faith. It reflects on different aspects of human life. The story is about having huge faith. This faith gives the power to overcome obstacles. Prahlad has immense faith in Lord Narasimha. Because of faith he feels nothing can happen to him. His is open to things that come to harm him. His faith is such that when he feels immense powers acting against him still nothing could happen to him. The story also teaches that if you get power also it should not be misused. You shouldn’t have the ego or the arrogance that comes with the power. Prahlad has immense faith such that he is able to overcome all obstacles. This story helped me realise how important faith is. To have faith is important. When i was growing up. This was the story I could connect with the most.

    In what format did you first encounter the stories of India?

    These stories were told by our grandfather. Later we understood the stories had a moral compass. The mythological stories were our first understanding of God. You hold on to the good qualities of God to inculcate those good qualities in us. Mythological stories depict a clash between good and evil. In the Ramayana the contrast is clear – between Ram and Ravan. These stories were first told by our grandfather, we saw it on television and when we became a little older, we started reading about them.

  • Working with a vision for India – Interview with Journalist Deepa Balakrishnan – Part 2

    You had a vision for India as teenager and that is what motivated you to become a journalist. Could you talk about your experiences of meeting people with a vision for India?

    I have a worked on a series of profiles of scientists who won awards. Some have done very interesting projects. Some of them have done projects you don’t even understand. When you present a story, it should be understood by a 12-year-old too. TV is a very visual medium. It’s difficult to explain physics and maths developments in a way that they are easy to understand. I remember interviewing a social scientist who did work in rural Karnataka. We spoke to people whose lives were dedicated to serving India. I interviewed a doctor who worked in the tribal belt. He spoke of his challenges and recollected instances with tribal women, who would refuse to believe in the medical system. They would mix leaves from trees and say that this would cure them. They would avoid treatment. But he also spoke about how in time understood that tribal wisdom needed to integrated with medical wisdom. Lot of people want to change the world. You would think it is so difficult to change the world. Call it fate – but I have seen a lot of people who do come your way because they have seen and appreciated some work you have done. All this fills you with hope.

    Could you talk about the role of journalism in bringing about change in society?

    I have covered a lot of social issues and social problems. In 2020, we discovered there were a large number of child brides in rural Karnataka. In 2018, through a child helpline we uncovered a child rape case where the perpetrator was a relative. The girl was 13 and had a child. She gave birth to the child and we got a lot of help from the Anganwadi. She was really scared. The parents were waiting for the perpetuator to be released. They wanted their daughter to be married to him as they could see no other way. In 2019, we went through a local NGO and found 17-18 year olds who had children as old as one year. To access the health system to which they needed access – local workers got them to change their age. They were able to access the health system this way, which was a priority. Yes, they were in a child marriage, but now the priority was to take care of their young children and also their health. None of them was confident. It was difficult for them to get access to healthcare. When you are in a system you work within the system. No one will fend for the mother and child. We have to address such issues with awareness. We need to be more aware – that is the only way to understand in such situations. There are ethical issues we come across.

    You spoke about awareness, could you elaborate on this?

    There was a science event for children I was covering – a rocket making competition. They were in the fields. Every rocket went 1 foot one alone went 10 feet high. I wanted to interview the boy who made it. He was very shy and didn’t want to talk in front of the camera. He asked if he will have to speak in English. He said in Kannada, I can’t speak very well in English. He told me he had just come from a village and had started attending the city school. He was in the 7th grade, 12 years old. “I can’t talk Akka,” he told me. I told him that many scientists in ISRO studied in Tamil, Telugu and Kannada medium. He called me three days after that and said, “Thank you Akka.”

    What is your understanding of awareness?

    Awareness is very important. People know what lens they are coming from. It is important to be kind and sympathetic. Empathy matters. People tend to become judgemental very often. Let’s accept people as they are. It’s important not to judge. Empathy really matters.

  • A career in journalism – Interview with Deepa Balakrishnan – Part 1

    Deepa Balakrishnan has been an award-winning journalist in Bengaluru for nearly two decades. In that short stint, she has had the privilege of covering a host of subjects from politics and rocket science to tsunamis and riots. She has spent most of her professional life as a broadcast journalist, though she also wrote for newspapers and websites. She is also an author, having published two books for children based on real-life news experiences. Her journey, authoring, started when she ended her long days at work to return home and her then-four-year-old wanted bedtime stories. She then started storifying her some of the real-life events she had covered, and found that the little one loved those. While on a career break, she published some of these stories to reach more children.

    On your career as a journalist and writer?

    I wanted to be a journalist since I was 15-16. I took journalism courses all through college. It was not for the glamour or the fame or the money, since there was not much money in journalism. But I wanted to be involved in societal change. It was a thing of identity. I would think of the utopian world. I wanted to contribute to a utopian world. I started my journalism journey in a publication – beats I covered were education, science and urban governance. I had so much to write about. Then I had the TV interview. I was asked, “Do you write for the news per week? What kind of deadlines do write to? Can you do one story or two per day? I was at that time doing 11 stories.” But TV is different. It may be one story, but you are still doing one story per day are the challenges can be navigating traffic, getting the right sound admist the noise etc. So, I was not putting up 11 stories in given day. One thing about journalism in any form is that the goals are the same. We are telling stories. I was at home and telling my son a story. My son loved it so much that he heard it again and again for a week. What I wanted to do was tell news stories in a way in which children could understand. As a journalist you tell a story that everyone in a village can understand, the whole nation can understand. I would tell my kid stories and that’s how the storytelling started.

    Could you talk about your children’s books? How did they come about?

    One was a story about a news event that had happened in Brazil. A sealion that had got lost in city traffic – I made a story out of it. The other story was about stone quarrying, illegal stone quarrying at that. We went to do the shoot in the forest and we took a video of the quarrying. The impact it had on villages. In the book, I wanted to talk about what we are doing to protect our forests. So many trees, so many animals – how does this quarrying impact them. A year after the incident there were so many news reports of animals leaving the forest and getting lost in villages. A leopard that comes from the protected forest area and enters the village is in the news. As a result of telling such stories we can get our children to read the news. How do you get your child hooked to reading the news? My son opens the physical newspaper and reads it.

    Could you talk about the importance of truth and authenticity in your work?

    All these are lived experiences. Authenticity is very important in any story. There is no room for plagiarism. You are here and the stories are about what you see. Journalism is all about how anyone anywhere can understand what you have to say. Even a younger child can relate to these things. Questions to ask are – whether I am making a difference to society? Whatever I am writing – whether I am making a difference in terms of awareness?

    Is this not pioneering work, in terms of presenting the news as children’s books?

    Maybe. That is hard to say. As journalists, we are all storytellers. There are lot of children’s writers these days doing the same thing. Sudha Murthy banks on her own childhood experiences. She writes about what she has known. She is a storyteller who draws from her lived experiences.

    Could you talk about your experience of storytelling – in Print Journalism, Broadcast Journalism, and as children’s writer – the entire expanse of storytelling?

    Storytelling is what we do as journalists. How it changed and remained the same across mediums. The story should have people and anecdotes, case studies and experiences. Once we were doing a documentary on The Chandrayan and spent 23 days on it – shooting and editing. It was the experiences people shared with us that made the story real. We were talking to one of the scientists behind the exhibition. He was from Pollachi and never left his district till he finished his collage. The story of a scientist from a small town can be a source of a lot of personal inspiration. To a news story, the personal experiences make all the difference.