21 May saw yet another delightful storytelling workshop of the ‘Share Stories Open Minds’ project at the Seagull Foundation for the Arts. Despite the heavy shower in the morning, enthusiastic volunteers turned up for the workshop conducted by Mrs. Chitralekha Bhaskar, Resource Associate, Scholastic India. To mark the occasion of ‘Buddha Purnima’, a day of peace, the workshop began with volunteers taking a pledge for Peace, ‘May Peace Prevail’. Holding hands and singing the anthem of peace spread an indescribable joy among the audience.
During the two hour session, Chitralekha narrated a personal anecdote where she once surprised her students by dressing up like Fred Flintstone, with animal skin and jute hair. This immediately caught the attention of her students and they paid greater attention to what she had to share. She went on to discuss the topic for the day, ‘Stone Age’. After a long time, the students listened instead of just hearing. This made all the difference. The volunteers were impressed and made note of one of the crucial ingredients of a successful storyteller i.e., motivating an audience so much so that they are completely engaged in your story.
The workshop continued with Chitralekha chalking out tips and strategies for being good storytellers. She mentioned how a ‘smile’ is so very important and adds to the character of the narrator. The term ‘storytelling’ was attempted to understand from an etymological perspective. Every volunteer had a different understanding and explanation for the term. Some called it a process of communication and some called it a cathartic expression through words. The responses were appreciated and Chitralekha added that it is very important for storytellers to make the session interactive and two-sided. Moreover, dramatization, personalizing experience, voice modulations, musical instruments, arts, etc are some of the other prerequisites that were voiced.
After tea-break, the topic of discussion shed light on the subject of peace and tolerance. Little square slips of papers were circulated among the volunteers to pen down their understanding of peace. Every volunteer had described the term in their own ways. Some symbolised peace through doves, trees, the ying-yang symbol, while others used phrases to define their ideas of peace. They wore the slips of papers as badges and sang the anthem of Peace again. Chitralekha ended the workshop with a noteworthy quote,’Peace is not a destination, it is a journey’.
– Shreyashee Roy, Intern