A billion untold tales
The many hues of love; letters (written, read or heard of); coffee memoirs: these are some of the themes that have been picked for monthly storyswap sessions at the Hyderabad Storytellers Association (HYSTA). The sessions were launched in English, Telugu in February, and Hindi (Urdu swap in the works). meets are
“We are all stories, some told, many untold,”
Krishna Chaitanya, 42, 2019. says HYSTA was founded in a storyteller and HYSTA “Storytelling for
“It is our mission to build in India, but
member. has such a rich history adults a conversation around it’s one that as a medium of expression traditions stories fast forgotten. In storytelling is being and support. Here, such are told stories and oggukatha, as the burrakatha and listened to in a non-judgmental,
itwasadultswho would space, followed nurturing listen.
We want to revive that,” by a sharing of individual says founding member
Bommatanahalli, Meghana accentuate how takeaways that 47.
the stories connected experiences.” with each one’s The group is made up
of storytellers from different businessanalysts, professions: former software
engineers, content writers, teachers, dancers, singers, psychologists, parenting coaches, practitioners
of neuro-linguistic programming.
On average, sessions draw people. 50 to 70
The Hyderabad Storytellers Association also collaborates with libraries, art galleries
and schools to conduct sessions for
children. And there are plans for a
festival that would promote traditional storytelling forms with contemporary twists as a way of bridging thegap between ancient oral narratives and the modern world.
Meanwhile, the swap
sessions are generating all-new tales.
In the session themed
The Many Hues of Love,one participant narrated a tale about aValentine’s Day she spent with her hero, her father. Anotherspun ayarnofelusive meetings and a tragic parting between two crazy lovers... who
turned out to be cars.