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 February, in English, Telugu and Hindi (Urdu swap in the works). meets are “We are all stories, some
Krishna told, many untold,” says Chaitanya, 42, a storyteller
“It is and HYSTA our mission to build member. a conversation around stories as a medium of expression and support. Here, stories are told and listened to in a non-judgmental, space, followed by a sharing nurturing accentuate of individual takeaways how the stories that experiences.” connected with each one’s
HYSTA was founded in
2019. “Storytelling for has such a rich history adult in India, but it’s one that fast forgotten. In storytelling is being rakatha traditions such as the and oggukatha, it bur was adults who would We want to revive that,” listen says founding member Bommatanahalli, 47. Meghana The group is made up of storytellers from different fessions: business analysts, pro former software engineers content writers, teachers, singers, dancers psychologists, parenting coaches, practitioners of neuro-lin guistic programming.
On average, sessions draw
50 to 70 people. The Hyderabad
Storytellers Association also collaborates with libraries, art galleries and schools to conduct sessions for children. And there are plans for a festival tha would promote traditional storytelling forms with contemporary twists as a way of bridging the gap between ancient oral narratives and the mod ern world.
Meanwhile, the swap sessions are generating all-new tales.
In the session themed
The Many Hues of Love, one participant a narrated tale about a Valentine’s
Day she spent with her hero, her father.
Another spun a yarn of elusive meetings and a tragic parting two between crazy lovers... who turned be cars. out to