Lessons from Indian Wisdom: International KathaShaala Divas
31Oct, 2023
Changing the world, one story at a time, the Indian way_
*32 Story Tellers*
*300 Children*
*50+ Parents*
*11 Locations across Bhaarat*
*2 Overseas Locations – Jakarta, Sydney*
*2 Online sessions*
Stories as diverse as those of Raja Bharat and Gandhiji, another from Panchatantra, yet another from the Mahabharat and finally one of the wittily brilliant Tenali Ram enlightened them and further, the “morals” were not transmitted to them, rather drawn out from them . Fun exercises such as blindfolded Dahi-Handi fod, making clay sculptures, drawing characters from Panchatantra and loads more delighted them. Variety of prizes and company of others thrilled them. Aum chanting and Bhraamri praanayam enlivened them. *When the children of the world would learn in this manner, not just on a single day but every single day, they will be able to shape a world of peace, prosperity and purpose!*
2nd of October every year is already celebrated as Gandhi Jayanti and Rashtriya Swacchata Diwas but from 2023 onwards, it is and will also be celebrated as International Kathashaala diwas ….not limited to India. *Paathshaala means school and Kathashaala is that where stories are the default way of learning/ education! Stories being the vehicle of values and further, the seeds for trees of virtuous living will set the tone for education and discovery, in the near future*. Naturally, Bhaarat being the cradle of the story telling methodology, automatically will be the pioneer of this phenomenon. This is a part of Chiranjeev Gurukul’s Shaala intervention!
Such is the power of Kathashaala, that we are already seeing a trend of tiny tots playing with even younger tots, the game of “Kathashaala Kathashaala” instead of “home home” or “doctor doctor’.
*No wonder then that the originator of Panchantantra (the world’s oldest compendium of stories), Pandit Vishnusharma declared अधीते य इदं नित्यं नीतिशास्त्रं, श्रृणोति च। न पराभवमाप्नोति शक्रादपि कदाचन।। (पन्चतंत्रम कथामुखम् 10) – whosoever studies this text (of stories), or listens to it regularly, will never face defeat even at the hands of the most powerful Lord!*
_Salutations and reverence to Pandit Vishnusharma and other great Acharyas of Bhaarat!