A culture keeps its history, values, traditions and
heroes alive through stories. The rich heritage of India’s past
is forever captured in the tales of what has gone before. Profound
truths, courageous deeds and dynamic personalities are brought to life
through the art of storytelling. Richness of language and vivid
imagination make storytelling a stimulating and effective means of
communication.
As adults, we find our lives governed by
commitments, schedules and other responsibilities of day-to-day living.
Many of us seem to have forgotten the carefree thinking of our
childhood days. When we begin to tell stories we re-awaken our
potential for creativity, imagination and carefree thinking.
Storytelling is an art and a skill that one
develops with practice and cultivates over time. The novice can be concerned
and wonder, “How am I going to remember and reproduce all these
details?” His or her biggest fear can be that the students will
get bored, or worse still, fall asleep.
An important element in storytelling is learning
how to hold the student’s attention. It is better to tell a story
than to read the story from a book. To accomplish this, the storyteller
has to read the story a couple of times before the class and become
familiar with the development of the story. A storyteller who does not
want to rely on memory may write down the general outline of the story.
A successful storyteller is spontaneous and
confident. One uses one’s imagination to identify with the
characters and their moods, the setting and the action. This helps the
storyteller develop inner visualisation, which enhances the facts of
the story and emphasises the dramatic quality of the events.
One may recreate the essential elements of a story
without getting into its intricacies or into controversial topics. A
story should create a context in which a message is conveyed. The
message of the stories may be a universal value or its interpretation.
A skilled storyteller will help the students see how dharma is to be
interpreted in a given situation.
Sometimes, characters in a story may perform
actions that are not expected or understood. Or a story may highlight
adharma to point out its implications in life. Sometimes a story may
present a conflict for a hero with regard to a value like loyalty or
telling the truth. If so, the teacher should not attempt to justify the
actions of the hero through farfetched explanations. It is better to
say that a given act or decision is wrong, if it is so. Where there is
uncertainty, it is better to seek clarification than to give vague,
unreasonable explanations. Over time, farfetched logic will negatively
affect the student’s trust and respect for the teacher.
The stories may be understood from different
standpoints and different levels. Stories have dramatic value, literary
value, historical value, moral value, psychological value and certainly
spiritual value. As one continues to study the Heritage Programme, one
becomes increasingly capable of communicating the profound messages of
the narratives.
