A narrative-recording session in progress on the Purna Chetana Faculty in Mysuru.
| Picture Credit score: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
In an effort to revive the fading custom of bedtime storytelling, a Mysuru-based college has begun delivering brief audio tales on to kids’s telephones.
The programme, referred to as ‘Shubharatri Tales’, goals to mix cultural schooling with a screen-free bedtime routine, providing 5 to six-minute tales every night for kids aged three to 12. The initiative started somewhat greater than a month in the past and the group membership is rising, indicating its recognition.
Darshan Raj, chief government officer of Purna Chetana, the college behind the programme, mentioned the idea took form when one of many college students in a main class grieved over her grandmother’s demise and knowledgeable her trainer how she missed the storytelling session together with her.
“The woman recalled that she used to go to sleep listening to the tales narrated by her grandmother and actually missed these periods,” mentioned Mr. Raj. This was the catalyst for ‘Shubharatri Tales’, he mentioned, and identified that originally it was meant for college kids of Purna Chetana college, however was subsequently made obtainable for all.
“We created a hyperlink and WhatsApp teams for the initiative, and it isn’t simply Mysuru — kids from everywhere in the nation are becoming a member of,” Mr. Raj added.
The audio tales draw on classical Indian literature, together with the Panchatantra, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bhagavatha, Vikram and Betal, and different ethical tales narrated in soothing voices. The information might be saved on units and replayed a number of occasions.
“Although meant for kids, even senior residents are having fun with it, judging by the response. Dad and mom swap it on at bedtime for his or her kids and may replay any story if the kid likes it and yearns to hearken to it once more,” mentioned Mr. Raj.
In keeping with Maadhurya Ramaswamy, the chief administrative officer of the college, the aim is easy but profound — to let kids go to sleep to the rhythm of tales, whereas imbibing the values that outline our nation.
“Each baby desires of drifting off to the sound of a narrative. By ‘Shubharatri Tales’, we wish to make this dream a actuality, whereas introducing them to the social and cultural values of our land,” she mentioned.
Inside a month, ‘Shubharatri Tales’ has attracted over 3,000 subscribers, indicating its rising recognition and the attraction of storytelling.
The college is getting ready a Kannada model of the programme, and is within the course of of choosing appropriate voices to boost the storytelling impression. Will probably be rolled out in the end.
Households focused on receiving the tales can ship a message to 72048 36513, following which a brand new story will arrive on their telephones each night, in line with the college authorities.
Oral storytelling, as soon as a central a part of childhood, was declining in city households, in line with the college authorities, who at the moment are delivering conventional tales by way of cellular units. With this initiative, they hope to bridge the hole between heritage and trendy expertise, permitting kids to entry cultural narratives in a handy and interesting approach.
Revealed – August 24, 2025 08:45 pm IST
