Pratham Books Champion : Shyamala Shanmugasundaram/ Kahani Takbak

Shyamala Shanmugasundaram from Kahani Takbak shares her story of celebrating International Literacy Day. Shyamala is a Navi Mumbai based children’s author. Home, Sweet Home; It’s all
about leaves and The wandering cloud are the Pratham Books written by her. Learn more about her work on www.shyamala.in) :

It was a wonderful enriching experience to narrate the story of Kottavi Raja and his Sleepy Kingdom on the occasion of International Literacy day. The two sessions were held at Mumbai Mobile Crèche (MMC), Raheja Labour camp, Airoli.

The MMC serves as a day care centre for kids of construction workers. My biggest challenge was to avoid ruckus that would wake up sleeping babies. (It was heartening to see babies as young as 8 weeks old lying in the cribs while their mothers worked in the nearby construction site.)

Since the older kids in the age group of 6+ had to attend school at 12 noon, I conducted my first session for them. Around a dozen kids turned up in their school uniforms. After initiating a discussion on the importance of sleep, I narrated Kottavi Raja in Hindi adding bits of music and movement. Since I didn’t know Niladri raag sung by the court singer, I introduced bits of ‘Palta’, which is practised by Hindustani Classical singers to strengthen their voice. I also eliminated the characters of Sujata and the court jester. The king’s mom and dad were introduced instead.

Even before the session ended, some of the younger kids from the Balwadi arrived in the study room asking me to come quickly as they were eager to colour, sing and hear the story. I asked the senior kids to draw a dinner menu for Kottavi Raja and hurried to the balwadi where over 30 kids sat in a circle.

The balwadi teachers drew a moustache on the index finger of every child. As I finished narrating the story, I noticed a few of the kids were already a bit sleepy. It was nearing lunchtime. The session concluded with some of the kids performing a bedtime song for Kottavi Raja.

List of songs created for Kottavi Raja

1) Song sung by Kottavi Raja everytime he wants to call the cook, musician and his parents

(Tune: Mujhe neend na aaye from the movie Dil)

To watch on Youtube : click here

Neend na aaye

Neend na aaaye …Ho-- -- ooo-- -ooo

Neend na aaye

Mujhe chain naaa aaye

Koi jaaye (cook/singer/daddy/mummy) ko bulaake laaye

Na jaane kahaan meri neend kho gayeeeeeee

Na jaane kahaan meri neend kho gayee

2) Song sung by Kottavi Raja’s court singer

To watch on Youtube : click here

Saaaaaaa(cough! cough! cough!)

Sa

Sa-re- sa

Sa-re- ga-re- sa

Sa-re- ga-ma, ga-re- sa

Sa-re- ga-ma- pa-ma- ga-re- sa

(Pause)

Sa

Sa-ni- sa

Sa-ni- dha-ni- sa

Sa-ni- dha- pa- dha- ni- sa

Sa-ni- dha-pa- ma-ga- re-sa

3) Song sung by Kottavi Raja’s strict dad

(Tune from the movie Sanam Re. Only the last line is changed)

Akkad Bakkad bambai bow

Assi nabbey pooorey sau

Raat keu baj gaye pauney do

Jao Raja jaldi sow

4) Bedtime Song sung by Kottavi Raja’s mom

(Tune :Chanda Hai Tu from the movie Aradhana)

To watch on Youtube :  click here

Chanda Hai Tu

Mera Suraj Hai Tu

O meri aankon ka taara hai tu

Chanda Hai Tu

Mera Suraj Hai Tu

5) Song: So Gaya sung by all the characters when Kottavi Raja goes to sleep.

(Tune: So Gaya Yeh Jehaan from Hindi movie Tezaab)

To watch on Youtube :  click here

So gaya Kottavi Raja

So gaya aasmaan

So gayi hai saari titliyaan,

Hai saari machliyaan/bakriyaan.

So gayaa hai raja!

So gaya Kottavi Raja (2)

**********

In its sixth edition of the 'One Day - One Story' campaign, Pratham Books was joined by 5700+ storytellers who conducted 6300+ storytelling sessions. Many, many steps towards a 'Reading India'! 

What started as a small step by Pratham Books to spread the joy of reading has become a movement. In 2012, Pratham Books initiated the One Day-One Story initiative on the occasion of International Literacy Day. 

Note : If you want to be a Pratham Books Champion and join us on our journey of getting 'a book in every child's hand', write to us at champions(at)prathambooks(dot)org.

Pratham Books Champion : Takshila Educational Society and DPS (Patna, Pune, Ludhiana and Coimbatore)

Shradha from Takshila Educational Society helped coordinate 82 storytelling sessions this year. Here are some of the stories from Delhi Public School (Patna, Pune, Ludhiana and Coimbatore)

DPS Ludhiana ILD 2016 Report by Pratham Books on Scribd

DPS Coimbatore ILD 2016 Report by Pratham Books on Scribd

DPS Patna ILD 2016 Report by Pratham Books on Scribd

DPS Pune : International Literacy Day 2016 by Pratham Books on Scribd

**********

Thank you Shradha for coordinating the sessions and to all the DPS branches for spreading the joy of stories.

In its fifth edition of the 'One Day - One Story' campaign, Pratham Books was joined by 3000+ storytellers who conducted 3200+ storytelling sessions. Many, many steps towards a 'Reading India'! 

What started as a small step by Pratham Books to spread the joy of reading has become a movement. In 2012, Pratham Books initiated the One Day-One Story initiative on the occasion of International Literacy Day . We will be sharing the stories of all our volunteer storytellers (Pratham Books Champions) through our blog. View more stories from the International Literacy Day Celebrations held in 2016. 

This blog contains stories sent in by all our champions. Browse through the blog for more stories. You can also go through the tags on the right side of the blog to find stories happening in your own city. 

Note : If you want to be a Pratham Books Champion and join us on our journey of getting 'a book in every child's hand', write to us at champions(at)prathambooks(dot)org.

Pratham Books Champion : Aarti Srinivasan

Aarti Srinivasan has been volunteering as a Pratham Books champion for a few years now. She sends us some pictures from the first session she conducted for kids at the Salvation Army this year. 

Session conducted on : 7th September

Number of kids : 20

Number of sessions : 1

Number of champions : 1

Language the session was conducted in : Marathi

********** 

Thank you Aarti for spreading the joy of reading!

In its fifth edition of the 'One Day - One Story' campaign, Pratham Books was joined by 3000+ storytellers who conducted 3200+ storytelling sessions. Many, many steps towards a 'Reading India'! What started as a small step by Pratham Books to spread the joy of reading has become a movement.

In 2012, Pratham Books initiated the One Day-One Story initiative on the occasion of International Literacy Day . We will be sharing the stories of all our volunteer storytellers (Pratham Books Champions) through our blog.

View more stories from the International Literacy Day Celebrations held in 2016.

 This blog contains stories sent in by all our champions. Browse through the blog for more stories. You can also go through the tags on the right side of the blog to find stories happening in your own city.

 Note : If you want to be a Pratham Books Champion and join us on our journey of getting 'a book in every child's hand', write to us at champions(at)prathambooks(dot)org.

Pratham Books Champion : Meena R

Meena R writes about her first experience of being a Pratham Books champion and the session she conducted in Pune.

Session conducted on : 4th and 5th September

Number of kids : 7 + 7 = 14

Number of sessions : 2

Language the session was conducted in : English 

Pratham Books Champion - Meena R by Pratham Books

Thank you Meena for spreading the joy of reading!

**********

In its fourth edition of the 'One Day - One Story' campaign, Pratham Books was joined by 2500+ storytellers who conducted 2300+ storytelling sessions. Many, many steps towards a 'Reading India'! 

What started as a small step by Pratham Books to spread the joy of reading has become a movement. In 2012, Pratham Books initiated the One Day-One Story initiative on the occasion of International Literacy Day . We will be sharing the stories of all our volunteer storytellers (Pratham Books Champions) through our blog. 

View more pictures from the International Literacy Day Celebrations held in 2015. This blog contains stories sent in by all our champions. Browse through the blog for more stories. 

You can also go through the tags on the right side of the blog to find stories happening in your own city.

Note : If you want to be a Pratham Books Champion and join us on our journey of getting 'a book in every child's hand', write to us at champions(at)prathambooks(dot)org.

Pratham Books Champion : SNEH Foundation

This story was sent to us by SNEH Foundation. SNEH Foundation is a registered NGO founded with a vision to provide equal means and opportunities of education to the unprivileged children of our nation, spreading awareness pertinent to health issues and making the underprivileged families cognizant of a nutritious meal.

SNEH has been triumphantly working in the areas of education and women empowerment for more than four years in Pune and recently expanded its operations to Mumbai.

Session conducted on : 6th September

Number of kids : 25

Number of sessions : 1

Number of champions : 4

Language the session was conducted in : Hindi

On Sunday 6th September, four enthusiastic volunteers of SNEH Foundation (Tarun Chandna, Pratik Masurkar, Swapnil More, and Prajakta Tandel) set out all the way to Koparkhairane where they delivered a fun-filled and zesty storytelling session based on the Pratham book, The Boy and the Drum. Thus, they became #PBChamps too! This event was held as part of the One Day One Story initiative by Pratham books. 

There were 25 children in all. Initially they were restless and curious. But once the story began, they were attentive, keenly listening to the story with interest. After the storytelling ended, the volunteers held a mini Q and A to know whether the children grasped the story. And their "all-correct" answers proved that they did! 

The SNEH Foundation volunteers had a great experience and hope they can receive more such books in future as it will help to impart knowledge in a fun-filled and interesting manner. 

Pratham Books Champion : Bijal Singh

Bijal Singh sent us a short and sweet note on her session.

Number of kids : 9

Number of sessions : 1

Number of champions : 1

Language the session was conducted in : English

It was really a wonderful experience of being champion for the 2nd time. We also had monoact on safety by kids and they did a wonder wonderful job. Have attached some pics of story telling session.

As always, I'm in love with Pratham Books' stories. Thanks for such initiatives.

 ********** 

In its fourth edition of the 'One Day - One Story' campaign, Pratham Books was joined by 2500+ storytellers who conducted 2300+ storytelling sessions. Many, many steps towards a 'Reading India'! What started as a small step by Pratham Books to spread the joy of reading has become a movement. 

In 2012, Pratham Books initiated the One Day-One Story initiative on the occasion of International Literacy Day . We will be sharing the stories of all our volunteer storytellers (Pratham Books Champions) through our blog. 

This blog contains stories sent in by all our champions. Browse through the blog for more stories. You can also go through the tags on the right side of the blog to find stories happening in your own city. 

Note : If you want to be a Pratham Books Champion and join us on our journey of getting 'a book in every child's hand', write to us at champions(at)prathambooks(dot)org.

Pratham Books Champion: Neelam Joshi and Aditi Bhide

The following story was shared with us by Aditi Bhide. This session was the 2nd session of the TENTASTIC pledge that she and Neelam Joshi took :

Session conducted on : 22nd November, 2015
Number of champions : 2
Number of kids reached : Approximately 35 kids
Language the session was conducted in : Marathi

The third Saturday of November, that is 22nd Nov saw Neelam and I jointly conduct our second storytelling session for the students of Stds. 1 and 2 at Dnyanada School in Karvenagar. The kids who remembered us from our first visit, started waving out to us and jumping up and down in their seats as soon as they saw us. We directly started the story session.

We chose the story ‘Paplu the Giant’ in Marathi. This time we had decided to adopt a new method. We wanted to introduce the children to book reading. We read out the story to the children and explained it at the same time. The moment we told them that the hero in today’s story was a giant, their awestruck faces were worth looking at.

I first gave them a brief introduction about Paplu; who he was, where he lived etc. Then Neelam took them through the first part of the story. As she read out to them and explained the story, the kids were intently listening and absorbing what Paplu’s mother told him, how he was very different from other giants, how they went to Raghav’s village and so on. The intermittent questions posed to the kids had them all enthusiastically participate.The next part of the storytelling was done by me. The children couldn’t hold back their laughter when they heard that dreaded dacoit Angar had been beaten up by his father for eating too many jalebis. They were very amused when they heard that the dangerous dacoit Angar was petrified to see Paplu. They were very perceptive and answered correctly why a storm brewed up and what made a loud ‘Whoooos’ sound.

At the end of the story they asked to see all the pictures in the book again. So, we went through the whole book once again..this time with us asking questions pertaining to the illustrations and the kids answering and thus narrating the story all over again.Then it was time for the finale of this session. A few students were called to the fore by the teachers. We then assigned them the roles of Paplu, Raghav, tailors, Soni and the villagers. The children then enacted the part from the story where the tailors take measurements and stitch clothes for Paplu. And what a fine job they did! Some were very bold while others could barely get themselves to speak. But the student audience as well as the teachers enjoyed the little skit.

After the skit, we showed them the collage samples of Paplu; a picture of Paplu standing tall, and a hand and stick puppet of Paplu. The teachers asked them to make similar pictures or puppets at home over the weekend and bring them to school on Monday. As we closed the session, most kids turned around and said, ‘Bai (teacher in Marathi) see you next Saturday.’ That was the best receipt we could have got for today’s story session of Paplu the Giant. Once again we thank the Principal of Dyanada School, the teachers of Stds. 1 and 2 and of course the oh-so-enthusiastic children for making the day’s session a huge success. 

Thank you Neelam and Aditi Bhide for helping us spread the joy of reading!

In 2014, Pratham Books is inviting people to become TENTASTIC Champions. This year's champions initiative is a year-long storytelling drive. Join our tribe of champions and commit to conducting ten storytelling sessions for children during the year (including the main one on International Literacy Day). Lets make reading contagious!

Register to be a TENTASTIC Champion.

Pratham Books Champion : BrainSmart

Shailja Shaily's sends us a note about her storytelling session her daughter conducted on behalf of BrainSmart. The session was supported by Shailija - a mother of 2. Brainsmart is a brain development program for kids. Brainsmart focuses on life skills, how to be happy, expressing our thoughts with confidence and learning with fun through 5 sense learning.

Session conducted on : 7th September

Number of kids : 22
Number of sessions : 1

Language the session was conducted in : Hindi and English

Photographs of another sessions conducted at BrainSmart Mumbai, with activities like

* ABCR (any body can read), 

*drama based on Takloo, 

*finding & dramatization of emotions such as happiness, angry, sad, surprised etc from the Takloo book, 

*colouring of pots with different designs, etc.

Shailja also said, "This time, the champion is Adhya Bhatnagar. She is a writer, an avid reader & a great story teller, a 9 year old girl, my daughter. The entire session and activities done, supported by me."

*********

Thank you Adhya, Shailja and BrainSmart for spreading the joy of reading!

In its third edition of the 'One Day - One Story' campaign, Pratham Books was joined by 1300+ storytellers who conducted 1500+ storytelling sessions. More than a 1000 steps towards a 'Reading India'!

What started as a small step by Pratham Books to spread the joy of reading has become a movement. In 2012, Pratham Books initiated the One Day-One Story initiative on the occasion of International Literacy Day . We will be sharing the stories of all our volunteer storytellers (Pratham Books Champions) through our blog.

View more pictures from the International Literacy Day Celebrations held in 2014.

This blog contains stories sent in by all our champions. Browse through the blog for more stories. You can also go through the tags on the right side of the blog to find stories happening in your own city.

Note : If you want to be a Pratham Books Champion and join us on our journey of getting 'a book in every child's hand', write to us at champions(at)prathambooks(dot)org.

Pratham Books : PACE Skill Training Center

Manuka Mandal sends us this report about the storytelling session conducted on behalf of PACE Skill Training Center, Ahmednagar. PACE training center is the vocational skill entity of Pratham. At PACE, they train the youth in vocational skills and also give support for their placement. PACE also focuses on underprivileged and school drop-outs who wish to do work. Manuka works as a center in-charge for Ahmednagar PACE training center and is from Etapalli Dist Gadchiroli (MH). 

Session conducted on : 6th September
Number of kids : 8
Number of sessions : 1
Language the session was conducted in : Marathi

Manuka said ...

सेन्टर च्या शेजारच्या मावशिन्नी 

जोरात आवाज दिला 

मुल्लान्नो कुठे चल्लात चला खाली जा...

लहान लहान बाल मण्डली मावशिला म्हणाल्या आम्ही ...

मैडम कडे आलो आहोत टकलू ची गोस्ट सांगणार आहेत मैडम आम्हाला 

तुमच्या कडे आहेत का टकलू ची गोष्ट .............

(rough translation : 

Children, Where are you going? Go down." said an aunty who stays near our center. 

Children replied, " We are going to Madam. She is telling us the story of Takloo. Do you know how to tell Takloo's story....)

**********

Thank you PACE Skill Training Center and Manuka for spreading the joy of reading!

In its third edition of the 'One Day - One Story' campaign, Pratham Books was joined by 1300+ storytellers who conducted 1500+ storytelling sessions. More than a 1000 steps towards a 'Reading India'!

What started as a small step by Pratham Books to spread the joy of reading has become a movement. In 2012, Pratham Books initiated the One Day-One Story initiative on the occasion of International Literacy Day . We will be sharing the stories of all our volunteer storytellers (Pratham Books Champions) through our blog.

View more pictures from the International Literacy Day Celebrations held in 2014.

This blog contains stories sent in by all our champions. Browse through the blog for more stories. You can also go through the tags on the right side of the blog to find stories happening in your own city.

Note : If you want to be a Pratham Books Champion and join us on our journey of getting 'a book in every child's hand', write to us at champions(at)prathambooks(dot)org.

Pratham Books Champion : Nehal Desai

Nehal Desai sends us the following pictures from her storytelling session. The book nook, started by Nehal Desai (MBA from Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies) is a reading library and an after school club. The main aim is to encourage reading and inculcate a reading habit in kids.  The book nook organises weekend story telling sessions for kids, and a library where kids can read and borrow books.Visit their facebook page.

Session conducted on : 6th September
Number of kids : 15 + 13 = 28
Number of sessions : 2
Language the session was conducted in : English

2 sessions held at the Book Nook, Kandivali West, Mumbai.

Kids enjoyed the story, and they made their very own TAKLOO from a used pet bottle. Kids loved the story and Takloo's enterprising skills.

Thanks Pratham books

**********

Thank you  Nehal for spreading the joy of reading!

In its third edition of the 'One Day - One Story' campaign, Pratham Books was joined by 1300+ storytellers who conducted 1500+ storytelling sessions. More than a 1000 steps towards a 'Reading India'!

What started as a small step by Pratham Books to spread the joy of reading has become a movement. In 2012, Pratham Books initiated the One Day-One Story initiative on the occasion of International Literacy Day . We will be sharing the stories of all our volunteer storytellers (Pratham Books Champions) through our blog.

View more pictures from the International Literacy Day Celebrations held in 2014.

This blog contains stories sent in by all our champions. Browse through the blog for more stories. You can also go through the tags on the right side of the blog to find stories happening in your own city.

Note : If you want to be a Pratham Books Champion and join us on our journey of getting 'a book in every child's hand', write to us at champions(at)prathambooks(dot)org.

Pratham Books Champion : Lopamudra Mohanty (The Orange Wedges Inc.)

Lopamudra Mohanty sends us a note about her storytelling session.

Session conducted on : 6th September
Number of kids : 14
Number of sessions : 1
Language the session was conducted in : English

One Day One Story" was conducted at Sneh Sadan Jogeswari West, Mumbai, where a library has been set up by Bookwallah Organization in the premises of the orphanage. The story was narrated by Lopamudra Mohanty, Founder in Partnership, The Orange Wedges Inc.   Lopamudra is a storyteller and an educator who loves to be surrounded by children and join them in shouting, jumping, running, dancing etc.

Activities Conducted:

Story narrated by Lopamudra Mohanty.

Story retold by some children.

Worksheet provided to the younger children to reinforce the concept of Big and Small; Tall and Short.

Then they had to draw their favourite character. The characters came alive with the sketches from the talented girls.

The Orange Wedges Inc. feels proud to be associated with Pratham Books and Bookwallah Organization in this TENTASTIC Champion Campaign.

**********

Thank you Lopamudra  for spreading the joy of reading!

In its third edition of the 'One Day - One Story' campaign, Pratham Books was joined by 1300+ storytellers who conducted 1500+ storytelling sessions. More than a 1000 steps towards a 'Reading India'!

What started as a small step by Pratham Books to spread the joy of reading has become a movement. In 2012, Pratham Books initiated the One Day-One Story initiative on the occasion of International Literacy Day . We will be sharing the stories of all our volunteer storytellers (Pratham Books Champions) through our blog.

View more pictures from the International Literacy Day Celebrations held in 2014.

This blog contains stories sent in by all our champions. Browse through the blog for more stories. You can also go through the tags on the right side of the blog to find stories happening in your own city.

Note : If you want to be a Pratham Books Champion and join us on our journey of getting 'a book in every child's hand', write to us at champions(at)prathambooks(dot)org.

Pratham Books Champion : Aarti Srinivasan

This story was sent by Aarti Srinivasan. Aarti Srinivasan works as a writer in an Ad Agency in Mumbai. She enjoys spending time with little kids during weekends, conducting story sessions, and learning through games.

Session conducted on : 7th September
Number of kids : 110
Number of sessions : 1
Language the session was conducted in : Hindi

Children of BJ home couldn't stop smiling looking at Takloo, his amusing mother and appreciating the clever idea that our little salt-seller came up with. When I asked them what they'd do had they been Takloo and faced a similar (salty :)) situation, here were some of the things they said with great eagerness "Didi, I would've thrown all that salt back into the sea." "I would've eaten all that salt up!" "I would've distributed it to all my best friends". I thoroughly enjoyed seeing them think like Takloo. And even ape his mom's flabbergasted expression with arms swung in the air ( see picture 3 ). Not to mention, the 'taklu' boys in class were specially elated with the story. 

Thank you Takloo for giving us this great story. Thank you Pratham Books for the opportunity to share.

**********

Thank you Aarti for spreading the joy of reading!

In its third edition of the 'One Day - One Story' campaign, Pratham Books was joined by 1300+ storytellers who conducted 1500+ storytelling sessions. More than a 1000 steps towards a 'Reading India'!

What started as a small step by Pratham Books to spread the joy of reading has become a movement. In 2012, Pratham Books initiated the One Day-One Story initiative on the occasion of International Literacy Day . We will be sharing the stories of all our volunteer storytellers (Pratham Books Champions) through our blog.

View more pictures from the International Literacy Day Celebrations held in 2014.

This blog contains stories sent in by all our champions. Browse through the blog for more stories. You can also go through the tags on the right side of the blog to find stories happening in your own city.

Note : If you want to be a Pratham Books Champion and join us on our journey of getting 'a book in every child's hand', write to us at champions(at)prathambooks(dot)org.