29/07/2026
The oral storytelling traditions of India is something that has fascinated me always.
Sharing here a story that moved me in many ways. I came across this gem as a song years ago in youtube, and thought this would be a great opportunity for me to share it with storytellers across the world as a form of an Oral folk song narrative. When FEAST Federation of Asian Storytellers contacted me to feature me in their " Story in the spotlight" segment.
What first drew me to this tale was not the folktale itself, but a remarkable song inspired by it. The journey of this story across time and geography is fascinating. Although the original folktale has its roots in northern India and has been passed down through generations, the song was composed centuries later by the poet and scholar Pandarinatha Acharya Galagali of Karnataka in southern India during the twentieth century. The fact that a regional folk narrative could travel so far and inspire a poet from another part of the country speaks to the enduring power of oral storytelling traditions. In retelling this story, I have drawn on the traditional style of oral narrative songs, focusing on the essential elements that bring the tale to life while highlighting the spirit of the original composition.
A few years ago, I came across a recording of the complete song on YouTube, performed by the poet’s son and grandson, and was immediately captivated by its beauty. For those who would like to experience the full richness of the poet’s imagination and hear the story in its entirety in the form of a song, I encourage you to explore the recording through the link provided below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WO27kJtmBY
My humble pranams to the genius poet.
Here is the link to the rendering of my story.. I hope you enjoy listening to this as much as I enjoyed sharing it with you all.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNxY0fhoPz0&t=95s
I hope you enjoyed listening to this as much as I enjoyed sharing it with you. Stories and songs often travel across generations, carrying with them the memories, values, and imagination of the people who created them. If your culture has a story and a song that are similarly connected, I would love to hear about them and learn how they have been passed down through time.
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