21/09/2026
Shadow Puppetry – 10th September, 2026
As part of the courses “BKS: Insights for Developmentally Appropriate Practices – I” and “Indian Knowledge Systems”, students explored shadow puppetry as a form of storytelling through a performance of દલા તરવાડીની વાર્તા, presented by the teachers of Chetan Balwadi. The experience introduced PG Diploma students to diverse storytelling pedagogies. It encouraged them to understand how to adapt traditional forms for children, while First-Year students explored traditional Indian storytelling as a creative and participatory practice.
But the learning went beyond the performance. The teachers of Chetan Balwadi shared how they had first tried the story in their own classrooms that morning and reflected on children’s responses. This opened a discussion on making thoughtful choices about what to include, what to adapt, the emotions a story may evoke, and how to weave values naturally into the story rather than simply stating them as a moral.
The experience helped students look beyond telling a story to understanding the thought and intention behind developmentally appropriate storytelling.
