Stories are a part of life. While reading stories, we find ourselves immersed in the characters in such a way that the stories end up becoming our own, be it mythology or folktales. Thus the way these stories are told have a huge impact on the listeners. Renowned poet and author Rajesh Joshi believe that children should be exposed to a wide variety of literature so that they get the opportunity to enter and experience the world of stories.

He talked extensively about the various elements that stories have, impact of these stories on young children as well as the traditions of stories and storytelling in India. His words enhanced the experience of the two-days seminar organised by Eklavya Foundation on February 26 and 27.

The seminar focussed on perspectives around children’s literature vis-a-vis stories, poems and pictures. Other sessions during the two days witnessed internationally appreciated painter and potter Shampa Shah who talked about stories in pictures. She shared her own journey with pictures and her connect with the world of illustrations by relating with her childhood experiences and its impact on her work with various institutions.

Her work is a proof of the influence folk art has on the work of artists.

On the first day of the seminar, Sushil Shukla who is a poet and an author of children’s literature talked about the importance of poems and songs during childhood and how any childhood is unimaginable without the presence of poems and songs in it. The word-play in these poems expose children to a different world altogether. 

On the same day painter Awdhesh Bajpayee while talking on the idea of art discussed the importance of art in highlighting issues and aspects which otherwise remain untouched and unexplored. He also brought to light the internal struggles and dilemmas that artists go through while bringing a piece of art to life.