Sowmya Rajan- Srinivasan, Storyteller, Theatre person, Educator

Random images

Movement in the air
Happy faces and curious minds
Mischief makers some
Shy dabblers are others.
In a space
where freedom is expression.

The art and craft of life,
What we were,
Who we are,
and what we will be,
Is shaped by circumstances
assisted by a few,
Able and capable.

The busy Tirunelveli junction was conspicuously clean compared to the bedlam and dirt that one encounters in large city stations.  An auto driven by affable Ganesh to ferry us to the village of Kodaganallur. I kept my eyes peeled trying to soak in as much as I could, but the heat was soporific and lulled us into a sleepy limbo. The auto jogged and jolted over a dirt track, entered a street and halted in front of a house. I could see an old temple at the end of the street and something inside me smiled with a sense of belonging. My friend popped out of her house, a hug and a beaming welcome followed and it felt as if I knew her for ages, but actually this was the first time I was meeting her in person!

2012, my first trip to Kodaganallur as Chitra had invited me to conduct a three-day storytelling camp for the children as part of the resource centre, set up by YOKE Society. The first camp was conducted in a room on the roof. As memories go, the first is always special! I met Nataraja and his sister. Priya was the student coordinator and helped me organise my material. Chitra herself had a system for the children and I found all her little structures fascinating to observe. There were teams and team leads’. Jobs for every team, younger ones looked after by the older children and so many other details taken care of.

I told them stories in a mix of English and Tamil, made them act out, perform small improv games and would finish with an art or craft activity. Soon these art and craft activities became a hit even more than my stories! That first year I even did a small puppet show for the children.

The next two years I returned to YOKE, carrying huge bags filled with crafts and stories. The group too became larger and larger and my craft activity that was eagerly awaited, made me scour the internet for ideas in preparation! I also had fun pushing them to do theatre and spontaneous speaking activities and learning to work with them as a group.

Every trip was loaded with memories, of eating sundal and buttermilk as snacks during the break or playing on the sandy river bed. Taking a trip to the Koonthakulam Bird sanctuary nearby and once even learning to play the Parai from the children. The combined summer camp watching children from Veeravanallur weaving was also an unforgettable experience.

I have made 4 or 5 trips to Kodagannalur and every visit I would see children engaged in new and interesting art, craft, dance or communication activity. Summer camp at YOKE was truly a blend of learning, doing, sharing and enjoying. Thank you Chitra and Vasu for inviting me to be a facilitator for YOKE summer camp Storytelling, I am enriched by it!