Group uses storytelling to promote Kannada among kids

Like minded people have formed a group to promote Kannada language among school children by narrating moral stories.

Group members, who are a part of Parampara Cultural Foundation (PCF), launched Kathe Heluve, an initiative to promote Kannada among school children, a few months ago.

"Nobody is working at the grass roots level to strengthen Kannada vocabulary among children. We wanted to instill love for Kannada among children, besides strengthening their vocabulary," G P Ramanna, president, PCF, who conceived the initiative, told DH.

The two-hour Kathe Heluve sessions are conducted at primary schools on Saturdays once a month.

The group ropes in a writer as a narrator. Children are given photo copies of a story in advance. Children are asked questions to check if they have understood the story.

"Subsequently, we give photocopies of a separate story and ask two children to narrate it. Finally, we ask two children to recollect any story they've heard and narrate it," he said.

In the process, group members teach children narrative techniques, changes in expressions, voice modulation in accordance with the twists in the story.

Two children who narrate stories are given Rs 200 each as cash prize, while two others who recollect and narrate stories are given Rs 500 each.

The group distributes free anthologies of Kannada stories, besides organising the event free of cost.

"We want to visit one school in every district of the state to promote Kathe Heluve. We've plans to organise sessions at schools in rural areas," he said.