Katha Kathan is a deeply familiar term to anyone who grew up immersed in the rich literary worlds of classic authors. Indeed, storytelling is an age-old tradition embedded in our cultural fabric. Over time, it has evolved into a vital pedagogical tool and an effective technique within professional learning and training sessions—proving to be an engaging vehicle for conveying complex ideas in a captivating manner.

This cultural shift deeply resonates with my own involvement in a Katha Kathan collective. However, I hesitate to call it a mere group; it is more accurately described as a movement. While the name itself sounds traditional, what lies beneath it extends far beyond the ordinary. At its core, the initiative is driven by a profound, constructive philosophy and a meticulously structured agenda.

Today, storytelling has re-emerged as a major performing art taking center stage across urban landscapes. Frequent storytelling sessions are organized to honor the legacy of legendary authors, celebrate specific cultural milestones, or explore diverse contemporary themes. Among these, open-mic storytelling has surfaced as a particularly significant and dynamic trend.

My journey began during my studies of the Urdu language, where I crossed paths with advertising veteran Mr. Jameel Gulrays. Fueled by his deep reverence for Urdu literature, he routinely recorded classic stories and uploaded them to YouTube, while also hosting intimate live storytelling sessions across Mumbai. I eventually joined him. He later shared his vision with me: while his native tongue directed his focus toward Urdu literature, his ultimate ambition was to cultivate this performance art across all Indian regional languages. With this broader vision, the concept was redefined. I felt incredibly fortunate to step in as the very first member of his expanding team.

Since then, our initiative has successfully presented storytelling programs in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi, and Bengali, alongside hosting regular monthly baithaks (intimate literary sittings) spanning multiple languages. Today, Katha Kathan has flourished into an expansive family of literature enthusiasts, language lovers, storytellers, and theatrical performers. Witnessing this growth has been immensely rewarding.

Reflecting on the evolution of this movement, Jameel Sir frequently encapsulates the journey through the timeless words of the poet Majrooh Sultanpuri:

“मैंअकेला ही चला था जानिब-ए-मंज़िल मगर लोग साथ आते गए और कारवाँ बनता गया”

(I started out alone toward the goal, but people kept joining along the way, and a caravan was formed.)

Madhavi Ganpule (11 April 2019)

Madhavi Ganpule