INDICA is pleased to organize a conference on “Indigenous Storytelling Traditions of India”. We invite papers from researchers, performers and cultural connoisseurs. We are eager to receive papers in the following areas.

  1. Studies on Storytelling Performing arts
  2. Studies on Storytelling Informal event genres like bedtime/ granny’s storytelling events etc.
  3. Studies on Narrative techniques in the oral and written folk and classical texts, including texts of narrative collections with different structures of compilation
  4. Studies on Narrative structure narrative/story (as distinguished from narration), itivritta nirmaaNa , plot structure
  5. Studies on Narrative types/narrative genres etc., tales, tale types, tale motifs, narrative types like myth, legend, folktale and fairy tale etc.

Our diversity results in a rich set of contexts. Indian tradition has evolved both universal and contextual forms of storytelling, resulting in a very rich Katha-Kathana-Paddhati. Entire communities participating in and receiving these stories result in complex, layered, stories within stories that then become civilizational memories. The highly complex yet flowing form of storytelling we see in Gathasaptashati/Kathasaritsagara is an example of the compilation and narration techniques Indian storytelling tradition has evolved. The fluid nature of the difference between the Narrator and the Actor and the presence of multiple narrators within the same storytelling performance demonstrate the sophistication of our forms and techniques—these elevate the receiver and make one part of the flowing story. Such richness in narrative performance, narrative instruments! Why do we have such diversity? Where does this diversity come from? We seek answers to these questions from the papers of this conference.

It is not that these questions have not been raised before. International societies (for instance, theInternational Society for Folk Narrative Research) interested in storytelling cultures have carried out extensive studies and published both academic papers and illuminating books. However, the question is, Do they sufficiently mirror Indigenous Storytelling traditions of India? Have they truly understood our rich forms? If not, what is the work that lies ahead of us? Why are the international repositories not aligned with ours? Why is Western research not able to grasp Indian storytelling perspectives? We hope to seek answers to these questions as well as comparative perspectives with a global mindset. We should be able to answer questions such as, Why do Indian puppet shows represent our classical/folk mythology, while in the west mythology is devoid of such folk representations? Why are our granny stories so different?

We hope to find answers to these questions at the Conference.

Call For Papers 

We invite practitioners, scholars, researchers, and connoisseurs to present Indigenous Storytelling Traditions of India from various perspectives, outlined above.

The Conference will be curated by Dr Nagaraj Paturi, Senior Director of INDICA, and co-curated by Deepa Kiran, well-known Storyteller and an educationist, and Shivakumar GV, Consulting Editor for Indica Today.

Submission of Abstracts 

Abstracts of 300 words (font size 12, Times New Roman, 1.5 line spacing) must be sent by email to namaste@indica.org.in with the title of the Conference mentioned in the subject. Abstracts should provide a brief description of the topic and, if required, the theoretical focus, objectives, study area, and research methodology. Acceptance of the abstract will be notified to the author.

Please note the following.

  1. The Conference is scheduled for 7th and 8th January 2022.
  2. Please send your 1 Page Abstracts for the Conference by 7th December 2021.
  3. Please send your final version of the Paper by 31st December 2021.
  4. Please send all communications to namaste@indica.org.in