Ancient Life and Research, Enjoy the Paintings, Guidance: Ways to grow, Oral Stories from Rural India, Philosophy, Turiya and Ramakrishna: Conversations around self- A Photo Book
Published on 15/03/2022
Comments 55

The Curse of A Tale: And Why each mother should make her child first, a storyteller?

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Sound is important.

Anyone who takes on a story takes on the responsibility of passing it on. A.K Ramanujan, an Indian Poet and Folklorist wrote in the preface to his book Folktales from India, “Stories and words not only have weight; they also have wills and rages, and they can take different shapes and exact revenge against a person who doesn’t tell them and release them into the world.

They are there before any particular teller tells them; stories hate it when they are not passed on to others, for they can come into being again and again only in that act of translation.

If you know a tale, any tale; you owe it not only to others but to the tale itself to tell it; otherwise it suffocates.

Traditions have to be kept in good repair, transmitted, or else, beware, such tales seem to say, things will happen to you. You can’t hoard them.” He then tells of a Kondh tribal who possessed four stories which he was too lazy to repeat. One night, when the Kondh was fast asleep, the stories emerged from his belly, sat on the snoring lout, and conspired together to kill him because he refused to tell them to anyone. The Kondh survived only because his servant, who wanted the stories for himself, overheard the plot and was able to thwart each assassination attempt as it occurred. In another case, a song a woman never sang and a story she never told came forth from her mouth while she slept and metamorphosed into a man’s coat and a pair of shoes, items which sent her husband into a fury of jealousy.

Also read: How Dreams try to tell you something more ?

While all living stories are clearly not benign, “But some might call it chance that you selected this story or this blog to read; I believe instead that it selected you, that you and it were destined to meet, as it were. It and I have been close ever since the first thought, seed came before any of it even arrived. As true lovers of mythic reality cannot remain aloof from the wisdom stories carry. Stories always write and speak of their beloved with love and affection, and they love to share the good word with other like-minded people.

You who are reading this may not elect to make it a part of yourself, as I have, for that will require you to feed it with your blood. Perhaps stories only make you curious about them, or may be you want only to use it to help you relieve your misery. But I must tell you, especially when you find yourself in trouble, make it into a story. And remember to share it with someone.

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Thank you.

If today is the first time you have arrived on The Road to Nara, you are heartily welcome ~ Namaste

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I will take this opportunity to introduce you to About me and importantly;

As a co-traveller, my Ten Learnings from several years on the road, before you coarse on your own Road to Nara.

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Also, You will be happy to know about My Little School Project. If you wish to come over for a visit someday that you must, you will be heartily welcomed here

If you would like to contribute to my travels, you can please do so here

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If you have anything to share, or feel like saying a hello, feel free to write to me at nara@road-to-nara.com

To visit other long-term photographic works, please visit here.

To follow my walks through the rural Indian Subcontinent, find me at 
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This entry was posted in: Ancient Life and Research, Enjoy the Paintings, Guidance: Ways to grow, Oral Stories from Rural India, Philosophy, Turiya and Ramakrishna: Conversations around self- A Photo Book
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Hi, I am Narayan Kaudinya. And i welcome you on this journey, the Road to Nara ! I am an Ethnographer and a practicing Indologist. I did my masters in History and further learnt Sanskrit, Yoga and Nerve-therapy. At 24, pushing most academic sounding, office sitting works away, i felt compelled to know and understand the world and my country, Bharat/India. I travelled, and as it happened i took up teaching in Kashmir and further up in the remote villages of Baltistan in the foothills of Karakoram Ranges. For around three years and many states later there came a time when i felt that it was only while teaching i learnt how to laugh, to see, feel, breathe, love and cry -with children, and mostly resource-less parents in the harshest-freezing border conditions. I write, and work as a documentary photographer and Filmmaker, with numerous published, exhibited and some awarded stories. In my travels and life i have let nature lead me, the divine mother, and as a Yogin, my resolve here is to share my experiences and thoughts as honestly, and through them to blossom in everyone the power and possibility in pursuing your breath, that you seek your true nature with courage and curiosity. Here, on this road i will share my spirit, my love for nature, the elements of life that are us. And in doing so, i'll be happy to see you along.

55 Comments

  1. gabychops says

    This post is important because it is skillfully illustrating the immense value of storytelling, the oldest form of human communication. Thousands of years ago the tales were shared around the fire, another thing included in every mythology without which we would not evolve or survive.
    The stories were passed on from one generation to the next, and without them, we would know very little about our existence and our understanding of daily reality, and our knowledge of the universe.
    Your original interpretation of dreams and storytelling, Narayan, adds to the exotic feeling of your writing, and it is fascinating as your tales come from India, and in today’s globalization, they will be read with interest and curiosity all over the world.

    Joanna x

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    • Narayan Tushar Kaudinya says

      Joanna, You are absolutely right and importantly notified me about a ritual which has been the most important aspect of humans meeting each other. In a circle, surrounding a fire, almost giving it the sun’s podium.

      You are most kind dear Joanna. Thank you so much.

      Narayan x

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      • gabychops says

        Your writing about the importance of storytelling, Narayan, resonates with me because the past of my family has been told and re-told for generations, and is imprinted in my memory.
        You are on the right track, just keep on writing!

        Joanna x

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply
  4. Yetismith says

    This has caused me to think! Stories should be told, particularly when they are part of legend and it is very important to tell them correctly. I must cast my memory back and see what I have been hoarding. Maybe this explains why writing on my blog has felt like a release.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply
  8. Anila says

    what a beautiful write up.. loved it. Stories indeed have their own soul and seek companionship. They choose you to write them or to be heard.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  9. Cindy Georgakas says

    Hi Nara,
    wonderful post.
    Sound is important stories share a past to be remembered and passing them on is vital.
    It’s always a pleasure to read you. 🌻🌻💖

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  11. Michael Graeme says

    A terrific read, Narayan, and one I can relate to. I’ve been thinking about this all day. I’ve always felt my stories came from somewhere else and chose me to tell them, or there was a genie or a muse inside who creates them, then insists I pass them on. When I get it right, the story has told itself. When I get it wrong, it means there was too much of me in the story, that I got in the way of the telling.

    Your legends of stories that grew vengeful if they were not told is fascinating, and also a warning. I have always wondered if I did right by giving my stories away, if I dishonoured them by not holding out and selling them, but came to the conclusion the stories don’t care about the money. They just want to be told, and that I found an audience online was enough for them not to have their revenge on me – I hope.

    Best wishes.

    Michael

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    • Narayan Tushar Kaudinya says

      Thank you Michael for saying it out loud. And how you could percieve keeping yourself and the stories that are selecting you to be the one. To think about it again, it is without doubt true that we hold responsibility of each tale we consume, how it stays and how it might and should leave us is as much important.

      Really liked your important review Michael, thanks.

      Narayan x

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply
  12. sheetalbravon says

    What are we bloggers without our stories to share, Narayan?
    Also the quotes you choose are amazing. I discovered one of Kushwant Singh thanks to you where he speaks of 3 R’s- RK Lakshman, Roald Dahl and Ruskin Bond. Now those are four of my favourite story tellers in one line. Fantastic!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Narayan Tushar Kaudinya says

      And you caught the most beautiful lines i wrote while writing my about, about these 3Rs, i had memories of mountains when i think about these writers, even Dalhousie for Khushwant Singh. It is lovely to have your presence dear Sheetal. Thank you.

      Narayan x

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply
  15. Manja Maksimovič says

    I’ve had this post opened in my browser since you posted it, all this time. For some reason I didn’t read it until now. My mother made me a reader and a storyteller (together with my journalist father). There is never a blog post that you read by chance. There are always stories waiting to be shared. Thank you for saying it so clearly, and for listening.

    Like

    Reply
  16. seekingdivineperspective says

    I love how you personified stories (and songs), giving them a whole new dimension.
    “… when you find yourself in trouble, make it into a story.” One of the first things I learned in creative writing is a story’s need of conflict. Without “trouble,” there IS NO story! 😉

    Like

    Reply
    • Narayan Kaudinya says

      Absolutely Ann, but above all stories in today and the years to come need hope and perspective towards the universal One. For this particular essay, trouble became a metaphor for freedom as it should never be carried for long.

      Like

      Reply
  18. Manu says

    Stories indeed need to be told. I think we all have learnt something from stories shared. I like what you wrote about making it into a story when you find yourself in some sort of trouble. It is a good perspective to have.

    Like

    Reply
    • Narayan Kaudinya says

      Certainly, it is the stories that wake us up who have now turned to folklores or even myths. Thank you Manu for your generosity and acknowledging. My greetings. Thanks again.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  20. Gradmama2011 says

    I don’t know how I got here, or where this came from. I saw your thumbnail photo in a “like” string and clicked it. I’m glad I did. What threat blog this is. Thanks.

    Like

    Reply

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