Uma Gayathri Challa conducts storytelling sessions for kids in Telugu

It all started when Uma Gayathri Challa’s daughter was a year old and she couldn’t find illustrative books, which could help her teach her daughter Telugu, her mother tongue, in a fun and interactive way. Since then she has self-published 10 children’s books under the name Naa Telugu Pustakalu.

Her recent storytelling session on Bheeshma Ekadasi where she spoke about Bheeshma’s role in Mahabharat and what led to the foundation of Vishnu Sahasranama had around 20 children marking their attendance, and she is positive about reaching out to more in future. “There was an instance when only one child had turned up for one of the sessions. However, I wasn’t disappointed, I was happy that the child was ready to get engrossed in the journey and was eager to learn. So I conducted the session anyway. There were also instances when over 50 turned up. Children these days are very smart and are able to pick things up quickly given that you get them interested in what you are trying to teach.

“Also, parents must take an initiative to bring their children to such sessions and make use of the opportunity offered,” says Uma, an anthropologist.

In the long run, Uma plans to start a learning centre where anybody can enrol to learn Telugu.