A space for multilingual imagination.
At Mahatma Gandhi Memorial College, Udupi, the sheer number of students brought a vibrant energy to the space. What made the experience particularly memorable, however, was that most of the participants were not students of literature. They came from a range of disciplines, carrying with them different interests and perspectives. Yet by the end of the session, many had discovered a curiosity for reading and storytelling.
One of the most fascinating parts of the session was about tracing the roots of local religious narratives. This prompted thought about the indispensable relationship between storytelling and community memory. This began with a student who shared the tale of how the famous idol of Udupi Krishna came to Udupi.
One particular activity invited enthusiastic participation — students had to create a story — or choose one they had heard — and translate it. The exercise highlighted the richness of multilingual expression and demonstrated how stories can travel across linguistic boundaries while retaining their emotional core.
As we ended our session, the auditorium felt like a shared storytelling space. Participants were nudged towards thinking of the literature that was often not included in their textbooks and college syllabi, the kind that lives around them. Recipes, legends and everyday translation.
