A former software professional, Rajani Muralidhar developed a keen interest in children's literature while reading to her own children over the last few years. The lack of contemporary original content in Kannada for children piqued her interest towards writing for her own children in Kannada.

ಸಾಫ್ಟ್ ವೇರ್ ವೃತ್ತಿಯಲ್ಲಿದ್ದ ರಜನಿ, ಕೆಲವು ವರ್ಷಗಳಿಂದ ಅವರ ಮಕ್ಕಳಿಗೆ ಕಥೆಗಳನ್ನು  ಓದುತ್ತಾ, ಮಕ್ಕಳ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಆಸಕ್ತರಾದರು. ಸಮಕಾಲೀನ ಮಕ್ಕಳ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಮೂಲತಃ ಕನ್ನಡ ಕೃತಿಗಳ ಲಭ್ಯತೆ ಕಡಿಮೆ ಇದ್ದ ಕಾರಣಕ್ಕೆ, ರಜನಿ ತನ್ನ ಮಕ್ಕಳಿಗಾಗಿ ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲಿ ಬರೆಯಲಾರಂಭಿಸಿದರು.

In this bilingual blog post, Rajani writes about Dr. G.P. Rajarathnam, author, lyricist and poet from Karnataka and how his work inspired her to write poetry in Kannada. 

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Kannada Rajyotsava, commonly known as Karnataka Formation Day, is a state public holiday observed annually on November 1st. On this day in 1956, the Kannada-speaking areas of South Western India combined to establish the state of Karnataka. It is a day to celebrate the rich and varied culture and heritage of this state.

Kannada Rajyotsava Celebration

In the whole state of Karnataka, Rajyotsava Day is observed with great jubilation and vigour. On this day, the red and yellow Kannada flags are raised at several key points around the state, and the Kannada national hymn ("Jaya Bharatha Jananiya Tanujate") is shouted, giving the entire state a joyful appearance. While youngsters in many places participate in processions in their automobiles, the flag is flown at political party headquarters and in some communities. The Rajyotsava is observed by Hindus, Muslims, and Christians alike regardless of religion.

There is no better day than this to remember Dr. G.P. Rajarathnam, author, lyricist, and poet from Karnataka, well-known for composing children’s poems.

Dr. G.P. Rajarathnam

The following was remarked about Rajarathnam by an Indian author, scholar, and translator Ambale Ramakrishna Krishnashastry – “With his forceful exposition, brilliant personality, a smiling face, and good conduct, the student following he has attained is something to be proud of. A teacher who earns the respect of his students is a puṇyavanta and his students are blessed. A teacher like Rajarathnam who could nurture and bring out the latent talent present in the students is indeed rare. The writings were written by his students which he has published under the title ‘ಕಾಲೇಜು ಬರವಣಿಗೆ’ (College Writings) bear testimony to this. Due to his untiring efforts, so many starlings became visible and shone even in the daylight.”

Kannada Rajyotsava Poems For Children

The beautifully written and easy-to-comprehend short Kannada poems by Dr. Rajarathnam are widely loved by children and serve as ideal Kannada Rajyotsava poems.

Dr. Nissar Ahmed, also an eminent author and poet in the Kannada language, once quoted, “Dr. Rajarathnam understood the minds of children and their needs. Some of his works have remained a challenge for translators even today". Such is the quality of Dr. G.P. Rajarathnam’s poetry.

A form of self-dissolution is necessary in order to comprehend and respond to the impressionable brains of youngsters. It requires a review of who we are from an objective, external viewpoint. Rajarathnam was partly destined to have this. Every child’s initiation to language in school begins with nursery rhymes. Similarly, initiation to Kannada in school always begins with one of Dr. Rajarathnam’s poems.

It is no unknown that the growth and development of a state are in the hands of its children who grow up to be future citizens. Therefore, it is crucial to inculcate in the minds of children, a feeling of pride and fondness for their cultural and lingual roots. Kannada Rajyotsava poems and Kannada Rajyotsava song lyrics by Dr. Rajarathnam are thus, the best options to start with!

Dr. Rajarathnam: A Gem of Kannada Poetry

Dr. Rajarathnam started writing poetry for children several decades ago by accident. The story goes that his father worked as a Kannada teacher in a school and was unwell for a few days. Dr. Rajarathnam had to work in his place as a substitute teacher for 2nd-grade children. He was appalled by the poems taught to small children in school. The same evening, he sat thinking after a walk near a lake at the foothills of Chamundi hills in Mysore and wrote his first story in the form of a poem ‘Bannada tagadina tutturi’. He introduced this poem to his students in school and it was an instant hit. Thrilled with its popularity, he also taught this poem to the children in his neighbourhood. He continued writing more short Kannada poems for the children. A publisher in his neighbourhood noticed his work and asked him to write a collection of children’s poems, which went on to be published as a book. Thus, began his journey as a writer.

Short Kannada Poems By Dr. Rajarathnam

Some of his popular poems are taught in schools even today:

1. ‘Naayi Mari Naayi Mari’ – a delightful poem about feeding a little puppy

2. ‘Ondu Eradu Baalele Haradu’ – a poem that teaches numbers starting from 1 to 10 while describing the art of eating a meal on a banana leaf

3. ‘Bannada Tagadina Tutturi’ – a poetic story of boy who bragged about his colourful trumpet and eventually lost it

4. ‘Hatthu Hatthu Ipatthu’ – a poem teaching the addition of numbers while narrating a story of a boy who tried to steal mangoes from an orchard

5. ‘Namma Maneyalondu Sanna Paapa’ – a poem about the exploits of a little baby

6. ‘Taata Butti Tumba Rotti’ – a short poem about a boy who ate tasty rotis that were not meant for him.

7. ‘Kuriya Mari Byaa’ – a story of hunting down a tiger about to kill a little lamb

8. ‘Kallu Sakkare’ – a short poem about the tasty candy sugar

The list goes on. In all, Dr. G.P. Rajarathnam wrote more than 100 poems for children. Apart from ‘Bannada Tagadina Tutturi’, my personal favourites are ‘Kuriya Mari Byaa’ and ‘Kallu Sakkare’ because of their natural rhythm and funny sounds in between that children love.

Kannada Rajyotsava Quotes

While going through the works of someone as versatile as Dr. Rajarathnam, it is natural to find lyrics or pieces of poetry that serve as ideal Kannada Rajyotsava Quotes. Dr. Rajarathnam has composed over 230 pieces of work with more than 300 publications under his pen name Bhramara, meaning “Bee”. Hence, you may rest assured that your child will not only enjoy reading his poems but will also take on some quotes from his work, that will stick with them for years.

When my daughter was 3 years old, I started reading English books to her extensively to keep her entertained and develop the habit of reading. After a few months, I noticed an unexpected fallout of this habit. She had stopped conversing in Kannada, her mother tongue. The more I tried, the less she spoke in Kannada. Dr. Rajarathnam’s poems came to my rescue. One day, she sang ‘Bannada Tagadina Tutturi’ in school after learning it from her older brother. The appreciation that she got in school opened the doors to her conversing in Kannada again. This made me realize the power of poetry as a tool for learning.

Inspired by Dr. G.P.Rajarathnam’s style of writing stories as poems, I started writing in Kannada for my children a couple of years ago and the first of my rhyme and rhythm stories is available in Story Weaver: ಅಚ್ಚುಮೆಚ್ಚಿನ ಸಂಗಾತಿ- A story about a little girl’s quest for a pet. You can read the English version of the story here.

A beautifully illustrated book of the short Kannada poems ‘Bannada Tagadina Tutturi’ and ‘Namma Maneyalondu Sanna Paapa’ written by G.P.Rajarathnam is available in StoryWeaver. You can read the book here.

A beautifully illustrated book of the poems ‘Bannada Tagadina Tutturi’ and ‘Namma Maneyalondu Sanna Paapa’ written by G.P.Rajarathnam is available in StoryWeaver. You can read the book here. 

There are several delightful poems beautifully written by other well-known Kannada poets that are illustrated and available on the site. Check these out to find the best Kannada Rajyotsava poems for yourself and your kids!

1. Enchanting poems about phases of the moon and rainbow by Dr. Kuvempu:
   https://storyweaver.org.in/stories/43188-kuvempu-avara-chandra-mattu-kaamanabillu-kavanagalu

2. Lovely poems that teach concepts of addition &subtraction and gravity by Smt. B K Tirumalamma
   https://storyweaver.org.in/stories/37633-b-k-tirumalamma-avara-haaru-beelu-kavanagalu

3. Charming poem about a boy imagining a walking stick as his horse by Dr. Siddayya Puranik:
   https://storyweaver.org.in/stories/40394-dr-siddayya-puranik-avara-nanna-kudure

4. The poem describes the destruction caused by storms in South India by Shri. Panje Mangesh Rao
   https://storyweaver.org.in/stories/43237-panje-mangesh-rao-avara-tenkana-gaaliyaata

Celebrate Kannada Rajyotsava by enjoying these classic Kannada poems with your little ones!

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೧೯೫೬ರ ನವೆಂಬರ್ ಒಂದರಂದು ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ರಾಜ್ಯವು ನಿರ್ಮಾಣವಾಯಿತು. ಇದರ ಸಂಕೇತವಾಗಿ ಪ್ರತಿವರ್ಷ ಈ ದಿನವನ್ನು  ಕನ್ನಡ ರಾಜ್ಯೋತ್ಸವವೆಂದು ಆಚರಿಸಲಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ರಾಜ್ಯದ ವೈವಿಧ್ಯಮಯ ಹಾಗೂ ಸಮೃದ್ಧ ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತಿಯನ್ನು ಈ ದಿನ ಆಚರಿಸುತ್ತಾರೆ.

ಕನ್ನಡದ ಸುಪ್ರಸಿದ್ಧ ಸಾಹಿತಿ ಹಾಗೂ ಮಕ್ಕಳ ಕವಿತೆಗಳಿಗೆ ಖ್ಯಾತಿ ಪಡೆದ ಡಾ|| ಜಿ.ಪಿ.ರಾಜರತ್ನಂರವರನ್ನು  ನೆನಪಿಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲು ಇದಕ್ಕಿಂತ ಉತ್ತಮ ಸಮಯವಿಲ್ಲ. ಖ್ಯಾತ ಸಾಹಿತಿ ಡಾ|| ನಿಸಾರ್ ಅಹ್ಮದ್ ಹೇಳಿದಂತೆ "ಡಾ|| ರಾಜರತ್ನಂ ಮಕ್ಕಳ ಮನಸ್ಸನ್ನು ಚೆನ್ನಾಗಿ ಅರಿತಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಈಗಲೂ, ಅವರ ಕೃತಿಗಳನ್ನು ಭಾಷಾಂತರಿಸುವುದು ಅನುವಾದಕರಿಗೆ ಬಹಳ ಕಷ್ಟದ ಕೆಲಸ."

ಪುಟ್ಟ ಮಕ್ಕಳಿಗೆ ಶಾಲೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಆಂಗ್ಲ ಭಾಷೆ ಕಲಿಸಲು ಮೊದಲಿಗೆ ನರ್ಸರಿ ರೈಮ್ಗಳನ್ನು ಹೇಳಿಕೊಡುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಹಾಗೆಯೇ ಕನ್ನಡ ಭಾಷೆಯನ್ನು ಕಲಿಸಲು ಶಾಲೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಮಕ್ಕಳಿಗೆ ಮೊದಲಾಗಿ ಡಾ|| ರಾಜರತ್ನಂರವರ ಶಿಶು ಪದ್ಯಗಳನ್ನು ಹೇಳಿಕೊಡುತ್ತಾರೆ.

ಮಕ್ಕಳಿಗಾಗಿ ಪದ್ಯಗಳನ್ನು ಬರೆಯಲು ರಾಜರತ್ನಂರವರು ಆಕಸ್ಮಿಕವಾಗಿ ಆರಂಭಿಸಿದರು. ರಾಜರತ್ನಂರವರ ತಂದೆ ಶಾಲೆಯೊಂದರಲ್ಲಿ ಶಿಕ್ಷಕರಾಗಿದ್ದರು. ಒಮ್ಮೆ ಅವರ ಆರೋಗ್ಯ ಕೆಟ್ಟಿದ್ದ ಕಾರಣಕ್ಕೆ ಅವರ ಸ್ಥಾನದಲ್ಲಿ ರಾಜರತ್ನಂರವರು ಎರಡನೇ ತರಗತಿಗೆ  ಪಾಠ ಮಾಡಲು ಹೋದರು. ಮಕ್ಕಳಿಗೆ ಹೇಳಿಕೊಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ಪದ್ಯಗಳನ್ನು ನೋಡಿ ಅವರಿಗೆ ಬೇಸರವಾಯಿತು. ಆ ದಿವಸದ ಕೆಲಸ ಮುಗಿದ ಮೇಲೆ ಸಾಯಂಕಾಲ ಚಾಮುಂಡಿಬೆಟ್ಟದ ತಪ್ಪಲಿನಲ್ಲಿದ್ದ ದೊಡ್ಡ ಕೆರೆಯನ್ನು ಒಂದು ಪ್ರದಕ್ಷಿಣೆ ಹಾಕಿ ಯೋಚಿಸುತ್ತಾ ಕುಳಿತರು. ಮಕ್ಕಳಿಗಾಗಿ 'ಬಣ್ಣದ ತಗಡಿನ ತುತ್ತೂರಿ' ಎಂಬ ಕವನದ ರಚನೆಯೂ ಅಲ್ಲಿಯೇ ಆಯಿತು. ಮರುದಿನ  ಶಾಲೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಮಕ್ಕಳಿಗೆ ಈ ಪದ್ಯವನ್ನು ಹಾಡಲು ಹೇಳಿಕೊಟ್ಟರು. ಅವರ ಸಂತೋಷವನ್ನು ನೋಡಿ ಅಕ್ಕಪಕ್ಕದ ಮನೆಯಲ್ಲಿದ್ದ ಪುಟ್ಟ ಮಕ್ಕಳಿಗೂ ಪದ್ಯವನ್ನು ಹೇಳಿಕೊಟ್ಟರು. ಮಕ್ಕಳ ಉತ್ಸಾಹವನ್ನು ಕಂಡು ಅವರು ಇನ್ನಷ್ಟು ಪದ್ಯಗಳನ್ನು ಬರೆಯತೊಡಗಿದರು. ಎದುರು ಮನೆಯಲ್ಲಿದ್ದ ಪುಸ್ತಕ ವ್ಯಾಪಾರಿಯೊಬ್ಬ ಅವರಿಗೆ ಪುಸ್ತಕವೊಂದನ್ನು ಬರೆಯಲು ಪ್ರೋತ್ಸಾಹಿಸಿದರು. ಹೀಗೆ ಅವರ ಮೊದಲ ಕವನ ಸಂಕಲನದ ಪುಸ್ತಕವು ಪ್ರಕಟವಾಯಿತು ಹಾಗೂ ಅವರ ಲೇಖಕ ಜೀವನ ಆರಂಭವಾಯಿತು.

ಈಗಲೂ ಶಾಲೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಹೇಳಿಕೊಡುವ ಅವರ ಪ್ರಸಿದ್ಧ ಕವನಗಳು ಇಂತಿವೆ:

೧. 'ನಾಯಿಮರಿ ನಾಯಿಮರಿ': ಪುಟ್ಟ ನಾಯಿಮರಿಯೊಂದಿಗೆ ಸಂಭಾಷಣೆ

೨.  'ಒಂದು ಎರಡು ಬಾಳೆಲೆ ಹರಡು': ಬಾಳೆಯೆಲೆ ಊಟದ ಜೊತೆ ಸಂಖ್ಯೆಗಳನ್ನು ಕಲಿಸುವ ಪದ್ಯ

೩.  'ಬಣ್ಣದ ತಗಡಿನ ತುತ್ತೂರಿ': ಜಂಬದ ಕೋಳಿ ಕಸ್ತೂರಿಯ ಕಥೆ

೪.  'ಹತ್ತು ಹತ್ತು ಇಪ್ಪತ್ತು': ಮಾವಿನ ಹಣ್ಣನ್ನು ಕದಿಯುವ ಕಥೆಯೊಂದಿಗೆ ಗಣಿತದ ಪಾಠ

೫. 'ನಮ್ಮ ಮನೆಯಲೊಂದು ಸಣ್ಣ ಪಾಪ': ಕೂಸಿನ ಗಲಾಟೆಯ ಪದ್ಯ

೬.  'ತಾತ ಬುಟ್ಟಿ ತುಂಬ ರೊಟ್ಟಿ': ಕಿಟ್ಟ ಮತ್ತು ತಾತನ ರೊಟ್ಟಿಯ ಕಥೆ

೭. 'ಕುರಿಯ ಮರಿ ಬ್ಯಾ': ಕುರಿಮರಿಯನ್ನು ಹಿಡಿಯಲು ಬಂದ ಹುಲಿಯ ಬೇಟೆಯ ಪದ್ಯ

೮.  'ಕಲ್ಲು ಸಕ್ಕರೆ': ಬಾಯಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ನೀರೂರಿಸುವ ಕಲ್ಲುಸಕ್ಕರೆಯ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಕಿರುಪದ್ಯ

ಡಾ|| ರಾಜರತ್ನಂರವರು ಮಕ್ಕಳಿಗಾಗಿ ನೂರಕ್ಕೂ ಹೆಚ್ಚು ಕವನಗಳನ್ನು ಬರೆದಿದ್ದಾರೆ.

'ಬಣ್ಣದ ತಗಡಿನ ತುತ್ತೂರಿ' ಅಲ್ಲದೆ, ನನಗೆ ಇಷ್ಟವಾದ ಕವನಗಳು 'ಕುರಿಯ ಮರಿ ಬ್ಯಾ' ಮತ್ತು 'ಕಲ್ಲುಸಕ್ಕರೆ'. ಈ ಕವನಗಳನ್ನು ತಾಳ ಹಾಕುತ್ತಾ ಹಾಡಬಹುದು ಹಾಗೂ ಕುಣಿಯಲೂ ಬಹುದು .

ನನ್ನ ಮಗಳಿಗೆ ಮೂರು ವರ್ಷಗಳಾಗಿದ್ದಾಗ ಓದುವ ಅಭ್ಯಾಸ ಮಾಡಿಸಲು ಆಂಗ್ಲ ಭಾಷೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಅವಳಿಗೆ ಅನೇಕ ಪುಸ್ತಕಗಳನ್ನು ನಾನು ಓದುತ್ತಿದ್ದೆ. ಕೆಲವು ತಿಂಗಳುಗಳ ನಂತರ, ಅನಿರೀಕ್ಷಿತವಾಗಿ ಅವಳು ತನ್ನ ಮಾತೃಭಾಷೆಯಾದ ಕನ್ನಡವನ್ನು ಮಾತನಾಡುವುದನ್ನು ನಿಲ್ಲಿಸಿದಳು. ಆಗ ಡಾ|| ರಾಜರತ್ನಂರವರ ಕವನಗಳು ನನ್ನ ಸಹಾಯಕ್ಕೆ ಬಂದವು. ತನ್ನ ಅಣ್ಣನಿಂದ 'ಬಣ್ಣದ ತಗಡಿನ ತುತ್ತೂರಿ' ಕವನವನ್ನು ಕಲಿತು, ಅವಳು ಶಾಲೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಹಾಡಿದಳು. ಎಲ್ಲರ ಮೆಚ್ಚುಗೆ ಪಡೆದಿದ್ದು ಅವಳಿಗೆ ಹುಮ್ಮಸ್ಸು ಕೊಟ್ಟಿತು ಹಾಗೂ ಅವಳು ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲಿ ಮಾತನಾಡಲು ಪುನಃ ಶುರು ಮಾಡಿದಳು.

ಭಾಷೆಯನ್ನು ಕಲಿಯಲು ಕಾವ್ಯಗಳ ಮಹತ್ವ ನನಗೆ ಆ ದಿನ ತಿಳಿದುಬಂತು. ಡಾ|| ರಾಜರತ್ನಂರವರ ಕವನ ರೂಪದ ಕಥೆಗಳಿಂದ ಪ್ರೇರಿತಳಾಗಿ ನನ್ನ ಮಕ್ಕಳಿಗಾಗಿ ನಾನು ಪದ್ಯರೂಪದ ಕಥೆಗಳನ್ನು ಬರೆಯಲಾರಂಭಿಸಿದೆ. ನನ್ನ ಮೊದಲ ಕಥೆ ‘ಪ್ರಥಮ್ ಬುಕ್ಸ್’ರವರ 'ಸ್ಟೋರಿವೀವರ್'ನಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರಕಟವಾಗಿದೆ: ಅಚ್ಚುಮೆಚ್ಚಿನ ಸಂಗಾತಿ- ಪುಟ್ಟ ಹುಡುಗಿಯ ಸಂಗಾತಿಯಾಗುವುದು ಯಾವ ಪ್ರಾಣಿ?
https://storyweaver.org.in/stories/66886-the-perfect-companion 

'ಸ್ಟೋರಿವೀವರ್' ಸೈಟ್ನಲ್ಲಿ 'ಬಣ್ಣದ ತಗಡಿನ ತುತ್ತೂರಿ' ಹಾಗೂ ’ನಮ್ಮ ಮನೆಯಲೊಂದು ಸಣ್ಣ ಪಾಪ' ಪದ್ಯಗಳನ್ನು ಅದ್ಭುತವಾಗಿ ಚಿತ್ರಿಸಿರುವ ಪುಸ್ತಕವನ್ನು ಓದಬಹುದು. ಇದರ ಲಿಂಕ್ ಕೆಳಗಿದೆ: https://storyweaver.org.in/stories/37577-dr-g-p-rajaratnam-avara-paapa-mattu-peepi-kavanagalu 

ಸ್ಟೋರಿವೀವರ್' ಸೈಟ್ನಲ್ಲಿ ಅನೇಕ ಪ್ರಸಿದ್ಧ ಕವಿಗಳ ಸೊಗಸಾದ ಕವನಗಳನ್ನು ಓದಬಹುದು. 

೧. ಡಾ|| ಕುವೆಂಪು ಅವರ ಚಂದ್ರ ಮತ್ತು ಕಾಮನಬಿಲ್ಲುಗಳ ಕುರಿತು ಸುಂದರ ಕವನಗಳು
https://storyweaver.org.in/stories/43188-kuvempu-avara-chandra-mattu-kaamanabillu-kavanagalu 

೨. ಶ್ರೀಮತಿ ಬಿ.ಕೆ.ತಿರುಮಲಮ್ಮ ಅವರ ಗಣಿತ ಹಾಗೂ ಗುರುತ್ವಾಕರ್ಷಣೆಗಗಳ ಕುರಿತು ಮನೋಹರವಾದ  ಕವನಗಳು
https://storyweaver.org.in/stories/37633-b-k-tirumalamma-avara-haaru-beelu-kavanagalu 

೩. ಡಾ|| ಸಿದ್ಧಯ್ಯ ಪುರಾಣಿಕ ಅವರ ಕೈಕೋಲನ್ನು ಕುದುರೆಯಾಗಿ ಭಾವಿಸುವ ಮನಮೋಹಕ ಪದ್ಯ
https://storyweaver.org.in/stories/40394-dr-siddayya-puranik-avara-nanna-kudure 

೪. ಡಾ|| ಪಂಜೆ ಮಂಗೇಶರಾಯರ ತೆಂಕಣ ಗಾಳಿಯ ಆರ್ಭಟವನ್ನು ಕುರಿತ ಪದ್ಯ
https://storyweaver.org.in/stories/43237-panje-mangesh-rao-avara-tenkana-gaaliyaata 

ಈ ಮಹಾನ್ ಕವಿಗಳ ಶ್ರೇಷ್ಠ ಕವನಗಳನ್ನು ನಿಮ್ಮ ಮಕ್ಕಳಿಗೆ ಓದಿ(ಸಿ) ಕನ್ನಡ ರಾಜ್ಯೋತ್ಸವವನ್ನು ಆಚರಿಸಿ. ನಮಸ್ತೇ!

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We are excited to mark International Day of the Girl 2021 and World Space Week with the launch of a very special collaboration with mEducation Alliance, #InspirationSTEM, a campaign designed to celebrate and support young girls to pursue STEM education and careers — including those focused on space.

With this initiative, StoryWeaver hopes to inspire engagement with STEM themes using relatable storybooks, encouraging girls to continue aspiring. 

We are thrilled to kickstart this campaign with ‘Gul in Space’. A level 3 storybook written by Richa Jha and illustrated by Lavanya Karthik.

What would you like to do on your birthday? How about taking a walk in OUTER SPACE! Here’s a story that will make you jump with joy… and if there’s no gravity under you, you might just stay exactly where you are! Get ready to explore space with Astronaut Gul.

Gul, the protagonist, is a young girl who dreams about going to space. When an opportunity presents itself in front of her, she takes it without waiting for any permission from anyone. Her actions are inspiring to children, encouraging them to invest in their dreams. The poetic language in the book captures the sheer joy and excitement experienced by someone who manages to fulfil their dream, subtly but effectively invoking the readers. The illustrations further connect readers to the concepts and way of life about space.

Read ‘Gul in Space’ here.

Be a part of this year-long engagement with StoryWeaver and the #InspirationSTEM campaign!

For more details about the #InspirationSTEM campaign, visit the mEducation Alliance page here.

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A year ago, on Children’s Day 2020, StoryWeaver and Pratham Education Foundation announced a collaboration to develop and grow a repository of free, openly licensed reading resources for young children. As the first step, 50 storybooks from Pratham Education Foundation were launched on the StoryWeaver platform.

 

Kahaniyaan hi Kahaniyaan -  A treasure trove of storybooks

To mark the first anniversary of this collaboration, we are delighted to share the progress that has been made since then, in creating, translating, and curating storybooks across many languages. This Children’s Day, over one thousand storybooks will be made available for public access across two platforms – StoryWeaver and Pratham Education Foundation’s Pratham Open School.

Storybooks in ten Indian languages and English

The Pratham-StoryWeaver collaboration now has uploaded more than 600 storybooks in Assamese, Bangla, English, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Telugu, and Urdu. This allows for open, and easy access to simple, interesting and fun storybooks.

Having these storybooks under the CC BY 4.0 license on StoryWeaver makes them available to a larger audience worldwide, and the books are free to read, download and use. At the same time, these books will give the StoryWeaver community new stories to translate, giving children around the world access to more books in their own languages.

In addition to the collection of new storybooks on StoryWeaver, a rich variety of additional storybooks are also available on the Pratham Open School website. You can “read”, “listen” and use “highlighted” storybooks. What makes these packs special is that they are context-specific libraries with storybooks created by unique individuals from various backgrounds focusing on the local community and capturing the flavour of the region they represent. The packs include books from Himachal, Tripura, Assam, Bihar and Bengal with stories in the regional languages.

 

Campaign for celebration

Starting November 14, for a week, Pratham Education Foundation teams in 20 states will work with local volunteers, mothers, and community members to share one storybook a day through the ‘Kahaniyaan hi Kahaniyaan’ campaign and do a variety of activities like role-playing, drawing, and storytelling among others.

This partnership is a small step towards the goal of building a vast treasure trove of thousands of storybooks that will be freely available for children in their mother tongues.

Come join us on an exciting journey for the week of ‘Kahaniyaan hi Kahaniyaan’!

Follow us on our social media for campaign updates!

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Explore all the storybooks available for free on StoryWeaver here:  https://bit.ly/3wHyGf6

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