The Saga Of Story Telling

Stories form the very elementary base of human culture. Be it in our movies, music, songs, religion, urban legends and even daily life, stories are found everywhere. Stories illustrate our dream and define our vision and values.  

When did the storytelling originate! When was the time, the first story was ever told? Was it in the wilderness of the ilex woods where the primitive man whispered a hunting story to his female counterpart?  Or was it at the rich- red- ruddy illumination of the setting sun, the primitive hunter told a story to his hungry family to convince how he tried to kill the animal but finally failed! The origin of storytelling is still shrouded in mystery with rooms left for imagination.  

Whatever may be the background, it can be said that storytelling originated as an excuse to veil the failure. Perhaps to calm the family clan from the fear of wild animals howling outside the cave, the primitive man used to tell stories to his wife and children amidst the lightlessness of his dark cave. But those were the long gone days when society was not formed and religion was not created. As families joined with other families, clans joined with other clans, society was formed. Religion was shaped and what came, as an immediate result was the art of storytelling; and for the very first time stories crossed the pits, barriers and boundaries of the caves and reached the mass in the form of legends, lore, fables and folktales. People started listening to them and thus the priest, the ruler, the judge all started effective storytelling in their own distinct way to suit their individual requirement.  

Before even writing evolved stories were the only medium for people to learn, listen and memorize. Quite ideally therefore the storyteller found enough respect and indeed an audience to tell his stories. While traveling people listened to these stories, carried it far and wide, shared with others and at the day’s end they returned home with the exciting tales of exotic lands.   

In the annals of history, stories came in varied forms. Often draped in myths and sometimes wrapped in the form of legends and fables stories were told and then again retold then finally passed down from one generation to the other.  

The saga of storytelling stands as the logo of changing tradition; it stands as an eloquent term defining humanity.