Ranchi: From village traditions and family memories to festivals, nature and everyday life, govt school students across Jharkhand turned storytellers on Thursday as part of the Jharkhand Education Project Council (JEPC) reading campaign “Mere Shabd, Meri Kahani”.The latest activity, titled “Humari Kahani, Humare Shabdon Mein” (Our Story in Our Words), encouraged children to write stories based on their own experiences, imagination, local surroundings and cultural heritage. The exercise was organised in 853 schools and saw the participation of 56,616 students, 879 teachers and 406 govt officials.Unlike conventional classroom writing exercises, the activity focused on helping children narrate stories rooted in their own lives and communities.JEPC officials said the objective was to promote creative expression while strengthening reading and writing skills among young learners.“Children learn best when they are able to connect lessons with their own experiences. Through this activity, students were encouraged to observe, think and express themselves in their own words,” said Avinav Kumar, programme nodal officer.Teachers said that students wrote on a wide range of subjects, including local customs, grandparents’ stories, village life, friendships, school experiences and dreams for the future. In many schools, children also read their stories aloud, leading to discussions among classmates.“The activity gave children a chance to become authors of their own stories. Many students who are usually hesitant in class participated actively and shared their ideas with confidence,” said Yasmin, a teacher at CMSoE.JEPC said selected entries will be compiled as part of the campaign, creating a collection of children’s stories from different parts of the state.The campaign will continue on Monday with “Kahani Ki Duniya”, under which local residents and elderly community members will visit schools to narrate folk tales and traditional stories. The activity aims to strengthen community participation and encourage children to engage with oral storytelling traditions through discussion and interaction.
