‘Shubharatri Stories’: Mysuru school rings in bedtime stories over phone

In an effort to revive the fading tradition of bedtime storytelling, a Mysuru-based school has begun delivering short audio stories directly to children’s phones.

The programme, called ‘Shubharatri Stories’, aims to combine cultural education with a screen-free bedtime routine, offering five to six-minute stories each evening for children aged three to twelve. The initiative began a little more than a month ago and the group membership is growing, indicating its popularity.

Darshan Raj, chief executive officer of Purna Chetana, the school behind the programme, said the concept took shape when one of the students in a primary class grieved over her grandmother’s demise and informed her teacher how she missed the storytelling session with her.

“The girl recalled that she used to fall asleep listening to the stories narrated by her grandmother and really missed those sessions,” said Mr. Raj. This was the catalyst for ‘Shubharatri Stories’, he said, and pointed out that initially it was meant for students of Purna Chetana school, but was subsequently made available for all.

“We created a link and WhatsApp groups for the initiative, and it is not just Mysuru — children from all over the country are joining,” Mr. Raj added.

The audio stories draw on classical Indian literature, including the Panchatantra, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bhagavatha, Vikram and Betal, and other moral tales narrated in soothing voices. The files can be saved on devices and replayed multiple times.

“Though meant for children, even senior citizens are enjoying it, judging by the response. Parents switch it on at bedtime for their children and can replay any story if the child likes it and yearns to listen to it again,” said Mr. Raj.

According to Maadhurya Ramaswamy, the chief administrative officer of the school, the goal is simple yet profound — to let children fall asleep to the rhythm of stories, while imbibing the values that define our nation.

“Every child dreams of drifting off to the sound of a story. Through ‘Shubharatri Stories’, we want to make this dream a reality, while introducing them to the social and cultural values of our land,” she said.

Within a month, ‘Shubharatri Stories’ has attracted over 3,000 subscribers, indicating its growing popularity and the appeal of storytelling.

The school is preparing a Kannada version of the programme, and is in the process of selecting suitable voices to enhance the storytelling impact. It will be rolled out in due course.

Families interested in receiving the stories can send a message to 72048 36513, following which a new story will arrive on their phones every evening, according to the school authorities.

Oral storytelling, once a central part of childhood, was declining in urban households, according to the school authorities, who are now delivering traditional tales via mobile devices. With this initiative, they hope to bridge the gap between heritage and modern technology, allowing children to access cultural narratives in a convenient and engaging way.