About : Grandma's bag of Stories

About Me:

Hi! I am Anagha Deepak, a 14 year old enthusiastic about science, math and reading! I am interested in storytelling from a young age, and have competed and placed at Storytelling and Oral Reading UILs. I believe that it was my love for stories that made me passionate in Reading and Writing, and pushed me to learn, making studying a fun task, not a boring chore! Here is a website for more information about me.

Mission:

To bridge the gap between generations, passing down rich heritage and culture on the way.

Purpose:

Whenever I would visit India, my grandparents would keep me spellbound and glued to their sides by telling stories. When they started telling stories, I would be transported into the palace of Ayodhya, traveling alongside Sri Ram, Lakshman, and Sita on their 14-year exile, or in the middle of the Kurukshetra, listening to the advice of Sri Krishna. I would swing around vines talking with monkeys in some Jataka tales. I would chat with Birbal, and go drink tea with Tenali Raman the next day. Their powerful storytelling skills always left me in a trance, transporting me to totally different and new worlds! They taught me the power words hold, and sparked my ever-growing love for reading, writing, and learning.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, I was keeping in touch with my grandma in India with the help of video calls, where she continued to narrate creative stories. I waited for those calls, counting down by the hour, it was a way to take my mind off of current events and be put in the warm embrace of another story. I learned so much about my culture and it was a fun way to connect with my grandma.

However, I realized that not everyone is privy to the same privilege as I am. So, I decided to create a program that bridges the gap between generations, and passes on cultures and traditions, a way for rich heritage to be passed down.