Dastangoi is a 13th century Urdu oral storytelling art form. This Persian style of dastan evolved in the 16th century. The form was revived in recent times, in 2005 and since then, thousands of shows have been performed in India and abroad since then. One of the earliest references in print, to dastangoi is a 19th-century text containing 46 volumes of the adventures of Amir Hamza titled Dastan e Hamza. The art reached its zenith in the Indian sub-continent in the 19th century and is said to have died with the demise of Mir Baqar Ali in 1928.
Dastangoi consists of two words 'Dastan' (meaning story) and 'Goi' (meaning to tell). This art form, performed on the steps of the Jama Masjid by dastangos, was a means of entertainment in early times.
Two present day Dastangos, Fouzia and Sonia held a workshop on the subject for school children at the INTACH Centre on 15 November, 2018. Roshan of class 9-D and Gayatri Munjal of class 8-B from our School attended the same at the INTACHs Lodhi Road centre.
The speakers began by introducing interesting facts on the art form. They then demonstrated their skill to tell two stories in the style. As the verses unfolded, our engagement with the stories was unhinged. It knitted the audience with the story and the narrator in a Dastangoi and also played a video depicting a humorous story.
Next the children were asked to select any interesting aspect about politics or heritage and then attempt to write a dastangoi to narrate it! Our students selected Rani Laxmi Bai. Other groups selected topics such as the Taj-Mahal, a Chidia ki kahani, Hyderabad ka bazar etc. We enjoyed a lot and it was an unforgettable experience.
Gayatri Munjal, VIII-B.
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