Famous personalities of the city reveal their favourite childhood tale to Priya Adhyaru-Majithia from the range of wonderful stories their mothers wove for them and how it went on to strengthen the mother-child bond
Story without stops : ELA BHATT AND MIHIR BHATT
EMINENT SOCIAL worker Ela Bhatt’s stories for her children did not have an end. Bhatt’s son Mihir recalls, “My favourite tale that mom told me is of epic nature. That story had tales within tales without any full stops! The tale she started to tell us on our dinner table, when I was three, continues to amuse my second son of 11 years till today!” Bhatt’s favourite childhood story included street vendors of Manek Chowk who made an honest living to a global leader in Africa who showed his innermost anxieties at the increasing violence against humanity. Mihir said, “The tale I loved to hear most as a child is the stunning rise of India’s curry-spiced pizza-eating middle class and the fall in global interest for the poor who live without food in an agriculture-rich nation. The tale’s narrations are mysteriously smooth, has simple but haunting visuals. Brown-baked words, bright-red action, dark-long events, and silk smooth narration made the tale come to life each time we enjoyed family time at the dinner table. The tale has her colleagues shining like a golden Thai temple summit and thousands of modest sisters with an everlasting grace of blue-and-white porcelain. The tale has wings of pain and laughter reposed in family members.”
Fables are his favourite : PARTHIV PATEL AND NISHA PATEL
AS A CHILD, ace cricketer Parthiv Patel loved tales from Panchtantra and Hitopadesh. Parthiv’s mother Nisha Patel said, “Saat Puchhadiyo Undar, Monkey and Crocodileand Monkey and The Cap Sellerwere three favourite fables that Parthiv yearned to hear again and again. He loved to listen to stories and I loved to narrate them.” Art of storytelling is the best way to instil cultural values and channelise a child’s mind. It also gives private time to mother with her child and these very moments nurture the mother-child relationship, believes Nisha. Parthiv’s better half Avni, who too has grown up listening and liking the same set of stories and fables, is astonished to find that their daughter Venika also demands to listen to Talkative Turtle which is her favourite childhood tale and Saat Puchhadiyo Undar. “It is amazing Venika also loves to listen to the same set of fables from me and her dadi Nishaben,” said Avni.
Tales of forefathers : ABHAY MANGALDAS AND ANJALI MANGALDAS
HOTELIER AND heritage conservationist Abhay Mangaldas’ world of stories did not include fairy tales. His favourite stories were of his conversations with mom about the adventures of his forefathers. Abhay said, “My mother did not tell us ‘once-upon-a-time’ stories. She would tell us anecdotes about the adventures of my family members. One story that I demanded to listen again and again was about my uncle Anand Sarabhai. Anand was a curious child. His grandfather, Ambalal Sarabhai, always encouraged him to explore his curiosity and creativity. Anand decided that he would make soap and make a business out of selling it to family and friends. He proceeded to make ‘soap’ in his kitchen, the size of marbles, put the pellets in a bag and took it to his school Shreyas to sell. He also convinced his uncles and aunts to buy his ‘soap’. He was all of eight years old. He went on to become a scientist and art collector who did the most amazing experiments all his life. He was the most curious man I have ever known. I think this anecdote has taught me that to be creative, you must remain curious.”
Bear magic : AISHWARYA MAJMUDAR AND RIMA MAJMUDAR
WHEN CHHOTE Ustad fame and popular singer Aishwarya was in her tender years, she enjoyed the story-telling sessions with her mother almost every night. “I would put her to bed and read out stories of her choice when she was nine. From a large range of Akbar and Birbal to Bakor Patel and English fairy tales, we used to read out aloud many stories from select sections of books,” said Rima Majmudar. Aishwarya’s favourite childhood story was about the Three Bears. “The first bear that makes house of straws and leaves, the second one makes a house of wood, while the third one, industrious and a perfectionist, maks a house of bricks.” Till today, she draws inspiration from this story that she loved as a child. “This story taught me a child that only if you work hard, you survive,” she says.
It appeared in Ahmedabad Mirror on May 12, 2013
