Ruth Stotter wonders why grown-ups, particularly men, can’t listen to stories. “I think if people grow up listening to fairy tales, there would be no need for psychiatrists,” she says. The California-based storyteller was in the city as part of the World Storytelling Institute’s programme initiatives. Ruth has served as the Director of the Storytelling Program in Dominican College, where she taught Analysing Fairytales and other courses. She has also written a number of books.
Ruth’s spirited storytelling session at the Ranade Library auditorium on Sunday evening had mostly grown-ups in the audience, with a handful of kids. By the end it was obvious that her stories about silly tigers, wise rabbits and the magic trees had touched both adults and kids alike, and she was showered with compliments by gushy members of the audience.
“A storytelling session has an intimacy that other media do not have. Strangers who come together for a session leave as acquaintances and eventually become great friends,” believes Ruth, and her career as a storyteller has only affirmed this. “Back home, book clubs and storytelling sessions are a great place for people to get together and spend quality time knowing each other. These places are even more popular than the church,” she says.
As a child, Ruth’s innovative horror stories scared the other kids to an extent that she was asked to leave the summer camp. “Today, it is unfortunate that our kids are so glued to Facebook and Twitter that the magic of storytelling does not reach them. But I like the Internet for my own reasons too. It has made life easy.”
Her third and longest visit to India has already made her fall in love with the country. “I love travelling extensively as it gives me a glimpse into various cultures and its people. I always use references from my travel in my stories. Indians fascinate me with their deep sense of family bonding and strong values. People here are warm-hearted; it is in their blood. I can’t wait to go back home and tell stories about this land,” Ruth smiles.