Storytelling in the classroom is a wonderful and easy way to enhance the curriculum in a number of subject areas. Teachers who incorporate folk literature in their curriculum, however, often explore stories outside the Western tradition only when working on multicultural units. Stories from other parts of the world have long and rich traditions, and readily fit in with countless themes that are taught in Western classrooms. One country with great stories to offer is India. The Indian subcontinent is known as one of the "cradles of civilization," and retains a flourishing oral tradition that can be traced back thousands of years. Today India is the second-largest country in the world in terms of population, with just under one billion people in its 26 states. It is a land of great diversity-of religions, languages, races, and geography. People who live just a few miles away might speak completely different languages, practice different religions, eat different foods, and have different modes of dress. However, stories are still a part of daily life, and they are heard in the home, at school, at religious gatherings, and via traveling performers.

Animal tales that explore moral themes, trickster tales that stretch the imagination, and stories that exemplify the continuing battle between good and evil forces in the world-all of these are found in tales from India. Many of these are found embedded within the great literary works of India, and are known by practically all Indians. Among the most well known of these classic works of Indian literature is the Mahabharata, an Indian Sanskrit epic poem compiled between 400 B.C. and A.D. 400, relates the story of two sets of cousins, the Pandavas and the Karuavas, who fight for control of the Kuru kingdom. Hindu philosophy is set forth in the myriad stories told in this epic.

Set within the Mahabharata is the Bhagavad Gita, a focal point for Hindu philosophy. In this story, Prince Arjun, seeing friends and relatives in the army he must defeat, is reluctant to go to battle. The god Krishna, a reincarnation of the god Vishnu, explains to Prince Arjun where his duty lies, and in doing so reveals the truth about life and death and explains the basic tenets of Hindu thought.

The Ramayana is another great Sanskrit epic. Containing a number of ancient legends, it recounts the story of the life of Rama, the prince who was the human reincarnation of the god Vishnu, and his efforts to win back his throne and rescue his beloved wife Sita from the demon king Ravana. The Ramayana and the Mahabharata exemplify the struggle to do the right thing that all people experience. Both epics have been translated into all the Indian languages and are recited every year during major holy festivals.

"Everyday" tales that almost all children in India learn come from a variety of sources. These are often familiar to Western children who have heard Aesop's fables; in fact, some scholars believe that the Aesop fables originated from tales told in India. The Panchatantra, a collection of animal tales, contains stories that extol the qualities of cleverness and shrewdness. The Puranas include myths and legends surrounding gods, heroes, and saints. Both of these collections have Hindu origins. Jataka tales recount experiences the Buddha had in his reincarnations as various animals; all have a moral lesson. Many of these stories are retold or reenacted in Hindu temples and Buddhist chaitras, as well as on street corners.

Following is a "storyteller's choice" of books that lend themselves to traditional telling and can fit into almost any thematic unit. Many of these are short and quite easy to learn; they would be quite suitable for the teacher delving into traditional storytelling. Some of these tales are particularly suited to promoting discussion of interpersonal situations within the classroom. All invite comparison to similar tales in other cultures.

by Cheryl Jones and Gowri Parameswaran