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ISN homepage Indian Storytelling
Network New Delhi
Storytellers (and other Story Experts) 1) Anuradha
Batra. 2) Jaishree
Sethi. 3) Neeraj
K. 4) Neha. 5) Preetika
Sachar. 6) Pritika
Khandpur. 9) Shivani
Kanodia. 10) Surbhi Jain. 11) Swati Jain. 1 Anuradha Batra. Anuradha agrees 100 percent with
Ira Glass when he says, "Great stories happen to those who can tell
them." After all, we all have a story to tell, some of us just struggle to
tell it in a way that it becomes memorable. Anuradha has earned an M.B.A. in Human
Resources, an M.A. in English, and a B.Ed., all from Panjab University. She
is a Trainer, Coach, Storyteller, and HR professional. She believes that stories are the
strongest medium to convey and understand anything in this world. She comes
from a background of corporate training, and theatre. Her performances are
filled with drama and enchant her audiences. She uses her skills to perform, and
to conduct workshops, for people of all ages. Anuradha has picked up many skills along
the way, but most importantly, she has learned, and is still learning, how
to learn, and how to help others to learn. As an independent Storyteller and Soft
Skills Trainer, she designs and develops learning solutions that motivate
people and help them perform at their best. She has worked in areas such as
employee relations, behavioural training, and performance management, with companies
and educational institutions. She has utilised behavioural training,
leadership development, group process-based work, and consulting solutions
with Drama Intervention consultants. She is fluent in English, Punjabi, and
Hindi. Two Training Programs Anuradha offers
are the "Art of Storytelling", and the "Power of
Storytelling". A photo of Anuradha is here.
Contact info: 95575 09124 batra.radha75@gmail.com https://www.facebook.com/ncl.anuradha https://www.linkedin.com/in/anuradha-batra-9538a0111 https://www.instagram.com/anuradha___batra 2 Jaishree Sethi. Dr. Jaishree Sethi is a Storyteller, Theatre
Practitioner, Educator, and Teacher Trainer with over 25 years of experience across
Radio, Television, Theatre, and Education. She is the Founder and Director of
Story Ghar, and Cheshta Care Foundation (Cheshta Care Foundation focuses on
empowerment, education, social inclusion, and community development). Dr. Jaishree founded Story Ghar in 2012 to integrate
storytelling and theatre into learning.
Her deep engagement with pedagogy led her to acquire a Ph.D. in
Education. In her pursuit to help teachers polish storytelling, she published
Teachers as Storytellers. She is empanelled with Doordarshan, NCERT,
NBT, British Council Library and other reputed organizations contributing
actively to FLN and other educational initiatives. Teacher Training and Capacity Building: Story Ghar helps teachers integrate storytelling,
toys, drama, and Learning-and-Teaching Methods in classrooms. The interactive
teacher training programs have trained about 1,900 pre-service teachers at
(private and govt.) teacher training institutes and universities, and over 23,000
in-service teachers employed at (private and govt.) schools in Delhi-NCR and
other parts of the country. Story Ghar activities include: Children’s Workshops and Programs. Thought Leadership. Educational Talks, Symposiums, and Panel
Discussions. Flagship Initiative: Delhi Story Utsav –
Storytelling Festivals and Community Engagement. Online and Digital Initiatives. Audio-Visual Stories. Online Courses. Theatrical Productions (under the banner, Team
Raabta): Wo Afsaana, Check & Mate, Adabi Baithak, Mehfil-E-Sukhan, Ram
Katha, Bemisaal Guru Dutt, Aladeen, and Chacha Chakkan. Photos are here. Contact Phone/Whatsapp:
78382 43022 Email:
jaishree@storyghar.com Dr. Jaishree Sethi on LinkedIn is here. Dr. Jaishree Sethi on Instagram is here. Dr. Jaishree Sethi on Facebook is here. Story Ghar on Instagram is here. Story Ghar on Facebook is here. Story Ghar on Youtube is here. Cheshta Care Foundation on Facebook is here. 3 Neeraj K. Communication Expert | Coach | Storyteller | Author | Retreat Leader. Some
people teach communication. Some inspire it. And then, there’s Neeraj K.,
who transforms the way we connect – one story, one conversation, one retreat
at a time. A
globally recognized coach, storyteller, and author, Neeraj believes
that words have the power to shape destinies. Whether he’s helping
professionals refine their accents, guiding leaders to craft compelling
narratives, or leading retreats where transformation meets self-discovery,
his mission remains the same: unlock the full potential within every voice. Books That Speak Volumes (Available
on Amazon) 1) Voice & Verve: Mastering Accents for Dynamic
Communication. 2) The Twenty-Five Ways: Mastering the Art of Powerful Openings. 3) Once Upon a Sale: How Storytelling Sells More Than
Products: Effective Strategies for Navigating Business Storytelling. Each
book is more than just pages bound together –it’s an experience, an
invitation to master the art of expression in a world that listens to those
who know how to speak. Mindful Communication: The Power
of Presence Neeraj
doesn’t just teach communication; he teaches mindful communication –
the kind that fosters clarity, empathy, and resilience. Through active
listening, conscious expression, and emotional regulation, he helps
professionals stay composed even in high-pressure situations. His unique blend
of breathwork, vocal exercises, cognitive reframing, and storytelling for
stress relief empowers individuals to communicate with confidence, no
matter the stage or setting. Seen, Heard, and Celebrated From
global platforms to national media, Neeraj’s insights have been featured in BBC-Hindi,
Zee TV, Elle, The Hindustan Times, DNA, Times of India, Indian Express, and
News Nation. Where Neeraj Works His Magic Whether
it’s the fast-paced streets of Mumbai or the historical charm of Jaipur,
Neeraj brings his expertise to cities across India: Ahmedabad | Bhopal | Chandigarh
| Dehradun | Jaipur | Kanpur | Kolkata | Lucknow
| Meerut | Mumbai | New Delhi | Noida | Pune
| Surat. Let’s Talk Got a
story to tell? A voice to refine? A stage to command? Because
in the end, it’s not just about what you say –it’s about how you make them
listen. A photo
Neeraj is here. Contact info WhatsApp:
+91 9321560460 Email:
delotusin@gmail.com https://instagram.com/deneeraj_multilingua 4 Neha. Neha founded Neha Holistic Studio
with the vision of making wellness accessible, enjoyable, and sustainable for
everyone. Every program is
thoughtfully designed to improve physical fitness while nurturing emotional wellbeing
and mental clarity. Neha is a certified fitness and wellness
professional with over 15 years of experience in individual and corporate
wellness programming. As a Licensed
Zumba Instructor, RYT-500 Yoga Teacher, Face Yoga Coach, and Workplace Mental
Wellness Expert, she has empowered more than 1800 professionals through
holistic wellness practices. In
addition, she is a well-received music curator, Tisane Master, specialist in
the new dance movement for Physical Storytelling, Emotional Freedom
Technique, and Meditational Dance Technique. Her mission is simple – to help
people build healthier bodies, calmer minds, and happier lives through
sustainable movement and mindful living. That includes inspiring young people
to discover the power of their own voices and the Voices of the Voiceless. Contact info 98200 38390 awasthineha62@gmail.com 5 Preetika Sachar Kumar. Preetika is passionate about telling
stories to young children. She has studied
storytelling with Dr. Eric Miller, director of the World Storytelling
Institute, Chennai. Preetika was drawn to storytelling while
telling stories to her own toddler.
She has been mesmerised by the sense of wonder that stories can weave
into the minds of children in general.
Preetika uses her storytelling skills to transport children into a
world of magic, awe, and imagination.
She uses melody in stories, especially those stories that bring hope,
inspiration and motivation to young minds. For over 15 years, Preetika has worked
with both national and international organisations, advancing access to
educational and developmental opportunities for students across India. Her areas of expertise in this field
include international education, cross-cultural communication, student
outreach and recruitment, facilitation of academic partnership programs, and
grants management. She holds a Masters
in Social Work from Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai, and a Bachelors
in Sociology from Sri Venkateswara College, Delhi. Contact info 98737 32203 preetika.sachar@gmail.com 6 Pritika Khandpur. Pritika has told stories to students in
schools across New Delhi. She led a
storytelling session with the National Book Trust as part of their summer
camp in June 2024. Pritika believes that stories are
magical in that they can create worlds in children's minds, and take children
on terrific imaginary journeys.
Stories can also make the everyday seem mysterious, wonderful,
incredible, and so on. Story reading and writing, and telling
and listening, can help children to develop their imagination, creativity,
critical thinking skills, and ability to build connections with the
subject. Stories can help children to
retain information better than mere facts and figures. Stories can also help children to develop
emotional intelligence (including their capacity for empathising with others)
and communication skills. Pritika has a passion for playing
characters with her voice, even to the level of mimicry. She developed this ability during her
interactions with children as a part of her job as an educational consultant.
Pritika graduated in Economics from
Jesus and Mary College, followed by Post Graduation in Economics from the
Delhi School of Economics. She has
also pursued an MBA in Marketing. She is presently working as Senior
Educational Consultant with a publisher of children’s books. She has been working
in this field for over 23 years. Pritika gives storytelling performances
and training to children in schools and libraries, including through the
National Book Trust. A photo is here. Contact info 98118 97949 khandpur.pritika@gmail.com https://www.facebook.com/pritikakhandpur https://www.instagram.com/pritika1111
7 Priyanka Sagar Maheshwari. Priyanka Sagar Maheshwari is a
Professional and Performance Storyteller, Communication Coach, Theatre In
Education Expert, Applied Improvisation Specialist, and Faculty Development
and Leadership Consultant with over 20 years of experience across education,
theatre, corporate leadership, and experiential learning. She has trained 2,700+ educators,
coached 5,000+ children, delivered 500+ live sessions, and partnered with 50+
institutions across India. Her work blends storytelling,
improvisation, and communication to build confidence, creativity, empathy,
leadership, and social-emotional learning. Priyanka is a Communication Coach
with the Quality Council of India (QCI). She contributes to the Viksit Bharat
2047 initiative and has worked extensively with the Ucatapult Foundation
through Projects Buniyaad and Cheshta. She has collaborated with the
National Book Trust (NBT), Teach For India, Vidya and Child, and schools, universities,
and educational organisations across the country. She is a storyteller and
facilitator at leading children’s literature festivals, including Bookaroo
Children’s Literature Festival, and Enlit Kids Literature Festival. She has
represented Kathashtakam Global at Delhi’s Literature Festival. A theatre practitioner trained at
the National School of Drama (NSD) and a playback theatre artist, Priyanka
creates highly interactive learning experiences that engage, inspire, and
transform. Programmes Offered – * Storytelling Performances. * Faculty Development Programmes
(FDPs and MDPs). * Educator Capability Building. * Communication and Public
Speaking. * Leadership Development. * Social-Emotional Learning
(SEL). * Storytelling-led Pedagogy. * Parent Engagement. * Children’s Literature
Festivals. * Train-the-Trainer Programmes. Contact info priyanka.psm@gmail.com https://priyankastoryteller.com 8 Seema Wahi Mukherjee. Seema is a Storyteller, and an Educator
who uses Storytelling in Workshops relating to Education, Experiential
Learning, and Soft Skills. She has been a passionate advocate of
Storytelling in Education for more than 10 years, designing and conducting general
as well as customised Storytelling Workshops for Educators across India. She engages School Students from preschool
to Grade XII; and also children who are not attending school. Seema has presented a paper on
"Storytelling as a Connector in Early Childhood Education", for the
National Council Of Educational
Research And Training, during the 2016 "National Consultation Meet
on Pedagogy and Practices in Early Childhood Education". Articles of hers relating to Storytelling and
Education have appeared in numerous publications. Seema is a firm believer in the power of
stories to engage, enchant, awaken, heal, and empower listeners -- thus
bringing about personal transformations that can lead to social change. She is particularly interested in the
healing power of stories. Seema leads Interactive Storytelling
Sessions with people of all ages -- in metros, towns, and villages; in urban
and rural settings. She performs at libraries,
learning centres for children, centres for senior citizens, NGOs, private
schools, festivals, and other special events.
She employs different tools like puppets, props, paper craft, story
scrolls, story cubes, story cards, and musical instruments to enhance the
performances. Her expertise regarding
experiential education, and her skill as a toy designer, come in handy while
planning and conducting Interactive Storytelling Performances and Workshops. As a consultant with Indus World School (Gurgaon), Seema
conducts weekly sessions in which she integrates various academic subjects
through Storytelling with the children.
She also conducts Language-expression classes with them. The children are encouraged to express
themselves through crafts, role plays, drama, and drawing -- as well as
through composing, and telling and writing, their own stories. She is also a Visiting Consultant,
Facilitator, and Mentor at The Green
Acres Academy, Chembur, Mumbai. Seema has trained Educators, College Students,
Trainers in NGOs and Corporates, and Employees in the Hospitality Industry,
regarding Storytelling and Soft Skills.
Rashtrapati Bhawan staff
members participated in Soft Skill Workshops conducted by her under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana,
organised by the National Skill
Development Council during 3 months in 2016. She employed the technique of storytelling
to address various issues in these Workshops. Seema is a graduate of the Certificate
Course in Storytelling offered by Kathalaya
and is pursuing the Diploma course there.
She is a Post Graduate in "Education Leadership" from Idiscoveri, a Post Graduate in
"Garment Manufacturing Technology" from the National Institute of Fashion Technology (Delhi), and has earned
a Masters in English Literature. Seema
is the Founder of Enchanting World
(in 1997), and The Gaatha Company
(in 2016). Consultant, Indus World School, Gurgaon. Visiting Consultant, The Green Acres Academy, Mumbai. Founder, Enchanting World. Founder, The Gaatha Company. Contact
info 98182
12932 seema.wahi.mukherjee@gmail.com Facebook
page of Seema
Wahi Mukherjee 9 Shivani
Kanodia. Shivani believes that stories exist all
around us, from deep inside an ocean to high in the sky. With a PhD in biotechnology, the storyline
demanded that she pursue a career in science but what fun is a story without
a twist? Her passion for books, and the
decreasing interest in reading amongst young people which she noticed during
her Fulbright Fellowship in the USA, prompted her to start a kids book
meet. To give wings to her dreams and
follow her passion, she founded Aryah Inspires LLP, an organization which aims to nurture the story-lovers
within individuals. As a professional storyteller,
consultant, and trainer Shivani is committed to "Storify the Nation' by
empowering people to harness the power of storytelling to initiate dialogues and
create conversations. Aryah Inspires specializes in curating
literature festivals, book weeks, and day-long events around books, stories,
and literature for schools, corporates, and communities. Since its inception in 2017, Aryah Inspires has conducted 230
workshops and other sessions with more than 18,000 participants. Shivani has worked with organizations such
as 1)
Pratham books (storytelling sessions), 2)
Katha India (creative writing workshops for Katha Utsav 2018 and 2019), 3)
Oxford University Press India (teacher trainings and sessions), 4) Jaipur
Literature Festival for outreach program (2018, 2019 and 2020), and 5)
The Hindu group to facilitate STEP summer program. Shivani has done story narration in
collaboration with BookyBoo and UNICEF Maharashtra to raise awareness
regarding the Pandemic, reaching more than 20,000 young people. Currently she is working as a
Storytelling Consultant for a couple of schools in Delhi/NCR and Haryana to create
audio recordings of stories for children, and to transform the learning
through story pedagogy via teacher training sessions for students and
parents. Shivani is also the founding
member of Delhi Storytellers' Tribe. Programs offered 1)
Story Paradise. Storytelling
sessions for young people in various formats such as read aloud, oral
performance, and storytelling using puppets and props. We also have modules for adults. 2)
Sound of Stories for Children. A
storytelling, creative expressions, and writing workshop designed to hone the
listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills amongst students -- making
them friends with books and literature. 3)
Scribble Express. A
creative writing and expressions program which enables fearless creativity,
imaginative thinking, and curiousity. 4)
"Out of the Story Maze" for teachers, parents, and others. A
flagship programme of Aryah Inspires
to train individuals in the art of storytelling. It has two levels: one for beginners, and
one practicing storytellers. There are
general and customised formats for this module, based on the requirements for
classrooms, parents, and corporates. 5)
Let's Storify Subjects. A
workshop for educators, assisting them to integrate stories with the
curriculum in subject-specific classrooms. 6)
StoryArts Gala. A
specially curated event for any age group, in which we create an exclusive
experience of weaving stories. A photo of Shivani is here. Contact
Info 98714
74291 aryahinspires@gmail.com https://www.facebook.com/aryahinspires https://www.instagram.com/aryahinspires 10 Surbhi Jain. Surbhi Jain is a storyteller, early childhood
educator, and phonics expert. She is the founder of Quirky Talentss, with 10
years of experience working with children in the field of education and
learning. She brings together storytelling, reading, language, and creative
activities to create joyful and meaningful learning experiences. Surbhi believes that storytelling is a powerful
medium through which children can develop in every aspect. Stories can help
children build vocabulary and communication skills, strengthen listening and
comprehension, develop imagination and creativity, understand emotions and
values, and become more confident in expressing themselves. Her storytelling
sessions are interactive and often incorporate voice modulation, expressions,
movement, role play, audience participation, discussions, and creative activities.
She believes children learn best when they become an active part of the
story. For Surbhi, storytelling is not just about telling a story – it is
about creating connections, opening young minds to possibilities, and helping
every child discover the joy of stories and books. Through her various storytelling and educational
programs, Surbhi has witnessed meaningful development in children. They have
gradually become more confident in expressing their thoughts, participating
in conversations, learning new vocabulary, and engaging with stories. One of
the most rewarding changes she has observed is seeing children who initially
showed little interest in books slowly begin to pick up books, explore
stories, and develop an interest in reading. Surbhi has told stories at various festivals,
community spaces, libraries, and schools, including Kumzum Book Bees Fest; Kahani
Mela (a self organized initiative); Kahani Spring (organized by Eduspring
Academy); Delhi Storyteller Tribe's initiatives, Kahani Thela and Kahani
Square; and online storytelling by Kathashtakam Global Storytellers'
Collective. She has collaborated with fellow performers to
present interactive theatrical storytelling and role-play sessions, bringing
stories alive through characters, expressions, movement, and audience
participation. Surbhi has led a storytelling training session for
upcoming teachers at Sardar Patel Polytechnic, introducing them to the use of
storytelling as an engaging and effective tool in the classroom. Through Quirky Talentss, Surbhi offers English and
Hindi Phonics Programs, Monthly Reading Sessions for Young Minds, Interactive
Storytelling Sessions, and Storytelling Training for Teachers. Her programs
aim to build language and literacy skills while nurturing imagination,
confidence, creativity, communication, and a love for books and stories. A
photo is here. Contact Phone/Whatsapp:
9873783037 Email: surgupta2006@gmail.com Surbhi Jain on on Instagram is here. Quirky Talentss on Instagram is here. Quirky Talentss on Youtube is here. 11 Swati
Jain. Dr.
Swati Jain is an educationist, teacher trainer, writer, poet, and storyteller
with over 15 years of experience in educational training, research,
curriculum development, and content creation. Swati discovered her voice through
poetry and storytelling, beginning her writing journey during the COVID-19
pandemic in 2020. Her scripted
educational video, Kachre se Poshan, received the Best Video Program
award in the Preparatory category at the 26th All India Children's Educational
Audio Video Festival (AICEAVF), organized by CIET, NCERT, in 2022. In February 2024, she was honored with the
Best Solo Storyteller Award at the Kathalok event, organized by the Ministry
of Culture. In 2025, she received the
StoryMirror Sahitya Award as the Best Digital Creator in the Digital Writing
category. She has contributed educational
content to NCERT textbooks, including QR code-enabled e-content for the Class
3 textbook, The World Around Us, and content for the June 2021 edition
of Firkee. She is also
associated with NCERT on projects involving chapter writing and e-content
development. As a storyteller, Swati has had
the privilege of performing at renowned platforms such as Banaras Literature
Festival 2025, Chennai Literature Festival 2025–26, inHabitat Mumbai,
Kommune, Tape A Tale, and Kathashtakam.
She appeared as an actor in the short film, "Punyamitti,"
directed by TIA Films. Swati strongly believes in the
transformative power of stories. Along
with performing, she helps adults explore emotional healing through
storytelling. She has conducted
numerous online and offline workshops for children, adults, and senior
citizens on creative writing, storytelling, and poetry. Through interactive storytelling and
reading sessions, she encourages children to develop a lifelong love for
books, cultivate strong reading habits, and nurture their imagination. For Swati, every story is an opportunity
to educate, inspire, heal, and create meaningful connections. A photo is here. Contact info swatyjaindj@gmail.com Instagram ID: weaving4thoughts https://youtube.com/@Weaving4thoughts <end> a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a
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