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ISN homepage Indian Storytelling Network Pune
(in alphabetical order) 2) Leena
Kulkarni. 3) Neeraj
K. 4) Pooja
Upganlawar. 5) Sharanya
Shriram. 7) Sony
Lamba. 1) Dharithri Krishnamurthy. Dharithri brings a unique blend of
linguistic and educational prowess, is armed with a master’s degree in German
Language and Literature, and has amassed 20+ years of professional
experience. Dharithri is a professional
storyteller. She has established the Kathalaya
Learning Centre for Storytelling in Pune. Her passion for teaching and
the art of storytelling has culminated in the creation of a unique
educational institution with the vision of making a positive social change in
education through storytelling. She conducts engaging workshops for children,
teachers, parents, and professionals harnessing the power of stories to
ignite learning and personal growth. She also heads Employee Communications
for India at Snowflake, where her
passion for creating compelling communications and crafting creative content
helps bridge the gap between employees and the company's vision, values, and
culture. Contact 98900 84699 Email: dharithri_s@outlook.com Insta: dharithri_k https://www.facebook.com/STORYSPACE21 2) Leena Kulkarni. Leena
simply loves storytelling and has been storytelling right from her childhood
days. She is a children's storyteller,
having keen interest in using storytelling as a medium for educational and
therapeutic purposes. She regularly
conducts weekend storytelling and read-along sessions for children. Many of the stories narrated in these
sessions are written by her. Her
children's stories have been also published in newspapers. She narrates stories in English as well as
Marathi. An Engineer with over ten years of
experience in the IT industry, Leena has groomed many newcomers and entrants
in her role as a Manager. She combines
this experience with her love of storytelling, soft skills exposure, and
interest in psychology to make a difference in children's lives. Contact 88066
60410 StoryEducationPune@gmail.com Follow
on Instagram
for upcoming sessions. 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 WhatsApp:
+91 9321560460 Email:
delotusin@gmail.com https://instagram.com/deneeraj_multilingua 4) Pooja Upganlawar. Pooja Gadewar Upganlawar, founder
and director of "The StoryTunes",
is a Speech and Drama Trainer, a passionate Storyteller, and a Writer. Pooja has provided various kinds of
Communication Skills workshops for corporations such as Hewlett Packard,
Vodafone, and Times of India. Her experience with young people
includes teaching Speech and Drama for more than three years in a reputed
school in Pune. She has conducted
workshops on "Anger Management and Learning through Stories" in various
schools. Pooja has successfully
trained many students to appear for Communication Skills, and Speech and
Drama exams, conducted by the Trinity College of London. Pooja has conducted numerous
Storytelling workshops for young people in Pune bookstores such as Crossword
and EnlitKids. She has trained over a
thousand children in stagecraft, skits, dramas and plays, extempore, debates,
and elocution. She has collaborated
with FirstCry.com for sessions with young people on ‘Raising Readers’ and
Workshops in Dramatics. Working closely with Times of India NIE
(Newspaper in Education), Pooja has introduced countless children to the
world of stories. With her
collaboration with KomTV, she is taking stories and dramatics to every house
possible. This new venture is one of her key projects. Pooja's program for teachers, ‘Teacher
Skill Enhancement Program’, has been very well received by teachers in
schools across Pune and beyond. In the
short span of three years, she has trained over a hundred teachers in using
Storytelling to make the classroom more lively. Pooja passionately believes in the art
of Storytelling. Her mantra is
“Unleash the Power of Storytelling, Touch Souls, Entertain and Inspire". A photo of Pooja is here. Education BEd (Education), Gadchiroli
University, Gadchiroli, Maharashtra. MBA (Sales and Marketing), Faculty
of Management Studies, Institute of Rural Management (FMS-IRM), Jaipur. BSc (Life Sciences), St Bede’s
College, Shimla. Higher Secondary, Laureate Public
School, Shimla Matriculation, Convent of Jesus
and Mary, Shimla. Information about "The StoryTunes" programs is here. Contact: 80070 01511 mystorytunes@gmail.com 5) Sharanya Shriram. An
ex-banker turned enrichment coach, Sharanya conducts: -
Moral-based story-and-craft sessions for children. -
Puppet shows. -
Storytelling sessions for introducing sensitive topics to children and young
teens. -
Teacher-training workshops. -
Corporate breakout events (for families). -
Phonics, and joy of reading, sessions. Sharanya has been part of the Chennai
Storytelling Festival from 2016 onward.
Apart from conducting her own sessions, she has been associated with
schools such as Shemrock, Vaels Vidyashram, LocoPoco (Hirandani), and
Primrose. She has also conducted
customised events with corporates like Cotiviti and OneSource. These events span a wide spectrum of
activities, including storytelling for children, teacher-training workshops,
and breakout sessions at company events.
Being fluent in multiple languages (Hindi, Marathi, French, Telugu,
English, and Tamil), Sharanya is able to connect with diverse groups, and
customises content accordingly. Member: Chennai Storytellers
(even though she has re-located to Pune) Contact: 96866
22237 sharansliveatale@gmail.com https://m.facebook.com/sharansstories 6)
Shraddha Nigavekar. Dr.
Shraddha Nigavekar is a scientist turned word-artist. She is an award-winning
storyteller, author and educator who has engaged over 3500 children and
adults with live in-person and online performances, since 2020. Shraddha strongly believes that
storytelling is a powerful tool to enhance emotional quotient, improve
communication skills and build self-confidence... but most importantly to
make us happy! Always ready to listen to, narrate and create a new story, she is quick to connect
with and engage her audience,
especially children. Shraddha
has a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from the University of Missouri - Columbia,
USA. She has lived and worked in three continents and brings her multitude of
life experiences to the art of storytelling. Dually-certified in storytelling
(Kathalaya and Edusaarthi). Shraddha has been awarded as the 2022
‘Story-Maker in Education’ by the
Confederation of Indian Industry and Young Indians and with the 2025 KTG
Lifetime Achievement Award for Storytelling. As
a trainer, Shraddha has reached over 150 educators across the world as a
facilitator-presenter for a professional development certification course
offered by the Centre for Educational Initiatives and Research Trust Global
(CEIR Global), DLRC as well as for professional development workshops
pan-India. She volunteers as a board member and guest trainer at IDEA
Foundation, volunteers to engage lesser-served children in Primary and Middle
school with stories in an effort to bridge their gap in spoken English and is
the Storyteller-In-Residence for the Saans Foundation. In-person
live events are where Shraddha is truly in her element. She is
well-appreciated for her strong connection with her audience, be they
children or adults. She has brought multiple popular story experiences to
diverse global audiences ranging from 4 years to 84 years of age. Shraddha
has performed at a variety of literary and art festivals, including Kala
Ghoda (Mumbai), Kukdukoo (Pune), Chennai Children’s Storytelling Festival
(Chennai), Kathakaar, Festigo, Katha Mehfil, ArtLane’s Exhibition (Pune),
SSEMHS Lit Fest (Mumbai) and at Bookizcon (Suwon, S. Korea), an international
children’s book festival. She has engaged children and educators in learning
spaces such as the non-profit Doorstep School (DSS), Vikhe Patil Memorial
School, the Early Child Development Forum (ECDF), the Kathya Sanskruti-
Teachers Conference (Edusaarthi), rehabilitation/therapy/recovery
environments such as the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (Bharati Hospital),
Swaranaad (Cochlea Pune), NFBM Jagriti School for Blind Girls, Spectrum- The
Awareness Project, and Tales with Tails (Animal Angels Foundation), and also
corporates including Infosys, HSBC, and Poonawalla Fincorp. She frequently
tells stories at local children's libraries in Pune. Shraddha also hosts the
KBSSS YouTube story channel, the
SuKathanKar podcast, and has contributed to BYU’s The Apple Seed Story
Podcast and East London Radio’s Talking
Stories. She has authored a children’s mystery novel and her stories,
poems, and retold folktales have been
published in several anthologies. Shraddha
is fluent in English, Hindi, Marathi, and Konkani and loves to incorporate
music and props in her telling. She
conducts storytelling sessions (in-person and online) for children (aged 6-12
years), and adults at libraries, schools, activity centers and literature
festivals. Shraddha
is the proud co-founder of the Storytellers’ Collectives - Kathashtakam
Global (KTGlobal) and Roopkotha; aimed at bringing storytellers pan-India and
over the globe closer to learn and grow together. Shraddha also serves as a
Fulcrum Member and Interim Director at the Federation of Asian Storytellers
(FEAST). Shraddha’s newest passion is learning to whistle (a lifelong
aspiration!!) and play the ukulele to accompany her live storytelling. She is
determined to continue experimenting and making a difference in lives by
spreading joy and connecting people through stories. Contact
nigavekar.shraddha@gmail.com https://linktr.ee/shraddha.nigavekar https://www.instagram.com/instashraddha18 https://www.facebook.com/shraddha.nigavekar 7)
Sony Lamba. Sony
is a Librarian by profession, with over 10 years of experience in School
Libraries. She has completed a BA in
Economics, and a Masters in Library and Information Science, from Pune
University. Sony is also a certified Storyteller,
having completed an online Storytelling course from the Storyweavers,
Singapore. Storytelling is an ancient art
form. Telling a story may involve
gestures, visual images, sounds, chants, and sometimes exaggeration of
expression. Through Storytelling, Sony
would like to connect with children, make concepts fun, and make learning
more interesting. The lockdown and the pandemic situation
inspired Sony to launch her own YouTube storytelling channel, called THE
STORY KATTA. Here she and her many
Guest Storytellers tell stories in both English and Hindi. The motive behind this channel was to reach
out to all children by exposing them to a wide range of genres of stories
that are easily accessible to them.
During these hard times many children do not have access to a variety
of storybooks, so through this channel Sony has tried to bring stories of
many different kinds to children of all age groups, in English and in
Hindi. Sony also works with children and
teachers in schools. Contact: 95276
07355 sony.lamba1007@gmail.com Storytelling
channel on YouTube, THE STORY
KATTA Storytelling
Organisations based in Pune 1 The StoryTunes was founded and is
directed by The StoryTunes has designed
well-researched programs in which stories form the core of the teaching
process. Our
Programs for Children Thinkers – To enhance
curiosity, love for reading, ignite imagination. Readers – To enhance reading
, develop capacity for creativity and imaginative thinking. Brain Ticklers -- Bring scientific
facts to life through specially designed stories. Old Stories Come
Alive
– Bring to life major events of history through stories, helping children
retain better. Speak Up – Teach the art of
Public Speaking, drama and storytelling. Let's Write – Creative writing,
scripting, character setting, story-writing. Our
Programs for Educators and Parents Talk – Helps parents to
break barriers while conversing with children on sensitive topics such as sex
education and child abuse. Story Speak -- ‘Teacher Skills
Enhancement Program’. Helps teachers
become great expressive storytellers -- using props, puppets, voice
modulations, voice modulations, and body language. The program focuses on
teaching the art of using stories to make sessions interesting and
productive. Our
Programs for Institutions For Colleges and
Corporations
-- Enhance
personality attributes, social & interpersonal graces, communication
&language skills, polish personal, professional and managerial traits.
Programs such as – "Secret Sauce of Storytelling", and
"Presentations with a Knack of Storytelling". For Corporate Social
Responsibility Programs -- We
design programs for corporatations as a part of Corporate Social
Responsibility Activities. For Hospital and
Rehabilitation Home Programs -- Developing
the themes of Cooperation and Co-Existence, we design and implement programs
to help treat body, mind, and soul -- and hence enhance the quality of life.
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