Prakash Vaithyanathan, a mathematics and science tutor, has come up with an interesting initiative to support organisations engaged in serving society.
He visits apartment complexes where he seeks permission to narrate stories to children. Many of these yarns are rooted in our folklore. In return, the parents of these children offer him bags of rice.
He began this form of social service by first supporting Cancer Institute (WIA), Adyar. He says he has so far donated over 100 kilograms of rice to feed the poor patients at the Institute.
“The idea came to me suddenly. When I conveyed the concept to the people, it evoked positive response. My aim is to visit each and every home and apartments in the city and share the decades-old craft with the children,” says Prakash Vaithyanathan.
“Our folk stories are long forgotten. In today’s fast-paced world, kids are more glued to television sets, smart phones, and the Internet. They are deprived of storytelling, which is a vehicle for education, tradition, culture and moral values,” he adds.
