Bringing folk tales alive

Rashida Dahod

"Magic does not happen without hard work and when it yields a moment of wonder, we define it as magical,” says Haimanti Mitra. It is evident that she applies this philosophy in her own work as we read her book, The Magical Forest. Although magic figures in her stories, the real magic lies in her carefully crafted words and her selection of stories from India’s rich legacy of folktales.
Magical Forest is a collection of six stories culled from different parts of India that are bound together by a common theme: the relationship of humans with nature and animals. The child reader feels the thrill of a well-told story and simultaneously absorbs the value system that the stories are imbued with. And these are lessons worth learning in the modern, urban setting where it is increasingly difficult for our children to connect with the natural world.
Each story is unique in its core idea and plot. ‘A Misadventure’ and ‘Hunter' deal with the cruelty of man towards animals. In ‘A Misadventure,’ Mr and Mrs Fox’s delusions are brutishly dispelled by the headman. Frightened but unharmed, they learn that life must be lived within their natural boundaries.
“Hunter” is a much darker tale of a boy’s insatiable obsession with killing animals; his gentle father watches helplessly, unable to rein in his son’s impulses, until nature takes a majestic hand in turning the tables on the boy for his misdeeds.
‘Man’s best friend’ is a sweet fable about how a little dog bullied by bigger animals learns self-respect and survival skills from a gentle martial-arts expert. Manava in this story is the antitheses of the hunter, and teaches his little friend to gain respect without harming his tormentors. It is the triumph of hard work and skill and gratitude that forges the ‘greatest team ever’.
Uki’s suffering in ‘Feather Bright’ is bound to remind young readers of Cinderella’s mistreatment by her stepmother. The “ancient magic” that fulfils Uki’s longing to escape is powerful and beautiful and just. The Spirit of the Forest rewards Geeta’s love for the forest and its animals with a bit of its own “gentle” magic in “Magic Cloak.”
Children are sure to respond to the beauty and bounty of nature in this story. Even the unexpected twist in its plot leads to enduring beauty and adds to the happy charm of this tale. I know I will always recall the ‘Magic Cloak’ when I see peacocks with their iridescent plumage.

Kudos to Haimanti Mitra for bringing these folktales alive in a way that is relevant and illuminating and engaging. Gurgaonbased Shobha Sengupta’s ‘Quill And Canvas’ imprint has published Magical Forest in an appealing format. These are stories that are wonderful for parents and children to read together and build memories and values.

My absolute favorite story is ‘The Gift’. It wins hands down! Bela and Baadal are adorable in their antics and their precociousness. Pawan is humankind at its gentlest—wise and compassionate, not just forgiving but helping the wrongdoers, creative and kind. It is a beautiful tale that encompasses all that is best and most protective in man and nature.

Haimanti Mitra is a wonderful storyteller. She has said that in her childhood, “nothing was better than listening to stories told by both my grandmothers. They would take mundane events and transform them into extraordinary eye-popping tales”. She, too, has learnt to do that.

The short story is her favorite genre and she is adept at weaving a tale and sparking the imagination. She is a teacher by profession and a mentor to her students, committed to motivating them and helping them achieve their potential. Her storytelling skills reveal her affinity with children and her ability to capture their attention.

The illustrations by Srividya are delightful and integral to the appeal of the book. Also, at the end of each story is a note for the reader about which part of India the story is from and details about the animals, birds, people, and natural beauty described in the story.It’s a great way of talking to children about these and extending their knowledge through further reading—a trip to the library, or even a field trip to see the animals and forests talked about!

Kudos to Haimanti Mitra for bringing these folk tales alive in a way that is relevant and illuminating and engaging. Gurgaonbased Shobha Sengupta’s ‘Quill And Canvas’ imprint has published Magical Forest in an appealing format. These are stories that are wonderful for parents and children to read together and build memories and values.

Magical Forest adds to the growing treasure of books for children by Indian authors and is a worthwhile addition to any bookshelf because children will return again and again to these stories. Their magic is enduring!