Dastangoi, the ancient art of Urdu storytelling has been brought alive once more in recent times by people like Himanshu Bajpai. The author with his mesmerizing voice and unique blend of humour and wit held the audience captive with his enchanting presence as he talked about his book , Qissa Qissa Lucknowa.
The book is a compilation of stories and fables that have passed down the ages and pertain to his native Lucknow. Bajpai’s Lucknow is replete with colourful personalities of a long gone past, including bhaands and kathak dancers. “The focus“, Bajpai says, “is on the common man and not the Nawabs”. Bajpai is able to offer the outsiders by way of his readers and audience a largely unique Lucknow through his eyes.
Himanshu Bajpai, in conversation with Priya Vashista, shared his journey of becoming a Dastangoi and how he was inspired by Ankit Chadha. Bajpai left the audience mesmerised as he recited a few verses and shayaris for them and left them clamouring for more.
Books en Beyond does it again, taking its patrons beyond the pages to the world within.
