Lucknow: In a unique celebration of literature, theatre, and storytelling, Kitabi Nukkad organized a one-of-its-kind literary event titled “German Lok Kathayein” at the Lucknow Book Fair on Saturday, March 14, 2026, at Ravindralaya. The event revolved around the Hindi translation of famous German folk tales presented in the book German Lok Kathayein by Dr. Shipra Chaturvedi.
The program began with Dr. Shipra Chaturvedi introducing her book and discussing the fascinating journey of German folk narratives. She elaborated on how these timeless folktales travelled across cultures and generations, becoming widely popular and leaving a lasting impression on readers around the world. Characters such as Till Eulenspiegel, Heidi, and Kaspar Hauser have inspired academic research in leading universities and have been interpreted through various forms of art over the years.
Bringing one such artistic interpretation to the stage, the next segment of the event featured a movement-based physical theatre performance depicting the life of Till Eulenspiegel. The role of Till was portrayed by theatre artist and scholar Abhay Srivastava from Bangalore. The ensemble cast portraying village characters included young artists from Lucknow: Adamya, Srishti, Pranjal, Chaitanya, and Sanidhya. Technical support was provided by Atharv Tomar. The production was directed by Kitabi Nukkad’s founder Ashwani Sharma, who is known for his work in movement and dance training.
The performance brought Till’s vibrant personality alive on stage through a carefully crafted blend of physical storytelling, detailed props, classical costume, and technically intricate choreography.
Following the performance, the audience witnessed an improvised interview with Till Eulenspiegel conducted by Dr. Shipra Chaturvedi. In this imaginative segment, Till was presented as having returned to life and visiting Lucknow. During the conversation, Till explained his philosophy of seeing the world in simple black and white terms. He suggested that people often hide their true selves behind metaphorical language and artificial sophistication. Dr. Shipra challenged this view by saying that human beings are capable of appreciating the finer and more nuanced aspects of life, and that not everything in the world is starkly simple. Till responded by remarking that the world has unnecessarily complicated what was once a straightforward reality. The engaging exchange sparked laughter, reflection, and curiosity among the audience.
The event then moved into a detailed conversation with Dr. Shipra Chaturvedi about her translation journey. She spoke about how German Lok Kathayein came into being, the research involved in bringing these stories to Hindi readers, and her experiences translating other important literary works. She also shared insights about her future literary and translation projects. The conversation was hosted by Dr. Manju Anand, who also served as the anchor of the event.
In the concluding segment, prominent personalities and literature enthusiasts from the city read selected stories from the book, bringing the spirit of oral storytelling to the gathering. The readings were presented by Alka Pramod, Shubham Tiwari, Barkha Agarwal, and Nivedita Srivastava.
The event concluded with warm appreciation from the audience, who experienced a rare confluence of world folklore, Hindi translation, theatre performance, and literary dialogue within the vibrant atmosphere of the Lucknow Book Fair.
Kitabi Nukkad is a literary organization working in the space of Hindi and Urdu literature. The primary aim of the organization is to connect literature with the common reader through innovative experiments, research, and meaningful dialogue. Through its YouTube podcast series and literary initiatives, it engages with both renowned and emerging literary voices whose ideas and writings have made a significant impact. Kitabi Nukkad also strives to explore the deeper relationship between literature and life and organizes unique literary events that aim to offer audiences and participants thoughtful, distinctive, and enduring experiences.
