Shillong, April 27: The Forgotten Folklore Project (TFFP) Fellowship, launched by the Sauramandala Foundation, officially concluded with a grand graduation and book release ceremony at Crystal Hall, Vivanta, Shillong on Saturday.
The event marked the successful culmination of the six-month fellowship program, which brought together 15 fellows and 7 freelance illustrators from seven Northeastern states: Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura.
Together, these fellows crafted 20 original children’s storybooks, preserving and reimagining traditional stories with cultural authenticity and strongly emphasising Early Childhood Development (ECD).
Addressing the occasion as a chief guest, Education Minister Rakkam A Sangma said, “It brings me immense pleasure to be part of this remarkable celebration. I believe there should be a passion in every one of us as that shall drive us for the greater good every day. This project is one example of such passion.”
Sameer Sishodia, CEO Rainmatter Foundation said, “For any action in climate change or policy we skip to action very quickly. We need to understand the place and the people better before we do something. Step like this are crucial to doing it. The stories help us understand the place, its people and its history.”
Namratha Bhat, Educator and Product Lead at Key Education Foundation said, “While drafting the handbook, very little effort had to be put into contextualising these TFFP books because they already are so contextualised and right there.”
The Forgotten Folklore Project (TFFP) Fellowship was a six-month cultural and creative cohort designed to preserve and promote the rich oral traditions of Northeast India through children’s literature.
Launched by the Sauramandala Foundation in 2024 and supported by The/Nudge Institute in collaboration with StoryWeaver by Pratham Books, the fellowship builds upon two years of impactful work in Meghalaya to expand its reach across seven Northeastern states: Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura.
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Rooted in the belief that early childhood education must be contextual, culturally relevant, and imaginative, the TFFP Fellowship brought together writers and illustrators from across the region to co-create original children’s storybooks inspired by local practices, folklore, and community wisdom. These stories aim to spark curiosity, celebrate identity, and meet Early Childhood Development (ECD) needs through engaging and authentic storytelling.
Over the course of the 2024–25 cohort, the fellowship hosted 15 fellows and 7 artists, who collaborated intensively to bring to life 20 storybooks based on tales from their homelands, stories often passed down through generations but rarely recorded. These books are rich with cultural detail and designed to be visually captivating and pedagogically meaningful.
In addition to content creation, the fellowship provided structured mentorship, workshops, and training, nurturing each participant’s storytelling craft while also fostering a strong community of practice.
Fellows received monthly financial support of Rs 25,000 throughout the duration of the program. As the fellowship now comes to a close, its impact is being celebrated with a grand graduation and book launch ceremony at Crystal Hall, Vivanta, Shillong on April 26.
The event had also witnessed the release of the TFFP Storytelling Handbook — a creative and practical resource drawn from the fellowship’s experiences, aimed at educators, cultural practitioners, and storytellers across the region and beyond.
(Newmai News Network)