How Indian Patachitra artistes narrated stories before social media took over
An exhibition at the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art explores the historical tradition of Patachitra, where itinerant storytellers used painted scrolls and songs to disseminate news and culture. The exhibit highlights how these performers served as early multimedia communicators before the digital age.
Why it matters
It preserves and analyzes indigenous storytelling traditions, providing context for how cultural identity and information were maintained in pre-digital societies.
Long before social media and streaming platforms transformed the way stories travel, India had its own network of itinerant storytellers. Armed with painted scrolls and songs, they carried news, myths and social commentary from one place to another, captivating audiences long before the arrival of newspapers, cinema or television.
The article is a cultural report on an art exhibition and historical traditions.
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