Shikha recognised the need for stories in native languages while teaching Hindi and Marathi to her multicultural children, finding that existing resources lacked authenticity.
Madhurata’s love for narrating stories to her grandchildren, often adding her own twists, sparked the idea to record and share these tales digitally.
“I wanted to amplify the voices of elders who have so much knowledge but few ways to express it,” Shikha explains, stressing the importance of preserving native languages and folk tales.
SaY began with 8-10 narrators and has now grown to over 500, all driven by a shared passion for storytelling.
Madhurata highlights their unique storytelling approach, saying, “Every story has a different twist.” She compares tales to khichdi, where each household has its own version.
Recognised by UNESCO, SaY now features almost 15,000 stories, giving children the exposure to authentic language and storytelling traditions, often missing in modern education.
Shikha’s daughter, Anaya (12), also an active member on SaY and records stories of inspiring Indian women under the ‘Daughters of India’ project. No wonder the platform has had an intergenerational impact.
For the senior narrators, SaY is more than just storytelling — it’s a renewed sense of purpose. Many narrators say it has helped ease their loneliness, connecting them with younger generations.
“Spin a Yarn is on a mammoth mission to preserve the magical fairytales and cultures of India,” Shikha says.