Once upon a time, in a house made of logs, lived a little girl named Eleanore. It was the winter season. White Woods was covered in snow… writes my 8 year-old student Tamara*, as she attends one of my summer creative writing workshops, from her apartment in Chennai.

I have lived in Chennai for about 8 years. While this endearing city is known for its pleasant blend of urban villages, diverse neighbourhoods, expansive beaches and ancient temples, its weather is nothing short of sultry. No snow. No houses made of logs. No White Woods. ‘Why did you choose White Woods as your setting, Tamara? Have you ever spent your holidays, perhaps, in a snow-covered cabin?’, I ask curiously. ‘No, but I’ve read many books about snow and winter’, Tamara replies candidly. ‘Ah, the books! But Chennai is such a fun city. Would you consider writing a story that takes place in your city? I’m sure your classmates, especially since they are from other parts of the country, would love to read all about Chennai’. Not surprisingly, Tamara brushes aside my suggestion and continues working on Eleanore’s winter adventure with her cousins, Patrick and Macy. 

This is not a singular incident. I read and edit stories that are set in an underground studio in Australia, an apartment in New York and a boarding school in London, to name a few, on a daily basis. My students explore themes that are alien to our living situation in India, such as autumn in the woodlands and white winters. To cater to my students’ likes and preferences, I too have discussions and worksheet tasks on similar topics in my classrooms. 

Children of today have a childhood that is very different from the one I had two decades ago. While I loved reading Enid Blyton and J.K Rowling, I also used to religiously read my Balarama (Keralites would know 😉 ) and novels written by Malayali authors in my mother tongue, that were set in Kerala. Although I was inspired by the idea of spending a night camping in the woods, I couldn’t imagine it becoming a reality, since camping was not an activity that any of my peers had experienced. 

Fast forward to the present- many of my students have gone on camping trips in Himachal Pradesh! They have travelled to different countries and have experienced “scones” and “maple syrup” in person. Some of them have even made snowmen and played snow angel! Even if they haven’t travelled to an exotic country on a family trip, they have definitely watched YouTube videos or explored similar settings in online games. Given their pre-existing knowledge and experience, how do I stop them from experimenting with similar themes in their writing? I’m sure I’m not the only Indian Teacher of English facing this dilemma. 

My way of catering to Urban Indian children, while not losing sight of the realities of rural India, is by discussing a diverse range of themes and contexts in my classroom. We have Halloween and Christmas themed lessons. We have lessons for very young learners about festivals around the world, ranging from Pongal to Kwanzaa! We have review sessions where my students read and share their thoughts on books by Tulika Publishers and Pratham Books (Indian publishing houses that produce stories set in India, with Indian characters). I also recommend books by Indian Authors, like The Mystery of the Graveyard Gold, by B. Fuddle, in the hopes of letting my students know that it is possible to create adventure stories set in Indian cities like Bangalore too! A teacher can hope 🙂

Are you a Teacher of English who has been facing something similar in your classroom? Let me know in the comments how you have been addressing the situation.

In the spirit of December approaching, and as a response to requests from my students, I have created a set of holiday themed worksheets to keep my students engaged while I take a break from my regular classes. They are available for purchase in my shop if you are an interested parent. Alternatively, if you are a teacher who has been wanting to do a creative writing workshop, but has been struggling with creating materials that children love, these worksheets are for you. I have tried to incorporate both Indian and whimsical winter themes in the worksheets.

The worksheets will be available for purchase on Thursday, 01 December. Watch this space for more updates!

Happy holidays!