A man in all whites wearing an Awadhi choga or Angarakha kurta without collar, do palle ki topi and Aligarh pyjama, sits on an elevated platform on a low wooden table called the takht, and addresses quite a contrasting audience donning pahari dhatu or topis in the picturesque Naggar village of Himachal Pradesh.
This man, Azharuddin Azhar, is called Dastango and the art form is Dastangoi, derived from two words — Dastan and Goi — which means ‘story’ and ‘to tell’, respectively, in Persian language.
Unlike other performers, Dastangos don’t rely on any props or music; instead, they make storytelling an interesting affair for the audience with their linguistic and acting talents. While many Dastangos have revived this forgotten art from the Mughal times, and before its 300 years of reign in parts of Persia, Arabia and India, it’s interesting to see Gen Z student of Urdu with an interest in storytelling taking this art form forward and branching it out in Hindu-majority state like Himachal Pradesh.
Aligarh-born Azhar, who has been living in Naggar village of Kullu Valley since 2021 has recently initiated the Himachal Dastangoi Project, where he has combined his expertise in the art form with the rich folklore of Himachal to create something that’s contemporary and in sync with the changing times.
