Earlier this month, Students of Akal Academy Baru Sahib participated in a storytelling workshop centred around the children’s novel Down by the Mangroves: Heartfelt Middle Grade Story Set in the Sundarbans, led by children’s author Prabha Ram.
The novel centres around the protagonist Moyna, a fifth-grader living in the Sundarbans. Her world includes school, friends, family and the mangrove landscape around her. The story suddenly changes when her father goes missing, and Moyna has to navigate grief and a changed life.
As a story brewer, Prabha beautifully crafted the tale that is “wild, and gently hopeful,” aiming to help students feel seen and connected. The students were deeply connected to the story. She narrated how Moyna’s journey reflects real emotional experiences: how sorrow and joy can coexist, and how community helps healing.
Through narrative, visuals and discussion, the workshop connected literature with real-world ecology, culture and personal resilience.
Alongside the storytelling workshop, Prabha also conducted a reading comprehension and SAT preparation session for Class 11 students, focusing on comprehension strategies and the reasoning patterns involved in the test. Students engaged with questions and ideas that encouraged them to read critically and think through different perspectives.
Prabha also penned a special note for Akal Academy Baru Sahib
“The whole atmosphere at Akal Academy was something special.
The students were so alert, so genuinely curious about wildlife and nature. The questions about setting and place really impressed me, and students had a strong sense of geography and how location shapes the story. It was a clear sign of how much they'd gain from even more language exposure and a deeper reading culture early on. I left those sessions feeling inspired.
At Akal Academy, I also observed the light draping the hills, a calm and beautiful feeling that leaves you with a joyful feeling all day. I saw goats roaming the slopes above, listened to the birds chirping, and watched farmers working the surrounding fields. Plum and chai between sessions arrived like clockwork; the warmth of children, the teachers and the place is priceless.
And I was lucky enough to meet Babaji and Dr. Neelam Kaur Mam during this visit. Not every workshop trip gives you a conversation that sticks with you long after, and I'm still thinking about it. I'm so grateful for the time they gave me.
Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity.”
— Prabha Ram
Student Takeaways
· Literary Connection: Students saw how setting, character, and theme intertwine to create emotionally resonant stories.
· Ecological Awareness: The Sundarbans emerged not just as a backdrop but as a living, threatened ecosystem deserving protection.
· Emotional Literacy: Moyna’s experience offered a framework to discuss grief, support systems, and the return of laughter “little by little.”
· Cultural Appreciation: Folklore like Bonbibi and local birdlife deepened understanding of the region’s unique identity.
The students experienced literature not simply as something to read, but as a way to understand people, places, cultures and experiences through stories.
Akal Academy Baru Sahib, celebrating 40 Years of Education (1986- 2026)
Fully Residential School | Coeducational | International Educational Boards
IB (Nursery–V) | Cambridge (VI–XII) | CBSE (Nursery–XII)
We invite inquiries for admission -
Register @ https://www.akalacademy.in/register
Call us – 18001807755 | WhatsApp us: 9816400510
Website - www.akalacademybarusahib.com
