Lucknow: The characters come to life when Lucknow’s Himanshu Bajpayee begins his storytelling. He has the ability to describe his stories and poems so vividly that a listener finds himself engrossed in his narrative. With his exceptional rhetorical skills, he can surpass even the most skilled Urdu speakers.

Despite holding a PhD in Journalism and having worked as a journalist for a few years, he whole-heartedly embraced the art of storytelling by becoming a full-time storyteller as a ‘Dastangoi’. His marvellous skills not only capture the hearts of many but also leaves a profound effect on them.

Who is Himanshu Bajpayee?

Himanshu Bajpayee is a resident of Raja Bazaar, Lucknow. His father is a retired government teacher, and his mother is a homemaker. He has three brothers. He earned a PhD degree from Mahatma Gandhi International Hindi University, Wardha, Lucknow. Prior to this, he worked in prominent media organizations, but an inner restlessness pushed him to seek a different path. 

Himanshu had the opportunity of meeting with a renowned storyteller Ankit Chadha, who encouraged him to pursue Dastangoi. His thoughts conflicted with each other, and he struggled to make a decision. But with Ankit’s guidance and support, Himanshu embarked on his storytelling journey. 

Known for his Lucknowi style

The distinctive and quirky style of Lucknow is conveyed to the listeners through Himanshu’s storytelling. Lucknow is known for its unique Urdu accent and excellent mannerism of people. The streets are full of life with people engaging in intelligent conversations with each other by making use of humour and poetry. 

Himanshu paints a vivid picture of Lucknow’s essence through his stories. He firmly believes that the environment shapes one’s language and he didn’t learn the Lucknowi dialect; it simply is a part of him.

With his job as a journalist, he refined his use of language and came to be known among the locals as a representative of Lucknow’s spirit. 

The loss of a friend

Ankit was a close friend of Himanshu who had motivated him to pursue this career. He had been his partner in mastering the art of Dastangoi. In unfortunate circumstances, Ankit passed away after accidentally slipping into a lake in May 2018. 

This loss was too much for Himanshu to bear. He fondly remembers Ankit as his Sachin Tendulkar, someone who provided unwavering support on stage, allowing Himanshu to perform without any stress. Himanshu grappled with grief while performing solo after Ankit’s demise. 

Winning Sahitya Akademi Award

So far, Himanshu has narrated over 400 stories across India and abroad. He was featured in Netflix’s ‘Sacred Games Season 2’. His book ‘Qissa Qissa Lucknowuwa’ became a best seller and won the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award. He also received a special invitation from the then President Ramnath Kovind to participate in Harvard Worldwide Week organized by Harvard University.

Himanshu also received appreciation from the Prime Minister Narendra Modi during one his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ speeches. He mentioned a piece by Himanshu and his co-storyteller Pragya Sharma on Rani Durgawati. Himanshu has done a similar piece on Rani Laxmibai. 

6 months of research

Himanshu invests six months in research for each story. He proudly shares that journalism was indeed his first choice, and now after becoming a storyteller he travels around the world sharing his stories that the new generation might not get to experience in today’s modern world.