Who is The Story Teller from Gods, Demons, and Others and what is their importance?

The story teller, or The Pandit, is a very important part of the culture of a rural Indian village. He is a source of entertainment and enchantment, and he attends to priestly duties within the village. After putting in a hard days labor, the villagers will gather in front of the story teller's hut and wait quietly for him to emerge. He prays three times a day, chooses his food according to the almanac, and spends all of his time in contemplation, worship or study.