78 year old grandmother keeps India’s ancient martial art kalaripayattu going

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<strong>The moment one sees her agile movements and swift reactions, her age ceases to matter as she is a great-grandmother who practices an ancient Indian martial art, thought to be the oldest.</strong></p>
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While she fends off her son with nothing but a bamboo stick, Meenakshi Amma just makes the viewer believe that she can’t be 78 as she displays her prowess at kalaripayattu.</p>
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Not only is she herself a seasoned practitioner of this great art but she has been inspiring the return of this form to our life in a big way and most importantly she is encouraging girls to take it up. And who better a model than her to give confidence to the girls and women, to learn how to defend themselves.</p>
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On <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RepublicDay?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RepublicDay</a>, let’s salute and congratulate our favourite <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MeenakshiAmma?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MeenakshiAmma</a>, on being honoured with the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PadmaShri?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PadmaShri</a> award. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OMGIndia2?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OMGIndia2</a> <a href="https://t.co/SRXnRHaoK9">pic.twitter.com/SRXnRHaoK9</a></p>
— HISTORY TV18 (@HISTORYTV18) <a href="https://twitter.com/HISTORYTV18/status/824459371945955328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 26, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Talking to the news agency AFP, Amma revealed: "I started kalari when I was seven years old. I am 78 now. I am still practising, learning and teaching.</p>
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She is the head and matriarch of the Kadathanad Kalari Sangham school in Kerala, which was established by her late husband in 1949.</p>
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Stressing on the need for the women to learn this art she said: "When you open the newspapers, you only see news of violence against women. When women learn this martial art, they feel physically and mentally strong and it makes them confident to work and travel alone."</p>
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<img alt="" src="https://www.indianarrative.com/upload/news/Meenakshi_Amma2.jpg" style="width: 758px; height: 1140px;" /></p>
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There are elements of dance and yoga in Kalari and it also involves use of all kinds of weapons, like staff, shields and swords.</p>
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Known to be 3,000 year old, kalari finds mention in the Hindu scriptures and its practice was banned by the British in 1804 yet it survived with people continuing to practice it away from public gaze. The early 20th Century and Independence in 1947 saw its revival.</p>
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With Amma receiving the Padma Shri, India’s fourth highest civilian award in 2017, there was a further boost in interest for this ancient art. It is recognised as a sport and practised all over India.</p>
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<img alt="" src="https://www.indianarrative.com/upload/news/Meenakshi_Amma3.jpg" style="width: 780px; height: 582px;" /></p>
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Amma’s son Sanjeev Kumar, teaches pupils consisting of both boys and girls in the hall as he put them through their paces. Sharing details about the art he said: "There are two divisions in kalaripayattu — one is that kalaripayattu is peace and the other is kalaripayattu in war. It's an art that purifies mind, body and soul, improves concentration, speed and patience, and regenerates physical and mental energy. When totally connected mentally and physically to kalari, then the opponent disappears, the body becomes eyes."</p>
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<strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.indianarrative.com/culture-news/tamil-nadu-s-karate-bahu-entertains-wedding-guests-with-deadly-martial-art-99298.html">Tamil Nadu’s “Karate Bahu” entertains wedding guests with deadly martial art</a></strong></p>
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His daughter Alaka S. Kumar, who is 29 and a civil engineer describes kalara as “a form of poetry”. Devoted to the art and eager to take it forward, she said: "I am going to teach kalari, with my brother. We have to take over. Otherwise it is gone."</p>
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<img alt="" src="https://www.indianarrative.com/upload/news/Meenakshi_Amma4.jpg" style="width: 630px; height: 720px;" /></p>