TMost of the students today are primary-school children, ranging in age from seven to teenagers. Their teacher is an 82-year-old woman known to everyone as “Grandma Sword.” At her martial arts school in Vatakara, Kerala, in southern India, classes begin with prayers and warm-up exercises in a large hall whose walls are adorned with trophies and memorabilia.
Meenakshi Raghavan then teaches the class the precise movements of Kalaripayattu, India's oldest martial art, as participants tread barefoot on a red clay floor infused with medicinal herbs.
Every day, this amazing woman teaches Kalaripayattu to young and old men and women in the town.
Raghavan has assembled a team of teachers to work with her at the Kadatanad Kalari Sangam School, but it is not her age that has made her particularly famous in the region, but her focus and dedication to empowering the next generation of young women.
Swordplay is an important element of Kalaripayattu and the grandmother moves with swift grace as she swings her sword at her opponent.
Kalaripayattu is believed to have originated in coastal Kerala about 5,000 years ago and the name likely derives from a Malayalam word. ColorIt means the battlefield PayatOnce European invaders arrived in India bringing guns and cannons, its popularity began to wane, and it was eventually banned by India's British colonial rulers in 1804.
However, the art form survived underground, reviving in the early 20th century and then finding new life after India's independence in 1947.
Raghavan's Martial Arts School was founded in 1949 by her late husband, Raghavan Gurukkal. The two met when she enrolled as a student and after his death, she took over his legacy. “The school is in the same place where my husband built it. Everyone is welcome. There are no fees for students,” she says.
After newsletter promotion
Raghavan began practicing martial arts at age seven under the tutelage of her father, who recognized the importance of self-defense in a society where women are marginalized. Now, 75 years later, she imparts that wisdom and personally trains more than 200 students, mostly girls, who flock to her school for physical and mental fitness.
“Young girls and women look at me and are inspired that if I can do it at my age, they can do it at their age,” she says.
Raghavan says self-defence is essential for young women today, and martial arts is the best way to learn it.
For her, the teachings of Kalaripayattu instill self-confidence and mental resilience, which are crucial in a society where women face systematic marginalization and violence. According to India's National Crime Records Bureau, crimes against women have been on the rise over the past decade. Of the nearly 6 million crimes recorded by Indian police in 2022, 445,256 were crimes against women, an increase of more than 30% since 2016.
“Kalaripayattu plays a vital role in building mental strength and self-confidence,” she says. “It gives hope and empowerment to girls.”
“Given that crimes against women are on the rise around the world, it is important that young girls are equipped with self-defence skills. It is no longer just a skill, it has become a necessity for survival,” she added.
Red Sand Training Ground – or Color The atmosphere at her school is filled with energy and determination as students tackle rigorous training and complex movements, mastering skills passed down through generations.
“When I train young girls and women, I try to teach them the essence of Kalaripayattu and self-defence,” she says.
Raghavan now interacts with people outside Kerala too: “We also have a special group of people from different countries who come for one-on-one training,” she says proudly.
