KOCHI: Children participating in the ‘Mazhavillu’ camp organised by the Lokdharmi theatre group had a different experience when they got a few lessons in ‘Silambam’ during a demonstration session organised by exponent M Jeyaraj from Nagercoil.
Though forms of Silambam are practised in other states under different names, - Neduvadi, Dhal Lakadi, Karrattam and Lathi - in Kerala, Gujarat, Andhra and Maharashtra, stick fencing is not practised as widely here as it is in Tamil Nadu. “In our state, it has been declared a part of school games and will be given merit grade according to performances,” says Jeyaraj.
Stick-fencing is the first level of defence as far as weapon- fencing is concerned, he says. It is after one becomes an expert with the cane that one moves to acquiring expertise with knives, sword and the like. “It is a very good martial art form for children as it helps in self-defence. It helps in concentration and the coordination of body movements,” says Jeyaraj. His tryst with Silambam began at the age of 12 when he was sent to learn it from an aashan. Since then he has been learning and teaching the art.
“This art form did not have much reach beyond villages.
It never reached schools as its instructors are illiterate.” Jeyaraj is now working on a syllabus for school students to learn Silambam.
This art form has a historical value as one of the great names of Tamil Nadu, Veera Pandya Katta Bomman, used it as a method of fighting the Britishers. They finally put a ban on it following which training was done at night.
Jeyaraj is on his way to Delhi where he will be giving a demonstration class at a programme organised for teachers at the National Art and Culture Centre from April 6-30. He trains more than 200 students at his Mahima Silambam Academy at Nagarcoil and can be contacted at 09865582385.
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