Of Swords & Skill

Started three years ago,the organisation’s aim is to train the youth in these art forms so that they are preserved for the future generation. At the PMC School No 14,behind Congress Bhavan,Narendra Suryavanshi,founder of the organisation,trains around 40 youngsters in these 350-year-old art forms. “We teach the ancient forms of martial arts like Malakhamb,which is still quite popular,Silambam,Dandpatam,sword fighting and giriyarohan (trekking),” he says. Suryanvanshi believes that these forms are integral parts of our culture and should be preserved. “I learnt these forms as a student when I participated in a theatrical production of Janta Raja. A group of traditional wrestlers from Satara were also a part of it and that’s when I started getting trained,” he says. The Maratha’s fighting system called Mardani Khel focuses on weaponry which includes rapid movements and makes use of armed combat like swords,bagh nakh and bichawa.

Today,youngsters between the age group of 11 and 18 train under the organisation and perform at various cultural events and championships. An important aim of the organisation is to spread awareness about the art to the masses. Twelve-year-old Pranav Suryavanshi,who is training at the organisation,is now also essaying the role of Bal Shivaji in the Marathi film Shivputra Shambhaji,which is currently in the production stage. He will be showcasing his talent at dand pata and talwarbaazi. In January last year,seven students from the organisation participated in the National Silambam Championship organised in Madurai,Tamil Nadu. The team won gold and silver medals in the under-15 category.

Nineteen-year-old Mayur Shinde,a third year BCom student at BMCC,has been training here for the past three years. He is now trained in talwarbaazi,tanpatta,lathi ghati,vothadi,bhala,and churri-alla. Shinde hopes to take these arts to a wider audience. “I want people to be aware of these sports that originated from the heart of Maharashtra. These are very important art forms,” he says.