Journalism of Courage
This group of youngsters is learning ancient forms of Maratha martial arts in a bid to preserve and promote them
As the beats of the dhol filled the air,all eyes rested on the Shiv Digvijay Mardani Lok Kala Prabodhani group. Their act,presented on Laxmi Road,arrested the crowd gathered for Ganesh visarjan processions. Rasika Badage skillfully swayed the sword and took a defensive step backwards. Dressed in white kurtas with bright waistbands,the group members showcased ancient art forms that transported people to the Maratha era.
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.
