The day-long martial arts festival organised jointly by Nehru Yuva Kendra and Muthamizhar Tharkappukalai Valarchi Arakattalai in the city on Saturday provided an opportunity for scores of youths from different parts of the State to exhibit their valour and techniques in self-defence.
A little over 425 persons of different age-groups from various districts including Chennai, Tiruvarur, Tiruchi, Tirunelveli, and Salem exhibited their talent in five major forms of ‘silambam’ broadly classified as ‘kallagam’, ‘thulakkanam’, ‘kuravanji’, ‘nagabashanam’, and ‘panaiadi veechu’.
Several sessions were held since morning. A special session in which participants demonstrated with sharp-edged weapons attracted spectators the most. Called ‘ayutha kalai’, several youths displayed their skill in ‘siruvaal’, ‘peruvaal’, ‘koduvaal’, ‘surulvaal’, ‘patta’, and ‘parangu’.
V.P.Thandapani, Corporation Commissioner, in his address at the valedictory session, said that the martial arts infused a sense of self-confidence among youth. He promised all possible support from the corporation for popularising the art.
T.K.Venkatasubramaniam, Administrative Officer, South Zone Cultural Centre, Thanjavur, underlined the need for popularising ‘silambam’ among all sections of society. He called for proposals from the trust so that a few specific training programmes could be organised through the centre. Mr.Chandrasekar, managing trustee of the trust, pleaded with the city corporation to allot sites for conducting training classes. He also urged the State government to introduce reservation in job and educational opportunities for youths trained in ‘silambam’.
Educational institutions should include ‘silambam’ in their physical education curriculum, he said.
