The 93 year old Padma Shri awardee: 93-year-old Unni Gurukkal from Kerala Named for Padma Shri This Year Santha On the occasion of the 73rd Republic Day, the government of India announced Padma awardees of the year 2022, including 93-year-old Sankara Narayana Menon Chundayil, a senior-most practitioner and preserver of Kalari Payattu, the country’s oldest martial art form. His selection for the Padma Shri is a new feather in the cap of Kerala. Popularly known as Unni Gurukkal, he hails from the Mudavangattil family that holds the legacy of having led the army of the king of Vettathu Nadu in Malabar. Even at the age 93, the Padma Shri awardee is an emblem of fitness and discipline. He started practicing the martial art at the tender age of 6. He Kalaripayattu is believed to be the oldest surviving continues to follow his daily routine that starts with martial art designed for the primeval battlefield. a visit to the Kalari center at 5:30 in the morning. He The word 'Kalaripayattu' is a combination of two strictly supervises the training there. He goes to bed Malayali words, Kalari (battleground) and Payattu at 10 pm every day. (training of martial arts). Rituals and philosophies He is a seventh-generation Kalari practitioner in the are a part of Kalaripayattu, much like the other family. His children and grandchildren are among Indian martial art forms. This ancient martial art is the torchbearers of the legacy. They have traveled taught in the Indian Guru-Sishya tradition. Unlike across the world and started Kalari centers in the other art forms, Kalaripayattu focuses on teaching US, the UK, France, Belgium, Sri Lanka, and other weapon techniques first and follows barehanded countries. techniques later. A TO Z INDIA ● FEBRUARY 2022 ● PAGE 9