Tamil martial art performer K Pajanivel to be conferred Padma Shri

K Pajanivel, a 53-year-old Silambam practitioner, will be conferred the Padma Shri award for popularising the 5,000-year-old martial art as a modern competitive sport globally.

K Pajanivel, a practitioner of the 5000-year-old martial art 'Silambam' who helped popularise it as a modern competitive sport across continents, will be conferred the Padma Shri by President Droupadi Murmu at a ceremony in Rashtrapati Bhavan on May 25, officials said.

Hailing from the coastal village of Pooranankuppam in Puducherry, 53-year-old took up the weapons-based martial art in childhood and went on to dedicate his life to it, participating in and winning several competitions.

Once associated with battlefield discipline and soldier training, Silambam is now played as a competitive sport in countries including France, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Canada.

Pajanivel built his reputation through a series of victories, including international and national championships in Tamil Nadu in 2002 and 2004.

He won first prize in the international-level Silambam competition in the 56-60 kg category held in Tiruchirapalli in 2002, and in the national-level Silambam competition in the 55-60 kg category held in Nagercoil in 2004.

Pajanivel's repertoire extends beyond Silambam to Kuthu Varisai, Kalari Payattu, sword fighting, fire performance, and folk traditions such as Puliyattam and Kaaliyattam.

After mastering a range of martial arts, rooted in the cultural traditions of southern India, he founded the Mamallan Silambam and Folk Art Development Club on his own land in Puducherry in 2022, where he has trained over 5,000 students, most of them from modest economic backgrounds.

He conducts free summer camps for schoolchildren. His disciples, including students from Europe and Brazil, have gone on to win tournaments and earn recognition.

Pajanivel was conferred the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2023, presented by the President of India, for his contributions to the country's folk martial arts.