{{Short description|Indian Kalarippayattu practitioner}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}} {{Use Indian English|date=December 2019}} {{Infobox person | name = Meenakshi Amma | native_name = | image = | imagesize = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth year and age|1942}} | birth_place = Vadakara | death_place = | death_date = | alma_mater = | citizenship = India | occupation = Kalarippayattu teacher | parents = | spouse = V. P. Raghavan | children = 4 | awards = Padma Shri | signature = }} '''Meenakshi Amma Gurukkal''' (born 1942) is an Indian martial artist known as a practitioner and teacher of Kalaripayattu, the traditional martial arts form of Kerala, India. In 2017, she received Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian award.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/six-decades-on-74-year-old-padma-shri-awardee-gurukkal-still-swirling-the-sword/story-lQPhIRbsS3FjBsjlvHdZrJ.html |title=Six decades on, 74-year-old Padma Shri awardee Gurukkal still swirling the sword |publisher=Hindustan Times |date= 29 January 2017|accessdate=2018-01-29}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Chethana Prakasan |url=http://www.india.com/lifestyle/meet-padmashree-2017-award-winner-meenakshi-amma-this-granny-with-a-sword-will-inspire-you-to-stay-active-1787911/ |title=Meet Padmashree 2017 award winner Meenakshi Amma: This granny with a sword will inspire you to stay active |publisher=India.com |date=2017-01-27 |accessdate=2018-01-29}}</ref>
==Biography== Meenakshi Amma's family is from a Thiyya community in Vadakara, a town in northern Kerala. She was born at a time when physical education was compulsory. All the people in the area, regardless of gender, would go to Kalari (Kalarippayattu training centre) that day.<ref name="Manorama"/> At the behest of her father, Meenakshi Amma joined Raghavan Gurukkal's Kalari at the age of seven to study Kalarippayattu.<ref name="Manorama"/>
Meenakshi Amma's Kadathanadan Kalari started in the year 1949.<ref name="Manorama"/> Every year, 150-160 students learn the martial arts in her school Kadathanadan Kalari Sangam, where she is teaching for more than 56 years.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/meenakshi-amma-granny-with-a-sword/photostory/56780566.cms |title=Padma Shri Awards: Meenakshi Amma: Granny with a sword |publisher=Timesofindia.indiatimes.com |date=2017-01-25 |accessdate=2018-01-29}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.manoramaonline.com/lifestyle/society/meenakshiamma-kalari-maestro-kalaripayattu-vatakara.html |title=Meet Kerala's 'Iron Lady': Meenakshiamma, the 73-year-old Kalaripayattu maestro | Video | Meenakshiamma | Kalaripayattu | Vatakara | Kozhikode | Kerala | Kadathanad | Martial arts | kalari | traditional martial arts |publisher=English.manoramaonline.com |date=2016-08-25 |accessdate=2018-01-29}}</ref> Meenakshi Amma was introduced to Kalaripayattu at the age of seven under V P Raghavan Master, whom she married at the age of 17. After her husband's death in 2007, Meenakshi Amma took over the reins of the Kadathanattu Kalari Sangham established by her husband.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/defying-age-sword-meenakshi-gurrukkal-keralas-grand-old-kalaripayattu-dame-38620 |title=Defying age with a sword: Meenakshi Gurrukkal, Kerala's grand old Kalaripayattu dame |publisher=The News Minute |date=2016-02-06 |accessdate=2018-01-29}}</ref> She is well-versed in using all the weapons ranging from the stick to the urumi, which even the experts find difficult to master.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/580737/fight-betterment.html |title=The fight for betterment |publisher=Deccanherald.com |date= 13 November 2016|accessdate=2018-01-29}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/trending/viral-videos-trending/meenakshiamma-kalaripayattu-2877207/ |title=Watch: 76-yr-old woman performs martial arts with man half her age |publisher=The Indian Express |date=2016-06-27 |accessdate=2018-01-29}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Kadapa |first=Surekha |url=https://www.thebetterindia.com/108429/meenakshi-gurukkal-oldest-kalaripayattu-practitioner-from-kerala/ |title=Kerala's Kalaripayattu Lady Is the Oldest Woman to Practice the Martial Art |publisher=Thebetterindia.com |date= 14 July 2017|accessdate=2018-01-29}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/society/history-and-culture/meenakshi-amma-the-grand-old-dame-of-kalaripayattu/article25307782.ece|title = Meet Meenakshi Amma, the grand old dame of Kalaripayattu|newspaper = The Hindu|date = 25 October 2018|last1 = Sathyendran|first1 = Nita}}</ref>
The Kalari, which is visited by many students even from abroad, still maintains the traditional value system. There is no fee for the classes and money is accepted in the form of dakshina and expenses for the oil used in Kalari.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/padma-awards-moment-of-glory-for-kerala/articleshow/56788969.cms |title=Padma awards: Moment of glory for Kerala | Kochi News - Times of India |newspaper=The Times of India |publisher=Timesofindia.indiatimes.com |date= 26 January 2017|accessdate=2018-01-29}}</ref>
Meenakshi Amma's family is also into Kalarippayattu.<ref>{{cite news |title=Meet Padma Shri Meenakshi Gurukkal, the grand old dame of Kalaripayattu|newspaper=The News Minute|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/meet-padma-shri-meenakshi-gurukkal-grand-old-dame-kalaripayattu-56274.}}</ref> Her two sons and two daughters also started practicing Kalaripayattu from the young age of six. One of her sons is also a 'Gurukkal' (kalaripayattu teacher) now.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiastudychannel.com/resources/170938-Padma-Shri-honour-for-Meenakshi-Amma-Kerala-s-oldest-woman-KalariGurukkal-now.aspx |title=Padma Shri honour for Meenakshi Amma - Kerala's oldest woman KalariGurukkal now in her seventies |publisher=Indiastudychannel.com |date=2017-02-22 |accessdate=2018-01-29}}</ref>
She is now performing as central character in a Kalaripayat centered movie named ''Look Back''.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Daily |first1=Keralakaumudi |title=പത്മശ്രീ മീനാക്ഷിയമ്മ ഇനി വെള്ളിത്തിരയിലെ നായിക |url=https://keralakaumudi.com/news/news.php?id=690836&u=local-news-kozhikode |work=Keralakaumudi Daily |language=ml}}</ref> The film is set to release in June next year.<ref>{{cite news |title=കളരിപ്പയറ്റ് ഗുരു മീനാക്ഷിയമ്മ 'ലുക്ക് ബാക്ക്'; സിനിമ അടുത്ത ജൂണിൽ |url=https://www.manoramanews.com/news/kerala/2021/11/23/kalarippayat-meenakshiyamma-film-lookback-story.html |work=Manoramanews |language=en}}</ref>
==Personal life== Her husband V. P. Raghavan Gurukkal from Puthuppanam Karimpanapalam was her first Kalarippayattu trainer.<ref name="Manorama">{{cite news |title=കടത്തനാടിന്റെ ശ്രീ ; ആത്മധൈര്യത്തിന്റെ കളരിച്ചുവടുകളുമായി മീനാക്ഷിയമ്മ |url=https://www.manoramaonline.com/women/interviews/inspirational-life-story-of-meenakshiamma-the-73-year-old-kalari-maestro.html |work=ManoramaOnline}}</ref> The couple have 4 children.<ref name="Manorama"/>
==See also== * Kottackkal Kanaran Gurukkal
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Amma Gurukkal, Meenakshi}} Category:Kalarippayattu practitioners Category:Indian female martial artists Category:Living people Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in other fields Category:1941 births