Back to nature

A Photo essay by Sreelekshmi B

Lakshman Gurukkal with students in Kalarigram

“Karthu…karthu…” a lady was calling someone as I opened the gate. I was surprised to see the name beholder, it was a cat. The cat was holding her baby between her jaws.

Beside her was Johny, a white furred dog, staring at me from the common dining area infront of the house. Bhairavan, a brown dog was sleeping at one corner. There were geese and a flock of chickens roaming around as guards.

It was on a Sunday morning when I reached Kalarigram. I went there in hope of getting pictures of the traditional martial art form of Kerala, kalarippayatt. But what I found there really surprised me – ‘a strong bond between man and nature.’ Kalarigram was primarily a school for kalarippayatt when it was setup by Lakshman Gurukkal and his wife, Shimi in 2010. Now it has become a home to many.

“Those who were lost in the middle of their life come here and stay with us for few days. This is a place where they can free their mind from the busy life”, says lakshman. He was inspired by Sri Aurobindo’s philosophy of seeing the whole world as a single family and thus considered setting up a branch of Hindustan Kalari Sangam in Auroville.

Kalarippayatt is practised both early mornings and evenings. Around 40 students ranging from 7 years to 70 years were there in each sessions.

Lakshman gurukkal has been practising kalari since he was 7. He learned it from his father. Now his students are taking classes and they live together as a family. “Through this art form, we are trying to connect people and with nature”, he said.