A silambam event by children for a cause

Plumber G. Jagateesan, who learnt silambam from a cobbler, is well-known in RA Puram for imparting martial art skills to children free of cost

A group of government school students, aged 5 to 18, recently achieved a record by performing silambam walking. With sticks tied to their legs, this feat performed on January 1 was an effort to raise awareness about drug abuse.

More than one-third of the students that made up this 300-member group, which walked for a distance of five kilometres from Kodungaiyur to Madhavaram, are from Netaji Subash Chandra Bose Silambam and Welfare Association

It was led by G. Jagateesan, a plumber from R.A. Puram who has been teaching silambam to underprivileged children for the past five years, offering lessons for free. He has garnered various accolades, including an international championship.

“My silambam journey started at the age of 13 when I learnt the ropes of the art from my guru Perumal, a cobbler,” says Jagateesan.

Later, he started coaching government school children, aiming to improve their lives through this discipline.

Currently, 50 students are learning silambam under Jagateesan, with 30 having completed their training and turned professional. Many of his students have competed at both national and international levels, winning championships.

In 2024, his students set a record by walking for three hours with sticks tied to their legs.