India’s 82-Year-Old Warrior Grandma Is Still Training Martial Arts Students Daily
At 82, most people are thinking about slowing down — but not Meenakshi Raghavan, fondly known as Meenakshi Amma. She wakes up at dawn and teaches the ancient Indian martial art of Kalaripayattu to students from 5 AM until noon — a routine she’s kept up for decades. With a sword in one hand and a shield in the other, she is a living legend in Kerala’s Vadakara town, commanding fierce respect and admiration.
Believed to be the oldest living female Kalaripayattu teacher in the world, Meenakshi Amma says, “I’ll probably practise Kalari until the day I die.”
Keeping a 3,000-Year-Old Tradition Alive
Kalaripayattu — a blend of strength, discipline, flexibility, and combat — is said to be India’s oldest martial art, dating back more than 3,000 years. Meenakshi Amma’s journey began when she was just seven years old, encouraged by her father and mentored by VP Raghavan, her future husband and co-founder of the Kalari school they built together in 1950.
Today, she teaches around 50 students daily at the same school, training them in a four-stage process — starting from body conditioning to stick fighting, weapon combat, and finally, unarmed techniques.
Breaking Barriers in a Male-Dominated Art
Meenakshi Amma has defied every societal norm. Coming from the Thiyya community, her husband faced caste discrimination early in his training — yet they both rose above it to create a space where students were judged by skill, not status.
“There was no bias against girls enrolling in Kalari, but we were expected to stop once we hit puberty. My father encouraged me to continue,” she recalls.
Now, she’s trained hundreds of students, many of whom have gone on to open their own Kalari schools across Kerala. Her four children, including 62-year-old Sanjeev, have followed in her footsteps — though she still remains his toughest opponent.
A Local Icon, A National Inspiration
Meenakshi Amma isn’t just a teacher — she’s a cultural icon. During interviews, she’s frequently interrupted by local politicians inviting her to events and award ceremonies. Her influence spreads far beyond the red-earth Kalari arena.
“She’s an inspiration to women everywhere,” says former student KF Thomas. “She shows fierce love for her students, but never compromises on discipline.”
Though she plans to hand over her school to her eldest son one day, Meenakshi Amma has no plans to retire anytime soon. For her, Kalaripayattu isn’t just a martial art — it’s a way of life.
