Kerala - Kozhikode   

Kalari association refutes allegations

Kozhikode: The Kozhikode District Kalaripayattu Association has denied all allegations levelled against it by a rebel organisation led by Vatakara-based Valppil Karunan Gurukkal.

Speaking to presspersons here on Thursday, association president A. Moosa Haji said the allegation that memberships were not given to those who sought it was baseless, as membership was readily given to anyone who undertook scientific Kalari training. “There are over 85 Kalaris in Kozhikode district, which are affiliated to the association. The allegation that Kalaris from Vatakara are not given membership is also baseless since there are 12 Vatakara-based Kalaris affiliated to the association,” he clarified.

The Haji also denied the allegation that the association did not do anything for the Kalaris. The association had been working successfully for the last 50 years. The pension scheme for Kalari Gurukkals, grace marks and job reservation for Kalari students, and inclusion of Kalari in the school curriculum were all results of the relentless efforts of the association, he claimed. As many as 83 Kalari experts from the district had finished training for the post of Kalari instructors, he said.

The rebel organisations would adversely affect the development of Kalaripayattu, as the government had no provision to recognise two organisations of the same nature. As a result, the certificates issued by these organisations and the competitions they conduct would be invalid, he added. District Sports Council president K.J. Mathai and secretary of the association M.K. Rajagopalan were present.

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