UPSC Prelims 2014 Q87: Art & Culture – Festivals, Crafts & Folk Traditions

UPSC Prelims 2014, General Studies Paper I · Art & Culture

With reference to India’s culture and tradition, what is ‘Kalaripayattu’?

(a) It is an ancient Bhakti cult of Shaivism still prevalent in some parts of South India
(b) It is an ancient style bronze and brasswork still found in southern part of Coromandel area
(c) It is an ancient form of dance - drama and a living tradition in the northern part of Malabar
(d) It is an ancient martial art and a living tradition in some parts of South India

Answer: (d) It is an ancient martial art and a living tradition in some parts of South India

Explanation

Kalaripayattu

Kalaripayattu is an ancient martial art of Kerala, still practised today.

Kalari means a training ground and payattu means fight or practice.

Feature	Detail
Training	Body exercises, then wooden weapons, then metal weapons
Weapons	Sword and shield, spear, dagger, and the flexible sword urumi
Healing	Marma treatment and massage, linked to Ayurveda
Teacher	Called gurukkal

The options checked:

Option	Verdict
(a) An ancient Bhakti cult of Shaivism	Incorrect
(b) An ancient style of bronze and brasswork	Incorrect
(c) An ancient form of dance-drama in northern Malabar	Incorrect; that would be Theyyam
(d) An ancient martial art and a living tradition in South India	Correct

Answer: (d) an ancient martial art and a living tradition in some parts of South India.

(a) Incorrect. Kalaripayattu is not a Bhakti cult of Shaivism.
(b) Incorrect. It is not a style of bronze and brasswork.
(c) Incorrect. It is not a dance-drama; Theyyam and Kathakali are.
(d) CORRECT. Kalaripayattu is an ancient martial art of South India, mainly Kerala.

Kalaripayattu: martial art of Kerala; kalari (arena) + payattu (fight); weapons include the urumi; linked to marma healing.

Kalaripayattu = martial art of Kerala.

Confusing it with Kathakali, which borrowed its body movements.
Not knowing other martial arts: Silambam (Tamil Nadu), Thang-ta (Manipur), Gatka (Punjab).
Placing it in Tamil Nadu alone; its home is Kerala.

Payattu = fight. That word marks a martial art.