Meenakshi Raghavan ‘Gurukkhal’, 76, is a master of the South Indian martial art Kalaripayattu. She has been training fighting techniques for 69 years. In her school, located in a small village in Kerala, India, she teaches 150 students of all ages and genders. In January 2017, Raghavan received the Padma Shri award, one of the highest civilian honors in the Republic of India, for her lifelong commitment to Kalaripayattu. Since then, she has been celebrated as a national hero. Raghavan promotes Kalaripayattu as a way for women to challenge gender roles and fight against sexual violence.
