Silambam, once a symbol of strength and cultural pride, was fragmented and driven to the brink of extinction. But like a phoenix rising from the ashes, the spirit of silambam endures.

Chennai: When nine-year-old Thanviya Sai Sri's parents enrolled her in Silambam, they only wanted to reduce her screen time.

The other recipient was Asan Anbananthan Ramasamy, 77, master practitioner, teacher and promoter of the art of Silambam Nillaikalakki. It is a subsector of silambam, one of India’s oldest weapon ...