Progress report for
Indian Traditional Arts - 5R (Research, Revive, Rejuvenate, Restore and Retention)
Achievement at a glance
Silambam Education (Trainings, Seminars and Workshop) in the Schools, Colleges and UniversitiesChallenges faced in implementation
Undergraduate students have conducted educational research and interview about Silambam history, training, and its benefits. The importance of silambam information to be addressed for young children, youth, students, teachers, parents, and the community for the greater good of preservation on the intangible arts, culture, and sports essence within Silambam, Kuttu Varisai, Traditional Yoga, Varma Kalai, and Siddha Medicine - for further development. The research and interview conducted using audio-visual media such as article writing, audio recording, photography, and videography. We noticed several issues in a certain school or off-campus training area during the program, such as not having adequate training space, small training hall or unsheltered (in case sunny day or raining), public transport not available or far in a certain place, some government/private schools did not allocate enough funding for the extracurricular program (especially for the Indian traditional arts), not enough of traditional arts trainers/teachers, and many more. Silambam is originated in Tamil Nadu of India and mostly practiced by the Tamil community. However, several Hindu or Tamil parents argued and request to remove the Indian traditional arts of "Silambam" in certain Tamil primary schools as they consider it's not contributing to any financial gains, presume as useless traditional arts, and it holds no career prospects for their children in the future.Beneficiaries
Silambam Organizations (related practitioners, clubs, societies, businesses, federations, associations), students, teachers, parents, schools, colleges, and universities.
Actions
It has several physical educations, sport science, practical involvement of body and mind during training, seminars or workshop (much effective if been integrated into the normal curriculum or education), physical arts value, increases memory or motor responses, and many more. World Silambam Association (WSA) also included the silambam program to educate the children on the awareness of climate changes and wildlife conservation - as most of the 'Silambam' tools, types of equipment or practices utilizing natural resources such as plant, tree, sand, stone, metals or animal remains. Silambam, Kuttu Varisai, Traditional Yoga, Varma Kalai, and Siddha Medicine should be declared as a 'Human Treasure' which essential for next-generation as the intangible arts, culture, and sport. It also needs to be enjoyed - with support from every community worldwide as an essential education program in schools, colleges, and universities. Several primary schools, secondary schools, and undergraduate college students have attended the program, conducted college research, and the educational programs still ongoing. Here are some completed initiatives:12 September 2019 - Silambam historical and development for Asia Civilization studies (University Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia);
24 October 2019 - Silambam Trainings and Workshop initiatives for National Government Schools (approved by Ministry of Education, Malaysia);
2 March 2020 - Silambam historical and development for Asia Civilization studies (Tunku Abdul Rahman University College, Malaysia).