New Delhi, March 8 – The two-day National Convention, "Nari to Narayani," held on the occasion of International Women's Day, is a commendable initiative to empower women, said S. Mahesh, a professional Kalari practitioner who participated in the two-day event. The convention, which also celebrated women's achievements and fostered new ideas and partnerships that will shape India's future, served as a strong foundation for government initiatives such as "Beti Bachao Beti Padhao," "Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam," "Mission Shakti," "Sakhi Centres," and "Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana."
Speaking to IANS on the sidelines of the convention, Mahesh, who is a fifth-generation Kalari Gurukul student of Agastyam Kalari, said, "It is a very important initiative, and I was discussing how to empower women through martial arts. Essentially, 'Shakti' refers to power, which comes from the warrior spirit. Unfortunately, this spirit is missing across India. A warrior is someone who stands for society and provides protection and care. We need to bring back this spirit."
"We should revive this spirit, and we have started associating with Bharati. So far, we have trained 15,000 girls through our 'Shakti' initiative. This is a movement where we can train girls through Kalari martial arts while also empowering them through these skills," he added.
The two-day National Convention provides a collaborative platform for women thought leaders to discuss and develop transformative approaches and solutions for self-reliance and holistic development.
By empowering and connecting women, this convention significantly contributes to the realization of the Prime Minister's vision of "Viksit Bharat" by 2047, with women at the forefront of inclusive growth and national development.
