For Hindus bravery, valour and martial arts have never been a male-only enterprise. The “Vadakkan Pattukal” Malayalam ballads of ancient origin continue to tell the story of the “Kalarippayattu” martial art female legend ”Unniyarcha” who was a member of the valiant Chekavar(Thiyyar) family of ‘Puthooram’. The story goes like this. Unniyarcha, after her marriage, wanted to go on a visit to the temples of Kuthu in Allimalarkavu, Villakku in Ayyappankavu, and Velapuram in Anjanakavu. Her marital family tried to...