As India gears up for Republic Day, the Padma Awards announcement has spotlighted true cultural warriors. Bhagwandas Raikwar, the 83-year-old heart of Sagar’s traditional arts scene in Madhya Pradesh, earns the Padma Shri for his unparalleled work in ancient combat traditions.
Through his Chhatrasal Akhara, Raikwar—revered as ‘Raikwar Dau’—nurtures lathi, sword fighting, and akhara culture against oblivion. These skills, integral to India’s historical fabric, demand his vigilant protection.
Inherited from his father and guru, Raikwar’s 60-year odyssey includes training across states like Chhattisgarh, Lucknow in UP, and Himachal, all while maintaining a bank job. His programs have touched innumerable lives, bridging past and present.
Overjoyed, he remarked, ‘Receiving this as an unsung hero is heavenly bliss.’ Beyond fitness, he teaches life’s disciplines through these arts, having lobbied governments for their safeguarding.
Cheers echo through Sagar as this accolade validates decades of toil. Family and followers celebrate it as a boon for folk martial heritage. Raikwar’s Padma Shri not only honors one man but elevates the unsung battle to revive India’s martial soul, urging collective action for tomorrow’s legacy.