Martial Art Forms of Odisha

The book by the celebrity danseuse Padmasree, Ileana Citaristi vividly captures the martial arts of Odisha, specially the Paik dance of a bygone era, when Paiks (derived from padatik) infantry foot soldiers of the then Kalinga (the ancient name of Odisha) kept themselves in war-readiness by rigorously practicing the armed and unarmed combat styles. The book is all about such forgotten stories of valour, the skills developed with or without swords and spears, all for the sake of protecting the motherland, the highest form of dedication and sacrifice, which is faithfully portrayed by the dancer-writer. Interwoven with the martial art form are the rituals, the code of ethics and the religious practices which are still being practiced in the districts of Odisha. The book will give the reader an insight into these seemingly innocuous practices but suffused with folklores and associated with historical events that speak volumes of the heroism of the hereditary foot soldiers.