The Bhatra family from Modiguda village in Odisha’s Nabarangpur district has scripted an inspiring tale of triumph over challenges as the young athletes overcome all odds with perseverance and indomitable will
The Bhatra family of Monoharguda, a village in the vast tribal expanse of Nabarangpur district in Odisha, weaves a tale of triumphant ambition in the world of martial arts, specifically the Indonesian discipline of Pencak Silat.
Rabindra Bhatra, 18, and his sisters, Urmila Bhatra, 14, and Sujata Bhatra, 12, along with their maternal uncle Ganesh Pujari, 19, have become torchbearers of success in this little-known sport in India.
Their journey is adorned with threads of tenacity. In the quiet hours of every Saturday and Sunday, the District Pencak Silat Association’s academy in Nabarangpur town beckons these spirited youngsters, some 18km from their home.
Coach Harish Behera’s decree is clear: all 30 of his students must assemble before the clock strikes 6 am. For him punctuality is paramount.
The family’s ambition is singular. Ballab Bhatra planted the seed of Pencak Silat in his children’s minds, envisioning it as a pathway to careers in police or defence forces, a shared aspiration of this close-knit family. “Our father advised us to take up Pencak Silat, as it would help us secure positions in police or military,” said Urmila, a ninth-grader at the Lal Bahadur High School in Papadahandi tehsil.
The family embarked on this journey in 2021, after a chance encounter. Ballab met Harish during a visit to Nabarangpur and the coach vividly outlined the benefits of Pencak Silat, leaving an indelible impression on Ballab.
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Pencak Silat encompasses striking, grappling, throwing, and sometimes weapon use. Participants, known as Pesilats, use defence and attack techniques such as repulsing, dodging, hitting, and throwing their opponents to score points. The participant with the most points at the end of a bout emerges as the winner.
Intrigued by the art’s potential, Ballab returned and convinced his children to join the coach’s cadre of trainees, becoming the first brick in their path to success.
Every day, the children, stirred by their father’s passion and commitment, rise at 4 am to practice for an hour in the playground adjoining their home, except for Saturdays and Sundays when they attend Harish’s class. Their father’s strict mandate echoes in their ears: “I warn them that missing a day of practice means forgoing a meal.”
Ganesh’s journey into Pencak Silat followed suit, as Ballab appealed to his father Domu Pujari to allow his son to join Harish’s mentorship. Domu agreed. “I wanted my son to be somebody unlike his father,” he said, seeking a brighter future for Ganesh.
Harish’s coaching bore fruit in just one year, with Ganesh and Urmila clinching gold in Tanding technique at the second district championship in Nabarangpur town. Rabindra and Sujata adorned themselves with bronze in junior and pre-teen categories, respectively.
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The accolades kept pouring in. Rabindra secured gold in the junior boys’ category in Tunggal at the 5th State Pencak Championship in Jharshuguda in 2022, and Ganesh claimed gold in Tanding, while Urmila earned bronze in the pre-junior girls’ category.
“Illness prevented me from participating in the 5th state championships. But all of us walked off with medals at the 4th East India Pencak Silat in Koraput district in December 2022,” said Sujata, an eighth-grader at the Government Upper Primary School near their village. Sujata and Ganesh won gold, Rabindra took silver, while Urmila grabbed another bronze.
Rabindra claimed silver at the 6th Pencak Silat Federation Cup in Goa in January 2023. “I was the sole member of our family to win,” boasted the 12th-grader.
The journey, however, hasn’t been without its hurdles. The family’s most frustrating moment came during the 11th Senior National Championship in Nasik in August 2023, where they were disqualified for overstepping the designated line while performing as a trio.
“Though they are skilful in techniques like Tanding, Tungaal, Regu and Ganda, they slip up sometimes with their footwork and body movement,” said Harish, acknowledging the need for more experience and practice to refine their skills. “They will help them overcome these in three to four years.”
Ganesh, Rabindra, and Ashutosh Pujari are among the 12 shortlisted to represent Odisha at the 37th National Games in Goa from October 23 to November 9 this year. “The three will participate in Regu, and I am confident they will get the gold,” said Prem Singh Thapa, the secretary of the Pencak Silat Association of Odisha.
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Financial constraints are a part of their journey. “Though the state government does not provide financial assistance, their parents never give in,” said Harish, who usually charges a fee of Rs 300 from each student, but has exempted the Bhatra family.
Ganesh’s father Domu, who cultivates paddy and maize on his modest two-acre land, earns around Rs 12,000 a month. He even works as a farmhand to sustain his household.
“Each of us paid Rs 1,200 as an entry fee for the district championships, while Rs 1,500 was paid for the state championships. We paid Rs 2,200 and Rs 6,000 for the zonal and nationals, respectively,” said Ganesh. “Besides, we bore our own travel and conveyance expenses.”
Ballab’s monthly income from his paddy field ranges from Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000, and his wife Ambika Bhatra, an accredited social health activist (ASHA), contributes Rs 5,000 every month. Yet, they tirelessly work to meet their children’s requirements. “We take money from various sources and even a self-help group named Gramadevi at a minimal interest rate of one per cent,” said Ambika.
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The lead image shows Rabindra Bhatra, 18, and his sisters, Urmila Bhatra, 14, and Sujata Bhatra, 12, along with their maternal uncle Ganesh Pujari, 19. (Photo by Niroj Ranjan Misra)
Niroj Ranjan Misra is a freelance writer based in Cuttack, Odisha.
