Folding the Tent: Kerala Circus Academy

Vol - XLIX No. 2, January 11, 2014 | Nisha P R

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Merely three years after it came into being, the Kerala Circus

physical training centre for circus acrobatics in Nagpur. It

Academy, the first circus academy in the country set up by

included a circus training centre and a zoo.[3] Damodaran,

the government of Kerala, is on the verge of closure due to

who was the owner of Asias biggest circus company had

lack of vision. If the government is serious about reviving this

kept aside acres of land in Kathirur, Thalassery for his dream

dying entertainment form, then a more concerted effort will

a circus college with a students hostel.[4] In an article

have to be made.

published in theMathrubhumi Illustrated Weekly in 1957,

Damodaran spoke at length about the need for a circus

Nisha P R ([email protected]) is a PhD candidate at

university in Kerala. He visualised the university giving both

Department of History, University of Delhi.

academic and acrobatic education to circus people, so that

Anyone familiar with the history of Indian circus should find it

they could perform better than the European circus artistes:

quite appropriate that the first state owned circus academy in

As the student advances in her academic education to get a

the country was established in Thalassery, North Kerala.

university degree, she should also be advancing in her

Most of the acrobats, trainers and entrepreneurs in Indian

training practices till she attains a means of livelihood by

circus over the past century have hailed from this part of the

being proficient in at least one of the acrobatic items.

world. The Kerala Circus Academy was inaugurated on 2

[5] Unfortunately neither of these projects could be realised.

August 2010 and started functioning in a rented building at

In 1957, Kandambulli Balan, author of the famous

Chirakkuni. The glaring irony lies in the fact that this building

book Circus, also wrote about the need for a circus college

was a former cinema theatre; cinema, an art form often

putting

blamed for the impending death of Indian circus industry.

include kalaripayatt and circus in the curriculum of Kerala

Hardly three years into operation, this circus academy is now

Kalamandalam, which was in its formative stages.[6]

forward

significant

suggestion

to

heading towards a closure; a closure for good.[1]

Establishment of Kerala Circus Academy
History of Circus in India
In 1992, for the first time the government initiated a project
Circus training centres, known as circus kalaris, came into

under the Sports Authority of Indias (SAI) Thalassery centre

existence in North Malabar in the late nineteenth century.

to train children of people belonging to the circus community

The legendary circus guru, Keeleri Kunhikannan Teacher,

in sports and gymnastics. But the authorities stopped

considered as one of the forefathers of Indian circus, and his

admitting these children from 2000 onwards.[7] While the

illustrious disciples, Mannan Teacher and M K Raman,

SAI authorities claimed that in the later years they stopped

established circus kalaris where they trained men, women

getting applications from the children of circus people, the

and children. Circus acrobatics in India is a blend of various

circus community alleged that the seats meant for their

physical cultures the western with indigeneous martial art

children were handed out to well-offs by the officials.[8] So

forms such as kalaripayatt and kusti, as formulated by

the decision of the Kerala government to establish a circus

these kalaris. These centres provided trained acrobats to

academy in Thalassery was seen as a constructive move by

circus companies around the world.[2]

many who had spent their prime time in rings and tents. But

In the latter half of the twentieth century some prominent

as pointed out earlier, the academy is on the verge of

circus entrepreneurs, such as Damodaran of Kamala Three

closing. The Express report cited above states that no

Ring Circus and K Gopalan of Rayman circus, tried to

student from the state has shown interest in joining the

establish circus training schools in various parts of the

institution.

country. In the early 1950s, K Gopalan

established a

Established under the ministry of sports, the principal

Gemini/Jumbo circus. The three instructors at the academy

objective of the academy was to provide training in circus

were also from Gemini/Jumbo Circus. The note further

acrobatics to children below fourteen.[9] The chief executive

stated that according to the managing committees decision,

officer (CEO) of the academy, M P Velayudhan, a retired

childrens expenditure for food, uniform cloth and auto-

deputy collector, says: The aim was to select ten children

rickshaw fare

from various circus companies and another ten from this

Gemini/Jumbo

locality. Applications for admission were called for in major

expenditure is reimbursed as per their claims. Raghavan,

Malayalam dailies. We received eleven applications and six

one of the trainers said, After turning fourteen these children

people appeared for interview in May 2011. But none of them

would go back to Gemini circus.[13]

from

hostel

to

management

school
from

are borne by
02-08-10.

This

joined. Applications were called for twice again with almost

no response.[10] Velayudhan paraphrases the damning
judgment of the former minister of sports: Circus does not
figure in any school syllabi. Nobody looks upon circus as a
job. There seems to be no possibility for circus to go on as
such.[11]
Eventually the ten seats earmarked for pupils from the circus
companies were duly filled, and the children have stayed on.
There are six girls and four boys from different parts of India
and Nepal in the academy four from Tamil Nadu, four from
Assam and Bengal and one each from Bihar and Nepal.
Interestingly all these children are from Jumbo, Gemini and
Great Royal circuses controlled by the same promoters. In
fact the present circus academy has been established by
recasting a private endeavour which had been set up by this
management sometime back for training children. Ajay
Shankar, one of the owners of the Gemini group says: Id
begun a training set up for children sometime back in 2008.
We had about twenty five children as students. The
expenditure became unmanageable, so I approached the
then

Left

Democratic

Front

(LDF)

government,

with

Achuthanandan as the Chief Minister, for help. Thus the

government academy came into being. He added that his
company is bearing thirty percent of the expenses of the
children (for dress, travel and sports), while the government
is spending the rest, mostly on administration, though there
is no formal

contract regarding this expense sharing

arrangement. Hence, the Sports Minister M Vijayakumar

categorically states that the Academy is completely a
government-owned institution, and that there is no contract
with any circus company.[12] A two page quasi-official note
in Malayalam titled Circus Academy, Thalassery states that
the Academy was inaugurated on 2 August 2010 by the
government, and ten kids were admitted with the help of

Syllabi and Running of the Academy

That a successful Academy has not evolved from this
arrangement, and that the other circus companies around
the country and circus labour unions have not

been

encouraged to collaborate with it, brings forth questions

regarding the manner in which the institution is being run.
The managing committee of the Academy is another glaring
example of certain exclusions at work. An all-India trade
union for circus workers called Indian Circus Employees
Union, affiliated to the Indian National Trade Union Congress
(INTUC), has been functioning in Thalassery for more than
three decades. The Circus Labour Union, registered in
1998, has also been functioning in the town. While not a
single representative of any of these unions or circus
workers community figures in the management committee,
organisations such as the Circus Fans Association that exist
only in paper have been included.[14]
Another important and interesting aspect regarding the
establishment of the Kerala Circus Academy is that it came
into being just seven months prior to the ban imposed by
Supreme Court on 18 April 2011 on the employment of
children under fourteen in a circus. The petitioner, Bachpan
Bachao Andolan, a non-governmental organisation (NGO),
had argued that the children in circuses were subjected to
exploitation, sexual abuse, bondage and servitude and
proposed to notify circus as a hazardous industry. In an
interview in 2013, the CEO of the Kerala Circus Academy
said that he was unaware of the Supreme Court ban, and the
representative of Bachpan Bachao Andolan said that he did
not know that such an Academy had come into being while
the litigation was in progress.[15]

The curriculum committee which prepared the syllabus

government

officials.

Those

familiar

with

the

circus

should have been constituted of experts, including circus

community know that the circus manager/program co-

artistes, academicians and activists. Unfortunately it is

coordinator is an expert in management business. In March

almost a replica of the managing committee. The syllabus

2012, rupees one crore was released from the district

stipulates the training time for children between 6 am to 8

collectorate treasury of which fifty lakh was spent[19]. The

am in the morning and 4.30 pm to 7 pm in the evening.

monthly expenditure for the academy is Rs one lakh.[20]

Training is given in floor exercises (boys and girls), vaulting

table (boys and girls), beam (girls), parallel bars (boys),

A Sport or an Art Form?

uneven bars (girls), high bars (boys), rings (boys) and

pommel horse. Under the section Jobs and Entertainment,
it lists clowning (make up), jokes and entertainment. The
syllabus also caters to training in tent preparation, different
types

of

circus

events,

dress

making,

music,

food

preparation, jobs and entertainment (jokers), light and sound,

animal circus, etc.[16] Since no instruments and equipment
were provided, the three trainers are instructing them in
these floor exercises. A list of instruments was prepared but
it was not sent to the government. Only a hook for the
slanting wire was made available[17].

At Kundoormala, Thalassery, ten acres of land was

considered as a site for creating permanent infrastructure for
the

circus

academy.

In

the

last

meeting

held

at

Thiruvananthapuram, it was suggested by the then Sports

Minister Ganesh Kumar that the circus academy may
function along with gymnastics and Kalaripayatt in the
proposed Sports Complex at Mundayad, in Kannur district
itself.[21] Other questions, such as whether it would come
under the Sports Authority of India again were also raised. A
significant proposal came from the Kerala Sangeetha Natak
Academi chairman, Surya Krishnamurthi. He assured that all

However, after their early morning trainings, children go to

the current benefits granted by the Academi to drama

the Dharmadam Basic Upper Primary School, a Government

artistes, such as pension, insurance, medical treatment and

aided school with Malayalam as the medium of instruction.

training places could be made available to circus artistes

The only logic why these children, who speak different

also. The chairman also proposed to attach the circus

languages, are taught in Malayalam medium seems to be

academy with Sangeet Natak Academi and develop it.

that they are going to work in Malayali companies. This

[22] But nothing came out of these plans, since there was

obviously limits their choices and opportunities in a wider

pressure from both the culture and sports ministries, says

world.

Krishnamurthi. He added, Sports Ministry asserted that

circus comes under sports and they are entitled for any

Apart from the three trainers, the two cooks are also retired

move concerning it. But they dont move and plus circus is

circus artistes. The call for application by the collectorate,

not a sport, its an art[23].

Kannur, titled Wanted Circus Personnel, specifies the

This throws up the crucial problem of treating circus as a

qualifications of the Administrator as A pass from the

sport.[24] This renders invisible its complexities as a

Gymnastics Institute or Technical Institute of Gymnastics

performing art with multiple layers. As in foreign circus

and experience as 10-15 years of administrative experience

academies, the children should have the opportunity to get

in a reputed circus company; Chief Trainer should have a

professional

training

in

Basic training certificate from the Circus Federation and

acrobatics,

dance,

tent

Five years training experience in a reputed circus company

management. Circus in India today is by no means region

(Collectorate, Kannur, M6.45315/08(1), dated 06/05/09). The

specific. The government of India should think of setting up

monthly salary of the trainers is six thousand and for the

a school to teach circus art, preferably to be located in New

cooks five thousand. The CEO draws fifteen thousand

Delhi, where boys and girls from all over India may be

monthly.[18] It should be noted here that while the jobs of

recruited and trained to become first grade circus stars, who

cooks and trainers are given to the circus artistes, the high-

may be in great demand throughout the world, envisions the

level posts are taken by the political party leaders and retired

author ofCircus in India: Its Problems, Solutions in the

band

music,

technology

textile
and

design,
program

magazine Big Top (1965) published by the Circus Owners

[5]Damodaran, Prof. K. Keralathinoru Circus University [A

Federation (p.10). So instead of perceiving the school just as

Circus University for Kerala], p.31-33, 1957 July 28, vol. 35,

a physical training institute, the central government should

issue 19, p 32 (my translation)

take it up at the national level, as in the case of the

[6] Keralavum circussum [Kerala and Circus], Mathrubhumi

National School of Drama, and establish an advanced centre

Illustrated Weekly, vol.34, issue51, 3 March 1957, p.19-22,

for performance and physical culture.

28 ; Its worthwhile noting here that the State of Kerala, that

Permanent circus theatres of Russia, Britain and America

came into being in November 1956, incorporating Malabar,

successfully host circuses during different seasons. Such

Kochi and Travancore provinces, was also being imagined at

permanent circus theatres (could be made in the form of

the time. This imagining of a homogenous Malayali nation

tents), at least in major cities, could be set up. The state can

had been and still is a contentious process.

also give support to co-operative circus companies under its

proposal of placing circus, a modern vocation and livelihood

small-scale industry schemes. What I have gathered from

of mostly subaltern communities, especially women, along

my field work is that majority of the circus artistes and

with Kathakali and Kalaripayaat, predominantly upper-caste

labourers do not want to send their children to circus

Hindu traditional forms, therefore, has telling socio-political

companies because they want them to get educated and

connotations.

have better future. Another recurring complaint is regarding

[7] Interview with Arun Kumar, gymnastics instructor, SAI,

the exploitative and dangerous labour conditions. The

Thalassery, 23/06/2013

government could arrange for the recruitment of students

[8] Interview

from its circus academies by circus companies around the

14/05/12 and Leela, Melur, Thalassery, 06/12/11

world for jobs and internships under proper legal contracts.

[9] The government order regarding the establishment of the

[25] This would not only help this art form to sustain but also

academy throws light on the fact that the idea was to open a

help stamp out the stigma around it, to which the state and

museum

society have substantially contributed.

31/03/2009).

Notes

[10] Interview with M P Velayudhan, Kannur, June 16, 2013

with

along

Suniti,

with

it

Ilayidathumukku,

(Order

no.

Balans

Thalassery,

1419/09,

dated

[11] Velayudhan further adds, In October when the new

district collector took charge, a meeting was organised, and I
[1] Kerala Circus Academy Thakarchayilekku [Kerala Circus
t

had suggested that as in the sports training centres the

Academy on the verge of ruin], Mathrubhumi Daily, 16 June

timings of the training should be scheduled during evening

2013; Sucheth P R (2013):Circus Academy: Doing a

and morning, so that there might be a chance of local

blindfolded

Express,

students joining. This suggestion was approved by the

at

managing committee. But only two students joined and they

tightrope

walk, The

5 March,

New

Indian

available

http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/article1488

quit before the first week was over. (Interview with

902.ece (accessed on 7 January, 2014).

Velayudhan, Kannur, June 16, 2013)

[2] For a detailed discussion see Nisha P R, Performing

[12]Telephone Interview with Ajay Shankar, 05/10/13;

Bodies, Physical Cultures: Looking at the Circus Kalaries in

Interview

Malabar, Social Science Probings, Vol.22, No.1, June 2010

27/08/13.

[3] Circus

[13]Interview with Ragahvan, Thalassery, 18/06/2013.

Vidhbhyasa

Kendhram

[Circus

Training

with

Vijayakumar,

Thiruvananthapuram,

Centre], Mathrubhumi Illustrated Weekly, Book 30, Vol 34,

[14] The managing committee that has been constituted has

Nov 9, 1952, pp 19-21

the following members: The District Collector, Kannur;

[4]Interview with Kamala, Seidarpalli, Thalassery, 30/07/12;

President, Sports Council, Kerala State; Director, Sports and

Kamala is the daughter of Damodaran after whom he named

Youth Affairs, Executive Engineer (Buildings Division), PWD,

his circus.

Kannur; Deputy Collector (L.A), Kannur; President, Kannur

District Sports Council represent the government. Asok

Shanker, President, Indian Circus Federation, Kannur,

[18] It should be noted here that the present CEO is a retired

Raghunath, Manager, Jumbo circus, Ajay Shanker, Gemini

bureaucrat and does not have any of the qualifications for

Circus, T I Zubire, Vice-President, Circus Fans Association.

the administrative post stipulated in the notification.

(Order no. 1222/09, dated 21/03/2009).

[19] Initially rupees twenty five lakh was released, and it is

[15] Interview with M P Velayudhan, Kannur, June 16, 2013;

mentioned in the note prepared for the meeting at the Sports

Telephone interview with Bhuwan Ribhu of Bachpan Bachao

Council, Trivandrum dated 05/09/2008 that this amount will

Andolan,

25/08/13; Mr. Ribhu also informed that the

not be sufficient, so other funds from the MP and MLA funds

Solicitor Generals report on the matter was submitted to the

should be utilised apart from those collected from the circus

court in January 2010. Interestingly, in a proposed relief in

companies and self-governing establishments (Note for the

this litigation dated 14/09/2009 submitted by the advocate of

meeting

another NGO, Childline, it is stated that the Court may direct

05/09/2008).

the Sports Authority of India to set up a national/regional

[20] Interview with Velayudhan, Kannur, 16/06/2013

circus training academy for the training of children in India

[21] See Kerala Circus Academy Thakarchayilekku [Kerala

as most children of the circus come from Eastern India/

Circus

at

the

Sports

Academy

Council,

on

Trivandrum

the

Verge

dated

of

Nepal on the lines of the Kerala Circus Academy set up in

Destruction],Mathrubhumi Daily, 16 June 2013. Also from

Kerala, Thalassery Municipality, Kannur District by the

the Interview with Velayudhan, Kannur, 16/06/2013.

Ministry

[22] Interview

of

Sports

of

the

Kerala

Government.

th

with

Surya

Krishnamurthi,

Vijayakumar, the minister of sports at the time of academys

Thiruvananthapuram, 06/10/13

establishment, told me that the first meeting on the academy

[23] Ibid

was

Vijayakumar,

[24] Arun Kumar told me that there are circus items that

Thiruvananthapuram 27/08/13). Note prepared for the

involve gymnastic exercises. But they are not the same

meeting at the Sports Council, Trivandrum dated 05/09/2008,

(Interview with Arun Kumar, gymnastics instructor, SAI,

also shows a meeting was held on 13/03/08 and another on

Thalassery, 23/06/2013).

26/06/08.

[25]Most of the children of the circus people admitted in SAI

[16] From the syllabus submitted to the Managing Committee

have won national level medals, while some have won the

and later on to the government, dated 03/05/11.

international games (Interview with Dinesh, Accounts Officer,

[17] Interview with Raghavan, Kerala Circus Academy,

SAI, Thalassery, 24/06/13). Cultural exchange programs can

18/06/13

take them across the national boundaries.

held

in

2008

(Interview

with