Lathi
Encyclopedia
Lathi means stick and also refers to an Indian martial art based on cane-fighting. The word is used in Hindi
, Bengali and various other Indian languages. The lathi typically measures 6 to 8 feet (2.4 m) and may be tipped with metal. It commonly used as a crowd control device by the Indian Police and other South Asian law enforcement agencies. A lathi-wielder is known as a lathial or lethel.
the Mughal
s introduced zamindar
, which refers to intermediary landed elements with various levels of inheritable land rights. Lathial groups were sent to forcefully collect taxes from villagers. The zamindar
i system continued during British rule and wasn't abolished until after India
's independence in 1947. Rich farmers and other eminent people in today's India
n villages still hire lathial for security and as a symbol of their power. Disputes in villages, when settled illegally, still involve lathi battles but this is no longer a common practice and it has largely been replaced by legal methods or, rarely, shootouts. Although lathi remains a popular sport in India
n villages, urbanisation has led to a decline of this rural martial art.
, use the base chakra
as their energy centre. The low centre of gravity results in the techniques being performed mostly with the knees bent. In lathi however, the centre of energy is the heart chakra
, so practitioners fight in a more upright position. This is believed to align the body with the earth's gravity field, encouraging energy flow to the heart and healing the body of chronic ailments or structural problems.
, a military-style rush that uses lathi to disperse crowds. Lathi are now often used to control riots and also as a secondary weapon. In modern times, the lathi is the primary weapon of the India
n riot police along with helmets, shields, tear gas and other methods. Policemen are trained in highly co-ordinated drill movements which can leave many of the rioters crippled. This drill has been quite controversial among human rights activists so in many places the police do not follow the drill but hit in such a way to disperse the crowds. Security guard
s and police officers often carry a lathi along with or in place of firearms. They prefer lathi for their ease of use and comparative safety and only resort to firearms in situations when lathi cannot be used efficiently.
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
, Bengali and various other Indian languages. The lathi typically measures 6 to 8 feet (2.4 m) and may be tipped with metal. It commonly used as a crowd control device by the Indian Police and other South Asian law enforcement agencies. A lathi-wielder is known as a lathial or lethel.
History
Following their conquest of IndiaIndia
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
the Mughal
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
s introduced zamindar
Zamindar
A Zamindar or zemindar , was an aristocrat, typically hereditary, who held enormous tracts of land and ruled over and taxed the bhikaaris who lived on batavaslam. Over time, they took princely and royal titles such as Maharaja , Raja , Nawab , and Mirza , Chowdhury , among others...
, which refers to intermediary landed elements with various levels of inheritable land rights. Lathial groups were sent to forcefully collect taxes from villagers. The zamindar
Zamindar
A Zamindar or zemindar , was an aristocrat, typically hereditary, who held enormous tracts of land and ruled over and taxed the bhikaaris who lived on batavaslam. Over time, they took princely and royal titles such as Maharaja , Raja , Nawab , and Mirza , Chowdhury , among others...
i system continued during British rule and wasn't abolished until after India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
's independence in 1947. Rich farmers and other eminent people in today's India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n villages still hire lathial for security and as a symbol of their power. Disputes in villages, when settled illegally, still involve lathi battles but this is no longer a common practice and it has largely been replaced by legal methods or, rarely, shootouts. Although lathi remains a popular sport in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n villages, urbanisation has led to a decline of this rural martial art.
Training
Lathi wielders must be able to fight using sticks of different lengths and thicknesses. Matches are generally one-on-one but the art also includes routines for fighting multiple opponents. Most Indian styles of stick fighting, such as silambamSilambam
Silambam or silambattam is a weapon-based Dravidian martial art from Tamil Nadu in south India but also practised by the Tamil community of Sri Lanka and Malaysia. In Tamil, the word silambam refers to the bamboo staff which is the main weapon used in this style...
, use the base chakra
Chakra
Chakra is a concept originating in Hindu texts, featured in tantric and yogic traditions of Hinduism and Buddhism. Its name derives from the Sanskrit word for "wheel" or "turning" .Chakra is a concept referring to wheel-like vortices...
as their energy centre. The low centre of gravity results in the techniques being performed mostly with the knees bent. In lathi however, the centre of energy is the heart chakra
Chakra
Chakra is a concept originating in Hindu texts, featured in tantric and yogic traditions of Hinduism and Buddhism. Its name derives from the Sanskrit word for "wheel" or "turning" .Chakra is a concept referring to wheel-like vortices...
, so practitioners fight in a more upright position. This is believed to align the body with the earth's gravity field, encouraging energy flow to the heart and healing the body of chronic ailments or structural problems.
In law enforcement
The British colonists introduced the lathi as a weapon for the Indian Police. This gave birth to the lathi-chargeBaton charge
A baton charge is a coordinated tactic for dispersing crowds of people, usually used by police or military during public order situations. In certain countries, police are not authorised to use the tactic unless no other means can be practiced....
, a military-style rush that uses lathi to disperse crowds. Lathi are now often used to control riots and also as a secondary weapon. In modern times, the lathi is the primary weapon of the India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n riot police along with helmets, shields, tear gas and other methods. Policemen are trained in highly co-ordinated drill movements which can leave many of the rioters crippled. This drill has been quite controversial among human rights activists so in many places the police do not follow the drill but hit in such a way to disperse the crowds. Security guard
Security guard
A security guard is a person who is paid to protect property, assets, or people. Security guards are usually privately and formally employed personnel...
s and police officers often carry a lathi along with or in place of firearms. They prefer lathi for their ease of use and comparative safety and only resort to firearms in situations when lathi cannot be used efficiently.