There were a couple of interesting stories posted on the news tab last Friday. The first is the tale of a diminutive Columbia University mechanic (5’5”) named Veeramuthu “Kali” Kalimuthu who heroically saved a man’s life (significantly larger than him) at a train station and then just got on the next train home as if it was no biggie:
“I heard everybody was screaming, you know, and everybody was running in different direction,” Kalimuthu said.
A man had fallen onto the tracks from the opposite platform, all the way on the other side of the station.
“People were getting their cell phones out trying to call the police, somebody’s got to help him and then I looked over and I saw the gentlemen Kali jump down, hop over the rails,” said witness Ed Dijoseph, who brought Kali’s story to CBS 2 HD.
Kali made it across three sets of tracks, and knew about the three third rails, which are electrified with 600 volts — enough to push a 400-ton train.
“I was jumping from one over one rail, to over the next rail, over the next rail until I get to him,” Kali said…“He was trying to lift the guy up, but he was struggling because the guy who fell was bigger than him,” Dijoseph said.
With the help of someone on the platform, Kali hoisted the guy up…The hero then jumped across the tracks again, back to his platform and his train home to his wife and two children. [Link]
According to Gothamist, the guy who fell on to the tracks was an alcoholic on his way to detox…drunk. I guess it was his last hoorah. Thank goodness for the cat-like reflexes of Kali (a name traditionally more associated with taking heads than saving lives).
[note: I once asked my mom why nobody ever names their daughter “Kali.” She rolled her eyes and just said “no,” you can’t do that. Hmmm, there’s always a first.]
The next story features a video clip of a 54-year old Indian woman named Gitanjali Kolanad performing poses used in the ancient martial art form of Kalaripayat. The magazine Desi Life thought it would be, you know, all artistic and shit if she did a “lion pose” with an actual lion near by for one of their stories with accompanying photos. I think the lion pose must have been very realistic because…the lion mauled her when he saw it. I hope Desi Life has a good lawyer on staff:
Kolanad, 54, practises the ancient Indian martial art of Kalaripayat, fashioned after the movements of such animals as the lion, elephant, wild boar and peacock. The magazine suggested she pose with a lion.
“I thought, ‘Sure - Photoshop,’” Kolanad recalled. When she understood better, she was excited, she said, and an appointment was made with “Leo” for Feb. 20…The 3-year-old lion was lying nearby when Kolanad began her movements. Apparently still wanting to frolic, the animal jumped up and fell on her, knocking the wind out of her, bruising her left lung and breaking four left ribs. [Link]
Word has it that Kolanad has since decided to add a dagger to her routine and has promised to “cut that Aslan-looking motherf*cker” if he ever f*cks with her again.
For those of you looking for a more effective demo of Kalaripayat, I found this clip on YouTube. Unfortunately there aren’t any wild animals fighting against the men in the video so it isn’t nearly as entertaining to watch.
