Vishnupant Moreshwar Chatre

Vishnupant Moreshwar Chatre (1840-1905) was an Indian circus owner who is considered as the founder of the modern Indian circus. His circus company Great Indian Circus was the first circus company in India. Chatre met martial arts trainer Keeleri Kunhikannan when Great Indian Circus toured Thalassery, Kerala in 1887. In this visit an agreement was signed between Keeleri Kunjikannan and Chatre, according to that Keeleri Kunjikannan agreed to train the trainees for the circus and Chatre agreed to employ them. This led to the development of first circus academy in the country. rdf:langString