A TRADITION THAT SHOULD STAY?
C S EASWARAN // Jallikattu, is a cattle/ bull taming sport played in Tamil Nadu as a part of Pongal celebrations. The term Jallikattu comes from the term salli kassu (coins) and kattu (meaning a package) tied to the horns of the bulls as the prize money. During the colonial period this term got changed to Jallikattu which is the term currently used.
There are several rock paintings, more than 3,500 years old, at remote Karikkiyur village in the Nilgiris district in Tamil Nadu, which show men chasing bulls. Karikkiyur, situated about 40 km from Kotagiri town, is the biggest rock art site in south India. The rock surface site, teeming with more than 500 paintings, was discovered in 2004.
Unlike in bullfighting, the matador does not kill the bull. There are rarely any casualties suffered by the bulls. Bull taming had different names — erukol, eruthazhuval, eruthukattu, kaalaianaiththal, maaduanaiththal and manjuvirattu, until it metamorphosed into modern-day Jallikattu.
Those opposing the sport view this from a narrow angle by only opposing Hindu traditions. There are matador fights in Sprain, and there no restrictions on that, although the bulls’ bodies are painfully pierced through the performance. Everyone should be aware that down south, people also celebrate Maatu Pongal, a festival only for cows and buffalos. These animals are decorated beautifully with pride, and prizes are announced in every local forum.
The Madras High Court on January 12, 2016, granted permission for Jallikattu for St Anthony’s Festival for areas in Madurai, Trichy and Sivagangai (the cows and buffalos), which is reserved for minorities. Why is there is no hue and cry then? Is it because they are the so-called minorities? If the activists and animal lovers are so concerned about animal rights, they should dare the meat exporters and ban meat exports. Let them start from the top and then go to the bottom.
Traditions are traditions. They cannot be replaced just like a switch or a mobile phone. Traditions teach people the pros and cons about our actions and also how to lead life. You just cannot pick one example and throw tradition away.
C S Easwaran is an international commodity trader in agricultural commodities for over 23 years, and is a guest lecturer on international trade in management institutes. An agri-oriented person, he has travelled 30 countries in Africa and over 40 countries worldwide. Easwaran is a specialist on Africa region and a consultant in agri-trade.
FACTFILE
Jallikattu (pronounced challikattu) is jalli and k attu . In Tamil, this refers to the silver and gold coins tied to a bull’s horns. Jallikattu is held once a year in Tamil Nadu, mostly in the villages around the temple town of Madurai, during Pongal celebrations. This bull-vaulting sport is said to be more than 3,000 years old. Men try to hold on to a bull for a fixed distance and untie the coins tied to its horns. Those who succeed, get a cash prize. In the process, both man and animal sustain grave injuries, sometimes fatal. The Supreme Court had banned the sport in 2014 on the grounds of cruelty to animals. On January 8, 2016, the Centre issued a notification allowing Jallikattu during Pongal. The Supreme Court in its order on January 12, 2016, imposed a stay on this notification and on January 14, upheld this stay.
SARAN SURI // As a sport, Jallikattu sounds interesting, except that over the years, the sport has turned from untying the coins to who can dominate the bull the best. It has become a matter of who is the strongest. Also, what started many, many years ago as a sport with a select few taking part, has now become a contest where hundreds of men try to dominate the helpless bull. After the regulation notification, the number has probably come down a bit but it is still high. And the sufferer in all this is the poor bull.
Animal activists were delighted when a stay was imposed by the Supreme Court on Jallikattu in 2014. However, this joy was short-lived when on January 19, 2016, defying the stay granted by the apex court, Jallikattu took place in parts of Tamil Nadu.
The ban was absolutely justified in view of Article 51-A (g) of the Indian Constitution, which mandates every Indian citizen “to have compassion for living creatures”. Even Mahatma Gandhi once said that the greatness of a country could be judged by the way its animals are treated. Animals should, thus, not be used as a medium of entertainment, more so in such a cruel manner, which induces injuries and death upon the hapless animal.
Animal activists and organisations working for the welfare of animals and many others condemned Jallikattu as it violates the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. The organisers of Jallikattu call it a tradition. A footage released by People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) showed the bulls having their tails twisted, bitten by contestants, often stabbed with spears, knives or sticks, and also punched, jumped on and dragged to the ground, during the sport. What kind of tradition is this?
PETA India has also documented its concern with the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI). Another reason for their concern arises from the fact that Palamalai and Alambadi are two of the cattle breeds used during Jallikattu, which are on the verge of extinction. It is alleged that, perhaps, this is an excuse to send the bulls to slaughterhouses.
In 2011, the Ministry of Environment and Forests, in a notification, banned the use of bulls as performing animals, thereby banning the event. The practice continued under Tamil Nadu Regulation of Jallikattu Act. Prior to that in 2010, the apex court had conditionally permitted the Government of Tamil Nadu to allow Jallikattu, and had directed the district collectors to ensure that the animals that participate in Jallikattu are registered with the Animal Welfare Board, while imposing certain other conditions.
On 12 January 2016, the Supreme Court had ordered a stay, and despite protests by the people of Tamil Nadu, refused to lift the stay. On January 14, 2016, the Court upheld its ban on Jallikattu, leading to further protests all over Tamil Nadu. The focus on Jallikattu once again came about because the Centre issued a notification on January 8, 2016, lifting the ban on the sport with some restrictions during Pongal festival.
Animal activists, not only in India but in other countries too, have been expressing similar concerns and opposing similar games in which animals are subjected to cruelty, such as bull fighting, cock fighting, dog fighting, camel racing, and so on. Most of these are already banned. The locals argue Jallikattu is more than 2,000 years old. They argue that slaughtering of bulls and cows is still an ongoing commercial activity whereas in Jallikattu, no animal is purposely killed. They recommend that conditions be imposed to regulate it. The court feels that sports such as Jallikattu, in the name of tradition, are cruel to animals. Under the circumstances, one feels that even the plea for regulating it may not be considered. After all, cock fights are banned, dog fights are illegal, camel racing is banned, the use of animals in circuses is regulated. So why not Jallikattu?
Saran Suri is a Delhi-based advocate appearing before all courts including the Supreme Court and the Delhi High Court, with around 32 years of experience in civil and commercial laws.