January 18, 2017 at 11:56 pm

It is a annual bull taming or bull vaulting sport and dates back to almost two thousand years and is one of the oldest surviving native sports. It has a rich history and is associated with Tamil customs and celebrations. It is also known as Eruthazhuvuthal or Manja Virattu. It is typically practiced in the state of Tamil Nadu as part of the Maatu Pongal Day during the four day harvest festival during January, Pongal celebrations during Makara Sankranti. The natives of this region also feel that it represents the identity of the people and the Tamil culture as a whole which has a rich history and they value the same.

Actually small farmers cannot afford to keep stud bulls and due to this each village has a temple bull which services the cows of poor farmers of the village. So the belief among the people of this region is that if you want to protect the native and indigenous breeds of cows having this system is very much essential. Other than this these bulls are used in religious and cultural festivals and traditions of the place. But not only in the south of the country this festival is followed by different variations and forms even in the northern part of the country. It is a phenomena related to the country in varied ways and small alterations in traditions.

In India there has been a high respect associated to animals from ancient ages and the relationship between man and his animals is unique and the bond is quite strong. They are treated as members of the family or as part of the members of the families of the whole village. These bulls are not used for normal day to day activities of the farmers. Jallikattu is a Tamil word which comes from “Callikattu” here “Calli” meaning Coins and “Kattu” which means a Package.

There are trainers who train the bull for temple rituals, social and traditional events and as per customs. This festival actually started as an simple act of Bravado where in some places the same customs are preserved even till date. While a deeper study is essential for one to know its complete history. Where as in other places there are cases of it becoming an act of cruelty towards the animals by over enthusiastic participants. In the same vein many of the participants are also hurt or suffer grave and life threatening injuries where a happy occasion turns into a tragedy for the families and dependents of the deceased participants.

But still people are attached and attracted to it sentimentally, religiously and as per customs and traditions and look forward to it year after year. Injuries or deaths to humans or to their animals is not a good thing and this has to be avoided by having a fine balance between the sport and tradition. The traditions and festivals should continue but the injuries to the participants and their animals have to be avoided and prevented so that it can be a happy event worth remembering adding color to the festivities. Basically features have to be incorporated by the government, AWBI, the organisers, human rights organisations, courts, religious bodies, locals for whom it is a part of their identity and most importantly the people participating and other stakeholders. All the parties must sit together, discuss issues to be sorted out and arrive at an amicable situation where all stake holders and most importantly the animals are happy  and  taken care of.

Here the Supreme Court of India has come up with a Judgement imposing a ban on the event, the apex court order included bulls in the list of animals that ‘shall not be exhibited or trained as performing animals’. The PETA which is an animal welfare organisation which works for the welfare of wildlife and other animals along with other organisations  has been at the forefront to ban this festival for some years. While the people of the state and the country are divided on the issue with the majority still wanting the Jallikattu. Lots of famous personalities, politicians, political parties, social and cultural groups which want to protect the traditions of the natives and the country have come in support of Jallikattu. One more thing it was earlier and more so now  come to be identified with the area and region where it is practiced and protests by these animal rights activists and the ruling by the court of the land have hurt the sentiments of the whole population barring a few, this is not a good thing as these decisions with all due respect to the highest court of the land and its verdict have to be taken with the populations support. It should not be felt that someone is coming and imposing their thoughts and will and is disrespecting the sentiments of the people who should be the one who should have initiated this after the due process explained above.

My take on this is, cruelty to wildlife or animals anywhere in the world is bad and has to be stopped. Humans have to evolve as per times. This should not be done at the cost of festivals, traditions, customs  and local sentiments. It is one thing to come and protest about Jallikattu in India and a few passionate local wildlife and animal welfare activists and organisations of the country also support them with the good intention that animals are not harmed.

While their own countrymen in their part of the world keep eating, beef, pork, camels, donkeys, dogs, snakes, sharks, fish, whales, wildlife, birds, cats, frogs, worms, ants, beetles and what not. You name it they eat it. They also do trophy hunting, make money out of game reserves, run ocean parks using marine life hunt marine life and do the worst form of practices with wildlife in the hunting season and run circuses. These activists are a minority and the laws of those country are very strong and do not care these people who want to support wildlife and animals.

Why those countries do this is because they want economy and revenue and this is their model. Such societies cannot be called developed and evolved and need to change first by setting their houses in order and they should also learn to do good things and activities  by taking the people of the area where they are doing their work without hurting their sentiments, traditions and customs. That is the right approach.

People who are all the stakeholders have to decide and do something out of which benefit comes to both the animals and the human being dependent on it. Think about it animals are not dependent on us originally they lived by themselves before being domesticated. It is we the humans all over the world  who are dependent on them for our joys, livelihood, customs, traditions and what not and we even look at them as our gods and treat them with respect but we are the same humans who also trouble animals and abuse them with cruelty it is a ironical situation. This attitude of humans has to evolve and change for the good of all.

Others do not need to tell us what to do,  only we the   Indians must self regulate as we are a ancient land and our  Indian religions preach nonviolence. When we say nonviolence it should be for all living beings of the world and  not  just only to India it has to be a universal thing. We should find a solution and show a way for others to follow and use as a role model, which we are capable of if we really want to and are ready for the same.

Foreign interests should be transparent, responsible, accountable to the people of India and should not come with some hidden agenda and meddle with other countries affairs, customs, sentiments, traditions and festivals. As now a days that has become a fashion and a trend which is there not only in India but in different parts of the world for geopolitical and economic reasons which run very deep and there are layers within layers of such setup.

The country should be careful of this and should not fall into the trap unknowingly. Hope all concerned solve the issue and see that both humans and animals are happy. Only then can the country prosper. This is food for thought.