Jallikattu should serve as an enduring symbol of harmonious coexistence rather than confrontation between humans and animals
UPDATE – Sat 5/20/23 12:44am
Jallikattu should serve as an enduring symbol of harmonious coexistence rather than confrontation between humans and animals
Hyderabad: When conflicts arise between the collective consciousness of the cultural ethos and the modern norms of justice and ethics, the solution lies in skillfully balancing and ensuring that the rule of law prevails. This is exactly what the Supreme Court attempted in its judgment on the ancient cattle-training sport of Jallikattu. While allowing an ancient warrior sport (a man outwits an angry bull and grabs a small bag of coins or a jalli tied to the horns), the Supreme Court directed states to strictly ensure the safety and protection of animals under the law Regulation. A five-judge constitutional judge has taken the position that the court cannot intervene in matters involving “cultural heritage corroborated by texts and evidence”. The Supreme Court has ruled that although Jallikattu, a Pongal-eve sport popular in Tamil Nadu state involves brutality, it cannot be called a blood sport because no one uses any weapons. It supports the validity of amendments made to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act by Tamil Nadu to reduce pain and suffering of cattle, and the Karnataka and Maharashtra governments to allow Kamba Laws of pulling and ox cart racing. The practice has been an integral part of rural Tamil life for centuries. It’s a celebration of courage and masculinity. No wonder even celebrities like Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan have been supporting its revival.
Political parties across the political spectrum, including arch-rivals DMK and AIADMK, as well as social organizations of all stripes, support the tradition in the name of preserving ancient traditions and local bull breeds. The annual ceremony was banned by the Supreme Court in 2014 based on concerns expressed by animal rights activists. Later in November 2016, the Supreme Court rejected the Tamil Nadu government’s request to have the ban lifted. Massive public protests against the ban erupted in Tamil Nadu, prompting the NDA government to overturn the court decision and hastily issue an ordinance allowing the activities to take place under the strict supervision of the district administration. This ritual is associated with a collective sense of Tamil pride, tradition and cultural ethos. Governments need to strike a reasonable balance between respecting ancient traditions and ensuring the safety of animals during ceremonies. Strict regulations must be in place to prevent any form of cruelty to animals and harm to trainers. If any custom or tradition is found to be contrary to basic human principles, it needs to be regulated and supervised. Ancient practices like Jallikattu should serve as enduring symbols of harmonious coexistence rather than confrontation between humans and animals. Banning the sport would be the death knell for the native cattle species and force Jallikattu bulls into slaughterhouses.
