What is Jallikattu?
Jallikattu, in the lucid term is a traditional sport organized as segment of Mattu Pongal, the third day of the four-day-long festival Pongal. The Tamil word ‘mattu’ means bull, and is dedicated to cattle, a key partner in the operation of farming. It is an ancient ‘sport’, believed to have been practiced some 2500 years ago. It mainly was active in major districts of Tamil Nadu until its ban in 2011.
How is Jallikattu organized?
Bulls from different villages are brought to an arena where the Jallikattu happens. The bulls are then freed into a ground, one by one. Participants are to embrace and try to tame it, possibly by riding for as long as possible holding its hump. The bulls that could be tamed are believed weaker, and are used for domestic purposes by the farmers and the untamable ones — considered the strongest and most virile are used for breeding the cows in many villages.
Bulls get more significance over cows, while bulls help farmers to plough their field, pull their cart loaded with goods, and inseminate cows, in turn resulting in production of milk, offspring and preserving indigenous species.
Jallikattu is vital like how Sankranti Cock fight and Buffalo race are vital and that’s because native cattle and poultry are paramount for India, and not just for Tamil Nadu !
What is hidden behind this ‘Jallikattu’ ban ?
Cheap politics to demolish Indigenous bulls (male species), like kangeyam, umbalacheri, mayilai, pulikulam etc., that has evolved for over 200-300 decades.
What is the need to destroy the bull?
If you demolish the male species, the entire species will become extinct as there will be no natural semen available.
Why demolish an indigenous species?
To introduce cross breeds or imported breeds, thereby creating a market for Artificial insemination.
Is India a market for Artificial insemination?
It’s a clear yes!! A whopping 68% of the indigenous cows are owned by small and landless farmers. Their produce is distributed through over one lakh village milk cooperatives, which have more than 10 million members. Now, imagine the market potential when all these farmers turn up for imported semen’s.
So, who is behind this ban?
PeTA (People for ethical treatment of animals). Being an American NGO, with no knowledge about native cattle or Indian tradition, they have successfully won the case against Jallikattu. By terminating Jallikattu, these indigenous bulls are slaughtered and since there’s no bull for mating, Jersey cows are imported to meet dairy need of people which, by several independent research is proven to be unhealthy.
Aim of Jallikattu protest?
The focused agitation and peaceful protest is to amend PCA (Prevention of cruelty to Animals Act) and detach the bull from performing wild animal category so that we can organize Jallikattu peacefully, as we have been doing since 400 B.C.
“Because our Ancestors were smarter than what we thought. They knew SCIENCE, which has turned into culture and sentiments today”
To produce good quality milk or eggs or chicken, the male mater should be healthy and virtue enough. To make the mater healthy enough, only feeding extra food doesn’t make it virtue enough. It needs to involve itself into physical activity, in human context, athletic. Our ancestors thought by organizing events like these would be an added advantage and would finally produce healthy and good off-springs.
The animals involved in these events are taken special care of and given separate training. The fit animals are only allowed in these events. These are later made to mate with the females and thus, produce off springs. The products from these off springs are of utmost quality and stood high in the market. Ox was only bred for two purposes – Transportation and Jallikattu. Transportation has been substituted by tractors and if Jallikattu is abolished too, there is no way people will breed oxen. We will lose our native breeds and will be drinking the most low quality milk and watch the MNC’s overpower us.
It’s a cultural heritage of Indians and it is necessary to protect it.