The Supreme Court’s recent ban on the ancient sport of jallikattu (taming the bull) has sent shock waves across Tamil Nadu. Jallikattu is a popular fixture during Pongal, the harvest festival, in mid-January when bulls are freed on the fields with youth vying with each other to bring them under control. The one who takes the bull by its horns is declared the winner and bags the gold. Thousands gather to witness the sport, with Alanganallur near Madurai being its most famous venue. It is also packaged as a major tourist attraction in the state.

Over the last few years, animal welfare activists have been protesting against jallikattu and another rural sport, rekla race (bullock cart race), alleging the bulls were being subjected to cruelty. There were also concerns about the injuries people sustained and the occasional deaths. In 2004, the Madras High Court’s Justice FM Ibrahim Kalifulla passed an order permitting the cart race with a direction to the organisers that no animal should be harmed. In March 2006, Justice R. Banumathi disagreed with the order and banned “all types of jallikattu, rekla race, oxen race or any other entertainment involving causing cruelty to animals”.

Fair contest: villagers surround a bull that has been chased by a relay team of youth

Later, a division bench comprising Justice Dharma Rao Elipe and Justice PPS Janarthana Raja set aside Justice Banumathi’s order and allowed jallikattu on certain conditions. The court directed the state to regulate the sport and recommended medical examination of the bulls by qualified veterinarians to confirm that the animals are not intoxicated or administered steroids or subjected to any cruelty including “the application of chilli powder, mud etc. on its genitals to make it more aggressive”. The recent sc ban came when the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) appealed against the HC order.

In Alanganallur and surrounding villages, people are in a state of shock. P. Elangovan said the locals valued their culture and respected it. “We have been conducting this sport for centuries and cannot stop it all of a sudden,” he said. Villagers said the bulls are treated well, as they are dedicated to the local deity. “The animals are well-fed and pampered. These bulls are not used for ploughing or pulling carts,” said S. Muthiah, who is known to have tamed the most ferocious bulls.

R. Govindaraj said the issue concerned the villagers’ beliefs. “We believe that if we don’t conduct jallikattu, the gods would be angry with us. We failed to conduct the sport for a year in the 1970s, and several people died that year due to disease,” he said. Alanganallur Town Panchayat Chairperson N. Azhagu Umadevi said the villagers would appeal against the sc order. She said this year’s jallikattu was conducted according to the court’s directions. “There was no untoward incident or cruelty to animals. The ban is terribly shocking,” she said.

At Palamedu, another village famous for jallikattu, village leader S. Krishnan said the event was inseparable from the lives of the villagers. “People belonging to all communities celebrate the event. It promotes communal harmony,” he said.

Angry: the Alanganallur panchayat chief

According to activists, the sport has survived for centuries. “It has been prevalent since the Sangam age (about 2000 years ago) when it was known as aeruthaluvuthal,” said Pazha Nedumaran, leader of the Thamizhar Desiya Iyakkam. He said Tamil groups would offer their support for holding the event. DMK MLA Veerapandi A. Raja, a jallikattu enthusiast, said the sport could be conducted after ensuring the safety of all concerned, including the animals.

The people’s anger to the ban is reminiscent of the state-wide protests against the Jayalalithaa government’s ban on the sacrifice of animals and birds in temples in 2003, which was later withdrawn. Sources dealing with the jallikattu case said the government would move the sc to lift the ban.

AWBI vice chairman VN Appaji Rao said the board wanted a ban on jallikattu only to prevent cruelty to animals. On being asked whether he saw the sport as a test of valour, Rao said, “If it is a test of valour, I would have appreciated if a single person challenges the animal one to one. I don’t know when this became a “mass” event.”

» Writer’s e-mail: vinoj@tehelka.com