For the past many days newspapers are full of the news
related to Jallikattu, which has been declared Tamil culture. The mass support
for the sport is really sad. The state government has already kneeled down in
front of the demonstrations. But still Jallikattu supporters are not happy as
they demand a law allowing the rural sport.
The state government is trying to bring Jallikattu out of
the purview of the Prevention of animal cruelty Act, 1960. The judicial ban on
this bull taming game should stay. The central government has also sadly
supported the ordinance in favour of Jallikattu issued by the state governor. Even
the Supreme Court has called the game cruel to animals. The game is cruel also for humans, as two
persons died and 120 injured in Jallikattu on Sunday in Pudukottai. People declaring
the opposition to the game as anti- Tamil, need to realize that this mindless game
of pain and death can never be real Tamil culture. It is weird to see
personalities like Kamal Hassan coming in support of the agnostic game.
In this game poor bulls are made to run madly, while the
animals are under severe trauma, their humps and tails are twisted and pulled. If
any disturbing act has been going on for years, that does not mean that it
should not be stopped. We live in the 21st century India on one hand
we are aiming to send humans on moon on the other hand we are still grounded in
these rituals which cause death to animals and humans too. Before the bulls run
they are lashed with sharp sticks. The game also involves extreme bending of
the tail which fractures the vertebrae and biting of the bull's tail. It is so painful
that the bulls are forced to drink alcohol to disorient them. During the game
they are stabbed by various things such as knives or sticks, punched, jumped on
and dragged to the ground. Many bulls end with broken bones and even death.
It is the high time that people who are supporting this
game, they try to see the other side of the picture as well. The Supreme Court
should not budge in front of the pressure. The only hope for these poor animals
is the judiciary of India that can still try to stop this madness. Noting barbaric
can be supported in the name of culture. India also has the culture of non violence,
why not support that?
