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JALLIKATTU SLOGANS REVEAL THIS IS NOW A BATTLE FOR
TAMIL TRADITION AND PRIDE
If your idea of India is one of
ancient temples thick with incense
and chanting masses worshiping
dimly lit deities covered with
vermilion paste and crushed
marigolds, then Tamil Nadu is
where your mental images will be
replaced by vivid memories.
Occupying a long stretch of the Bay
of Bengal coastline known as the
Coromandel Coast, India's
southernmost state is dominated by
a rich cultural and religious heritage
that touches every aspect of life.
Ruled predominantly by the
powerful Chola, Pallava, and
Pandyan dynasties, Dravidian
culture flourished for more than
1,000 years, developing a unique
political and social hierarchy, and an
architectural temple style that has
come to typify the south. In spite of
globalization and the political
dominance of the north, Tamil Nadu
has retained its fervent nationalist
sensibility -- an almost zealous pride
in Tamil language and literature, and
in its delicious and varied cuisines.
Out of various traditional spectacle,
one which is quite a famous one or
the infamous one, attracting tourists
and now debates, protests and media
attention is the Jallikattu(or
sallikkattu), also known as eru
thazhuvuthal and manju virattu. In
this Bos Indicus bull, commonly of
the Kangayam breed, is released
into a crowd of people and multiple
human participants attempt to grab
the large hump of the bull with both
arms and hang on to it while the bull
attempts to escape. Participants hold
the hump for as long as possible,
attempting to bring the bull to a
stop. In some cases, participants
must ride long enough to remove
flags on the bull's horns. Jallikattu is
typically practiced in the Indian
state of Tamil Nadu as a part of
Pongal celebrations on Mattu
Pongal day.
15 August 2016 (Vol III - Issue 4)
tails; stab and jab them with sickles,
spears, knives and sticks; cause
them intense pain by yanking their
nose ropes; and punch them, jump
on them and drag them to the
ground. In bullfights, the round ends
when one of the frightened and
injured bulls manages to flee or is
killed.Participants and spectators are
also at risk. From 2010 to 2014,
media outlets reported that there
were some 1,100 human injuries and
17 deaths caused by jallikattu-style
events, including the death of a
child. The actual number is probably
higher since many injuries likely
werent reported in the news.
A brief history
Legal grounds based on
Jallikattu has been in a traditional practice since 400-100 B.C. and was which PETAs actions for
traditionally a part of finding a strong groom. The person who successfully
the ban gained
tamed the bull would get to marry the maiden. The sport was played by the
ancient Mayor or Yadava in the ancient Tamil country and later evolved to be a momentum
sport played to display their strength and to win prize money. The customary
sport is played during Pongal as a way to include Lord Muniswara. The PETA claims to target all cruelty to
Adhichanallur excavations of Iron Age artefacts showed many links to the animals, not just jallikattu. A 7 July
olden culture, like one of them is the Jallikattu, even the Indus Valley 2011 notification in The Gazette of
Civilization shows a stone carved art depicting a scene from jallikattu. India made using bulls as
performing animals illegal. This
applies to jallikattu, kambala, bull
Why did PETA create a stir by trying to put an end to an age races, bullfights and other uses of
bulls for performances.
old tradition?
In its 7th May 2014 judgement, the
Honourable Supreme Court
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA )
confirmed this ban on the use of
is an American animal rights organization based in Norfolk, Virginia, and led bulls for performances. The court
by Ingrid Newkirk, its international president. A nonprofit corporation with also ruled that cruelty is inherent in
300 employees, it claims that it has 3 million members and supporters (5 these events, as bulls are not
million in total) and is the largest animal rights group in the world. Its slogan is anatomically suited to them. It
"animals are not ours to eat, wear, experiment on, use for entertainment, or observed that forcing bulls to
abuse in any other way." participate, subjects them to
unnecessary pain and suffering, so it
As per PETA, Jallikattu exploits bulls natural nervousness as prey animals by ruled that such races are not
deliberately placing them in a terrifying situation in which they are forced to permitted by law.
run away from those they perceive as predators. As PETA India has
documented in Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI)authorised Jallikattu, bull races and other
inspections, the bulls become so frightened by the mob of men who participate similar events also violate the
that they slip, fall, run into barriers and traffic and even jump off cliffs in Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
their desperate attempts to escape frequently leading to broken bones or (PCA) Act, 1960. This means the
death.As can be seen in the documentation, jallikattu participants purposely causing of unnecessary suffering to
disorient the bulls by forcing them to consume alcohol; twist and bite their bulls which is inherent in these
events has been illegal for 56 years.
2
Section 77 of the 7 May 2014
Supreme Court judgement says, 77.
PETA, therefore, hold that AWBI is
right in its stand that Jallikattu,
Bullock-cart Race and such events
per se violate
Sections 3, 11(1)(a) and 11(1)(m)(ii)
of PCA Act and hence we uphold
the notification dated 11.7.2011
issued by the Central Government,
consequently, Bulls cannot be used
as performing animals, either for the
Jallikattu events or Bullock-cart
Races in theState of Tamil Nadu,
Maharashtra or elsewhere in the
country.Section 3, 11(1)(a) of the
PCA Act, 1960, makes it illegal if
any person beats, kicks, over-rides,
over-drives, over-loads, tortures or
otherwise treats any animal so as to
subject it to unnecessary pain or
suffering or causes, or being the
owner permits, any animal to be so
treated. Section 11(1)(m)(ii) of the
PCA Act, 1960, makes it illegal if
any person confines or causes to be
confined any animal (including
tying of an animal as a bait in a tiger
or other sanctuary) so as to make it
an object or prey for any other
animal.The Supreme Court
clarified, Fight can be with an
animal or a human being. Its order
said, Section 5 of TNRJ Act
envisages a fight between a Bull and
Bull tamers, that is, Bull tamer has
to fight with the bull and tame it.
Such fight is prohibited under
Section 11(1)(m)(ii) of PCA Act
read with Section 3 of the Act.The
Tamil Nadu Regulation of Jallikattu
(TNRJ) Act was struck down by the
Supreme Court because it was
inconsistent and in direct collision
with Section 3, Section 11(1)(a),
11(1)(m)(ii) and Section 22 of the
PCA Act read with Articles 51A(g)
& (h) of the Constitution and hence
repugnant to the PCA
Act.Furthermore, Section 429 of
the Indian Penal Code reads, 429.
Mischief by killing or maiming
cattle, etc., of any value or any
animal of the value of fifty rupees.
Whoever commits mischief by
killing, poisoning, maiming or
rendering useless, any elephant,
camel, horse, mule, buffalo, bull,
cow or ox, whatever may be the
value thereof, or any other animal of
the value of fifty rupees or upwards,
shall be punished with
imprisonment of either description
for a term which may extend to five
years, or with fine, or with both.
A brief timeline
2006 : Madras High Court
unilaterally banned jallikattu
while hearing an unrelated writ
petition seeking permission to
conduct bullock cart race
2 0 0 9 : T h e Ta m i l N a d u
government passed Regulation of
Jallikattu Act (TNRJA) giving
conditional permission for
holding jallikattu between
January and May of any year.
November 2010: The Supreme
Court also gave conditional
permission to Jallikattu under the
provisions of TNRJA , for a
period of five months starting 15
January of any year
11 July 2011 : The Ministry of
Environment and Forest under
Jairam Ramesh of the Congress
banned the use of bulls as
performing animals, effectively
banning the traditional sport of
Tamil Nadu, Jallikattu
7 May 2014: The Supreme Court
struck down the TNRJA , banning
the sport altogether,when UPA
was still in power
January 2016: The Ministry of
Environment, Forests and
Climate Change under Modi
g o v e r n m e n t a m e n d e d 2 0 11
notification, allowing Jallikattu
and bullock cart races across
Maharashtra, Karnataka and
Gujarat with specific conditions
May 2016: The Congress party in
its manifesto for Tamil Nadu
elections in 2016, promised to ban
Jallikattu if voted to power
July 2016: The Supreme Court,
on a petition filed by Animal
We l f a r e B o a r d a n d P E TA
represented by Abhishek Manu
Singhvi, Congress spokesperson
overturned the Modi
governments decision and once
again banned Jallikattu
(issued by UPA in 2011) and
Mass Reaction declared that the sport could
continue despite the existing ban.
This was in direct contravention
Thousands of people in Indias with the top court order, and was
southern Tamil Nadu campaigned duly challenged by animal welfare
against the ban at Marina beach in organisation such as People for the
the states capital, Ethical Treatment of Animals
15 August 2016 (Vol III - Issue 4)
(PETA). Subsequently, a stay order
was issued by the court. Political
reasons may dominate the NDA
governments 2016 move. The
Jallikattu belt is dominated by the
politically powerful OBC Thevar
community which has politicians
and considerable clout in several
parties. It was important for BJP to
be seen as being with the people
Chennai (Madras).Protesters said ahead of the Assembly elections in
Legal grounds based on
that the tradition was a part of their April. Tamilisai Soundararajan, state
whichofPETAs
identity. Angry people took to social president the BJP,actions
had saidfor
lifting
media calling out to each other to of the
the ban gainedhelp the party in
ban would
join the protest.Tamil cinema actors, the polls. Soundararajan said party
momentum
including Vijay, GV Prakash Kumar chief Amit Shah had had several
and Suriya have backed the protest. meetings with Environment Minister
Civilians voiced their opposition Prakash Javadekar to ensure the ban
against the ban through twitter and was lifted. All parties in Tamil Nadu
soon the entire nation had an welcomed the Centres decision.
opinion about the ban. The country Apart from this, the newly anointed
was shaken by the wild uproar of the A I A D M K g e n e r a l s e c r e t a r y,
mob. Peta [animal rights group] Sasikala Natarajan was embroiled in
may have won a campaign in the a war of words with DMK working-
court of law but has lost in the president M K Stalin over the
people's court. Their claim that traditional sport. Stalin accused the
Jallikattu is inimical to bulls is full AIADMK government of doing
of lies. They talk about cruelty to little to overturn the Jallikattu ban.
bulls but they don't realise that by In return, Sasikala pointed out that it
banning Jallikattu, they are aiding in was under the UPA rule, of which
the extinction of rare cattle breed," DMK was a key alliance partner,
Suriya said in a statement. While the that the ban was first imposed.
protests began in Madurai,
Sivaganga, and Pattukottai, where
Jallikattu events were reported
despite the ban, the state capital
Reasons against the
became the hotbed after the arrest of ban of Jallikattu
200 protesting youths in
Alanganallur village proved to act as
a catalyst. Chennais Marina beach Tamilians argued that a foreign
saw an unexpected crowd of organization like PETA is purposely
Jallikattu supporters who camped at trying to attack the tradition that is
the beach even during the night of gently entwined with culture. The
January 19. By midnight, the crowd bulls are treated as part and pride of
had swelled to about 6,000. the family, according to people.India
Students, software professionals, was being hailed as a soft target for
playback singers, filmmakers, bank PETA advertisement to popularize
employees all gathered to protest the organization. The ban would
against the ban on Jallikattu. The also result in an unwanted rift
demands made by the protesters between rural and urban India.Under
include lifting the ban on Jallikattu, the Convention on Biological
banning PETA and relief for Diversity and heritage status
drought-affected Tamil Nadu practices worldwide, it is customary
farmers.
that these ancient traditional
practices are left as they are but with
The political hue rules to organise and regulate
them.If jallikattu is banned,
of the protest livestock keepers will be forced to
abandon the raising of native
In 2016, the Environment Ministry livestock, which already stands
modified its earlier notification threatened due to the extensive use
3
of motor pumps, tractors and
mechanised agriculture. If the sport
is banned, it would be the death
knell of native cattle species in
Tamil Nadu.The people will not
only lose their breeds but also our
self-sufficiency in milk production
as well as promotion of organic
farming. If locals lose their breeds
and import foreign breeds,
multinational commercial
companies will dominate the dairy
industry in India. The livelihood of
millions in rural India is at stake
here.People who want a ban on
jallikattu are far removed from
village life and do not know how
this chain works.The Supreme Court
and the Government of India needs
to look at the big picture behind
jallikattu. The Convention on
Biological Diversity (CBD) supports
traditional practices to keep the
chain intact and thus enable
conservation of native breeds. As an
ancient nation with an ancient
practice going back millennia,
jallikattu should be preserved. There
is no torture of any animal of any
sort that takes place during the sport
and the evidence of this can be seen
from live media telecasts. The time
a bull spends engaged in the sport is
less than 30 seconds. If required,
rules can be implemented to
enhance the safety of the animals
and men if required. India has
already lost many cattle breeds and
it cant afford to lose any more.
Arguments for the
ban of Jallikattu
Countless Tamilian PETA India
supporters are against jallikattu and
are saddened by those who call
harming bulls Tamil culture.
Indias culture is one of kindness,
not cruelty. Article 51A(g) of the
Indian Constitution makes it the
mandate of every Indian citizen to
protect and improve the natural
environment including forests,
lakes, rivers and wild life, and to
have compassion for living
creatures.Section 42 of the 7 May
2014 Supreme Court judgement
says, The Statement of Objects and
Reasons of the TNRJ Act refers to
ancient culture and tradition and
does not state that it has any
religious significance. Even the
ancient culture and tradition do not
support the conduct of Jallikattu or
Bullock cart race, in the form in
which they are being conducted at
present. Welfare and the well-being
of the bull is Tamil culture and
tradition, they do not approve of
infliction of any pain or suffering on
the bulls, on the other hand, Tamil
tradition and culture are to worship
the bull and the bull is always
considered as the vehicle of Lord
Shiva. Yeru Thazhuvu, in Tamil
tradition, is to embrace bulls and not
overpowering the bull, to show
human bravery. It concluded,
Jallikattu or the bullock cart race,
as practised now, has never been the
tradition or culture of Tamil
Nadu.Section 43 of the same
judgement reads, PCA Act, a
welfare legislation, in our view,
over-shadows or overrides the so-
called tradition and culture.
Jallikattu and Bullock cart races, the
manner in which they are
conducted, have no support of Tamil
tradition or culture. Assuming, it has
been in vogue for quite some time,
in our view, the same should give
way to the welfare legislation, like
the PCA Act which has been enacted
to prevent infliction of unnecessary
pain or suffering on animals and
confer duties and obligations on
persons in-charge of animals.There
was also a group who tried
reasoning against the ban by
claiming that if the bulls were not
used, they shall be send to slaughter-
to which The Indian Express
reported in a 12 January article titled
Explained: In Jallikattu, Questions
of Tradition and Cruelty to Animals
that no tickets are sold for Jallikattu
or bullock-cart races. It further
states, Jallikattu events do not offer
any major monetary benefits, and
prizes are mostly a dhoti, towel,
betel leaves, bananas and token cash
that is rarely more than Rs 101
on a silver plate. Mixer-grinders,
refrigerators and furniture have been
added to the list of prizes at some
events over the last few years.If
theres essentially no monetary
benefit to the farmer and no tickets
are sold, then the farmers arent
financially worse off with a ban on
jallikattu and should have no
increased incentive to sell their bulls these bulls and that keep the animals
to slaughter.The Times of India in their lives without the cruelty
quoted Dhana Kumar, a resident of thats been deemed unacceptable by
Manickampatti near Palamedu in the Supreme Court.PETA has
Madurai district, as saying, I have consistently argued how it is not
two children, but I love my bull possible to completely eradicate the
Karuppasamy more. I have caned animal cruelty without the ban. The
my children, but not my bull. elements of brutality can range from
15 August 2016 (Vol III - Issue 4)
Usually the jallikattu bulls are bulls being doped with strong
pledged to God and we consider liqueur and other substance to them
them sacred. If the bulls are being hit with sharp object to create
considered sacred, surely selling anger, their tails being bent to create
them to slaughter shouldnt even be p a i n a n d a n g e r P e o p l e w h o
considered.Slaughter isnt the only c o n s u m e d a l c o h o l o r d r u g s
suffering that the bulls face. There participate in the event without any
are many different types of cruelty, decorum, thus manhandling the
and theyre all wrong to commit. creatures.
However, although they shouldnt
be, bulls do end up at the Legal grounds based on
slaughterhouse when they are
injured in training or during which PETAs actions for
jallikattu which happens often or the ban gained
when theyre deemed no longer momentum
useful. Bulls have also died during
the events themselves, including this
one who ran directly into a bus in
his panic.To protesters claiming that
banning Jallikattu will eliminate
native breeds of cattle, PETA argued
that Cattle breeds in India have been
changing for many years because of
a variety of factors, even during the
Editor Speak
decades when jallikattu was
allowed, so to claim this change is
primarily a result of banning Regardless of the outcome of this
jallikattu is preposterous. Cattle agitation, the agrarian crisis and
breeds are largely manipulated by farmer suicides in Tamil Nadus
humans to suit their own needs delta districts will continue to
such as increased milk production. unfold. Before the month of
Changes in breed dont mean the Chithirai (April-May) is through,
e x t i n c t i o n o f a s p e c i e s . and the jallikattu season comes to an
Domesticated cattle are not at risk of end, there will not be enough water
being on the endangered species to drink, leave alone to give the
list.It is said by those who make this Kangeyam bull its daily bath. The
argument that stud bulls are reared bull may be the symbol of Tamil
by people for jallikattu. The ones agrarian culture. But the real
who win jallikattu are in greater backbone of that culture is the
demand for impregnating cows. poromboke or commons the
However, an end to jallikattu does meichal (grazing) poromboke and
not stop bulls from being used for the wetlands. The wholesale
this purpose. Its said that small takeover of these commons needs to
farmers cant afford to keep stud be countered far more vigorously
bulls, so each village has a common and over a far longer duration if we
temple bull who is used for stand any chance of making it
impregnating the cows of the through the remaining century.The
village. However, since theres erosion of the commons mirrors the
essentially no monetary benefit from erosion of the cultures of the
jallikattu, this can still continue. In poromboke, by the entry of
addition, a veterinarian would be commercialisation and industry.
able to inform villagers which bull is When seen in the context of rampant
healthy much better than the industrialisation, the decimation of
outcome of a jallikattu event could. native breeds of cattle, poultry and
Furthermore, while some bulls are crops, the jallikattu ban raises flags
used for jallikattu, others are used as about the robustness and depth of
draught animals in transport and such single-species, charismatic
farming a practice which could megafauna conservation measures.
e a s i l y c o n t i n u e w i t h o u t The tragedy is that despite having
jallikattu.The community can come the undivided attention of the world
up with ways that genuinely honour media, the opponents of the ban
4

have failed to articulate a larger

vision of Tamil culture that is
inclusive, socially just and
environmentally sensitive.Of all the
reasons to criticise jallikattu, cruelty Against the Ban
against the bulls, I feel, is the
flimsiest. This single-point argument
If Spain can protect its
custom why not we?

Integral part of Tamil culture

and tradition

Bull not harmed;simply taming

by the pro-banners also exposes how
far removed they are from the Court should stay out of religious
realities in rural Tamil Nadu. I can matters
think of at least two other reasons to
be critical of jallikattu.One, it
celebrates a certain machismo at a Its tyranny of North,it doesnt
time when the need of the hour begs understand South Indian culture
for less machismo particularly of
this simmering violent kind. Even
the protests exude a machismo, with For the Ban Most people of TN want it and in
democracy,the majority prevails
many of the protestors tending to
paint any dissent as pro-PETA and Its not right to cherry pick
refusing to go beyond the chest- Only hindu customs are targeted,
thumping declarations of Naan
one aspect of a foreign culture
Tamizhan da, Naan Tamizhachi da! and compare it to ours courts have not stopped goat
I am Tamil, I am Tamil.Second, the slaughter on Eid
sport and the festivities reek of caste Traditions that harm anyone
discrimination, and the failure of the should be stopped Most powerful bull wins and its
movement to highlight it, and bring
its reform as part of its agenda is a While taming animals and used for breeding, thus preserving
fatal lapse. In southern Tamil Nadu, humans do get hurt genetic strength of indigenous
where jallikattu is in vogue, the breeds
sport and its festivities are exclusive, Courts have to ensure that the
and dalits are not allowed to
participate in the sport or festivities
rights of all including animals
as equals. Dalit political parties have are protected
rightly broken ranks with the
ongoing agitation against the ban, Even if majority want it, does
triggering a rash of abusive not mean majority is right
comments by their historical
oppressors. It is not that they seek to From alimony (in Shah Bano
be included in the celebrations. case) to triple talaqs,courts
Rather, they see this as cultural
revivalism with the associated caste
have ruled against ill
connotations unchanged.Curiously, practices
no petition has sought to reform
that. No Supreme Court order There are scientific methods
mentions this. Its failure to evolve for selective breeding of
into an inclusive festival is indigenous breeds
jallikattus biggest lapse. If the
movement refuses to reform this,
that will be the movements biggest
mistake. True reform would then lie
in restoring a jallikattu tradition that
is devoid of cruelty to animals,
inclusive of all communities and
practiced in a context where there is
real reason for agrarian communities
to celebrate.
5

Current Scenario
Amid continuing protests over
Jallikattu ban across the state, the
Tamil Nadu Assembly had on
January 23 unanimously passed an
amendment bill, clearing the path
for conducting Jallikattu without
any hindrance. Tamil Nadu Chief
Minister O Panneerselvam on
February 1 said the Bill to replace
an ordinance for the conduct of
Jallikattu had received President
Pranab Mukherjee's assent and
thanked Prime Minister Narendra
Modi for his support in enabling the
bull taming sport to be held in the
state.The Bill had been 'reserved' for
the President's assent by Governor
Ch Vidyasagar Rao and it "has
received the Hon'ble President's
assent on 31.1.2017," he said.
News Headlines
Mukherjee's assent and
thanked Prime Minister
Narendra Modi for his
support in enabling the bull
taming sport to 15
be August
held in
2016 (Vol
the state.
Supreme Court Slams
Tamil Nadu On Jallikattu
Protests, But No Stay On
Petition A
New Law 'Misadventure', Says
Jan 31: Tamil Nadu's recent law to bring
Madras High Court
back Jallikattu bypassing a Supreme Dismissing Plea
Court ban was spared today but the top
court ripped into the state over the
Seeking PETA Ba
massive protests that forced
extraordinary measures to restore the Feb 03 : The Madras High
ancient bull-taming tradition."Law and Court has dismissed a
order situation is the primacy in a Public Interest Litigation
civilised society. Convey this to your (PIL) seeking a ban on
executive to maintain law and order. We PETA, holding the plea was
passed a stay order one year ago. Why 'a misadventure' filed for
t h e s e p ro t e s t s n o w ? " t h e c o u r t publicity against the
questioned the Tamil Nadu government, b a c k d ro p o f J a l l i k a t t u Kambala? First Say
referring to the massive protests on the protesters demanding a ban
Marina Beach in Chennai and other on the animal rights
parts of the state. advocacy group. 15 August 2016 (Vol
"We find this a misadventure
only for publicity sake, given
Jallikattu Bill Receives the current social context on
account of the role of PETA
President Pranab vis-a-vis the Jallikattu issue.
Mukherjee's Assent This petition is dismissed,"
the first bench, comprising
Feb 01 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan
Panneerselvam today said the Bill to Kaul and Justice M Sundar
replace an ordinance for the conduct of said.
Jallikattu has received President Pranab
36 Injured In
Jallikattu Event At
Avanipuram
FebIII - Issue
06: 4)
Thirty-six people
were injured, one of them
seriously, in a Jallikattu
event held at Avanipuram in
the district amid high
security on Sunday in which
more than 900 bulls were
used, police said.All the
injured were being treated at
the medical camp put up
near the venue, police
said.More than 700 bull-
tamers participated in the
events, which were
witnessed by thousands of
spectators.
Reintroduce
It Right, Insists
Siddaramaiah
III - Issue 4)
Feb 07: After the bull-
taming sport Jallikattu was
permitted in neighbouring
Tamil Nadu through an
e x e c u t i v e o r d e r, t h e
Karnataka legislature is
trying to bring back the
buffalo-racing sport,
Kambala. And the chief
minister's first challenge is
making sure people say it
right.

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