Article on Jallikattu for all TNPSC Exams

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What is Jallikattu?

Jallikattu (or sallikkattu), also known as eruthazhuvuthal (“bull embracing”) and manjuvirattu (“bull chasing”) is a Traditional Sport of Tamil Nadu.

The term Sallikattu is derived from salli (coins) and kattu (package), which refers to a prize of coins that are tied to the bull’s horns.  Participants attempt to retrieve (take) the prize.

Sallikattu is typically practiced in the state of Tamil Nadu as a part of Pongal celebrations. The traditional attraction is the Bos indicus bull, commonly the Kangayam breed. Later in the colonial period, the name was changed to Jallikattu.

How is Jallikattu played?

When the bull 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.

History of Jallikattu:

Jallikattu has been practiced for thousands of years in Tamil Nadu.

Archeological Proof:

An inscription on EruThuzuvudhal at Government Museum in Tamil Nadu.

Several rock paintings, more than 3,500 years old, at the remote Karikkiyur village in Tamil Nadu also show men chasing bulls with big humps and long, straight horns.

 A well-preserved seal found at Mohenjo-Daro in the 1930s is available at the Delhi Museum, which shows the bull fighting was in practice during the Indus Valley Civilization.

 

Literary Proof:

Traditionally, Jallikattu was played to judge a man’s virility (boldness) it was seen as a way to win a woman’s hand in marriage.

Kalithogai, a classic Tamil poetic work of Sangam literature, speaks of how the bulls were women’s best friends, in that they selected the right partners for them.

Modern day Jallikattu is played by farming communities in Tamil Nadu to select the strongest bulls as studs for their cows to reproduce high quality calves.

Koyilkaalai (கோவில்காளை) are freely avail by the small farmers who cannot afford stud bulls for their cows.

Native Breeds/ indigenous Breeds of  Tamil Nadu:

Native or Indigenous breed is the breed which originating in and characteristic of particular country or region.Currently, We have five main breeds. They are

1. Alambadi

2. Bargur

3. Umbalachery

4. Puliakulam
5. Kangeyam                                                                                                                                              

Cross Breeds:

Cross breed is the process which produce an animal or plant by mating or hybridizing two different species, breeds or varieties. Cross breeding is also done in cats, dogs, cattles, sheeps, horses.

Table of Cross breeds:

S. No	Name of the Breed	Native breed	Specific region	Assembling centre	Remarks
1	Brown Swiss	Switzerland	–	India, Pakistan & other Asian countries	Dairy breed
2	Holstein Friesian	Holland	Province of North Holland and West Friesland	Throughout the country (crossbreds)	Dairy breed
3	Jersey	British  Isles	Island of Jersey	Crossbreds available in all states.	Dairy breed

Economic Benefits of Native Breeds over Cross Breeds:

There is no need to spending money on special foods for their survival.

Since native breeds are originated in that region, they are mostly adopted to that area’s climate and weather conditions.

Having high immunity, which can resist them from affecting by diseases over cross breeds. Native breeds are healthier naturally.

Their reproductive capability is also better than cross breeds. Since cross breeds are lacking in reproductive capacity, there is a situation to spend money on artificial insemination continuously.

Even though cross breeds are yielding high quantity milk than native breeds, their investment amount is higher than their outputs comparing with native breeds.

Jallikattu & Threats on Native Breeds:

The native breeds in Tamil Nadu are facing threats to extinct due to,

Cross breeding programmes

Conversion of farm lands into housing plots

Shrinkage of grazing grounds

Mechanization of Agriculture

 In the five native breeds, three of them are already in the list of endangered species.

They are Pulikulam, Bargur and Alambadi.

“The Pulikulam bulls are used in jallikattu. A ban on Jallikattu has posed a threat to the breed, but organic farming and vineyards in the Theni district have offered it a new lease of life,” as per researcher’s statements.

Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (TANUVAS) has found in research that, “The Alambadi breed is already facing the threat of extinction as its population is extremely small,”

As Jallikattu is played by farming communities to select the strongest bulls as studs for their cows, high quality calves of native breeds are reproduced so that they are saved from extinction.

What is meant by endangered species? – A group of animals or plants which are going to be extinct (end of species) is called as Endangered species.

Jallikattu ban

Jallikattu was banned by Supreme Court in 2014 by stating that, it violates Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 (PCA Act).

What is Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960?

The prevention of cruelty to Animals act is an act passed by the Central Government in  1960. 

This Act is to prevent the infliction of unnecessary pain or suffering on animals.

Under this act, Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) was established to promote animal welfare generally and to protect animals from unnecessary sufferings or pain.

A separate section for restrictions on exhibition and training of PERFORMING ANIMALS was included in this act.

What is meant by Performing animals?

An animal which is used for exhibition and training for entertainment are called as Performing Animals.

In 2011, Bulls were added in the list of performing animals like Bears, Monkeys, Tigers, Panthers, Lions which were already added in that list in 1998.

How did Jallikattu ban come?

In 2012, The Madras High Court permitted the conduct of Jallikattu, even though Bull is a Performing Animal. It permitted to conduct Jallikattu in eight places in Madurai, Trichy and Sivaganga districts between January 15 and 29.

The Bench ordered that the events should be conducted strictly in compliance with a series of interim orders passed by the Supreme Court on the issue between January 2008 and March 2011, the safeguards provided under the Tamil Nadu Regulation of Jallikattu Act, 2009 and additional safety measures.

What is Jallikattu Act 2009?

Jallikattu regulation Act – 2009 was introduced by the Tamil Nadu legislative in 2009 which asks to follow the rules in the preparation of event Jallikattu.

A written permission is obtained from the respective collector, thirty days prior to conduct of event along with notification of the event location.

The arena and the way through which the bulls pass through is double-barricaded, in order to avoid injuries to the spectators and by-standers who may be permitted to remain within the barricades.

The necessary gallery areas are built up along the double barricades.

The necessary permissions are obtained from the collector for the participants and the bulls fifteen days prior.

Final preparation before the event include a complete testing by the authorities of the Animal Husbandry Department, to ensure that performance enhancement drugs, liquor or other irritants are not used on the bulls.

PETA challenges Tamil Nadu Regulation of Jallikattu Act 2009:

After the Madras High Court Order, PETA has filed a case to ban Jallikattu in Supreme Court under the section to protect the performing animals (bull) which suffered from unnecessary pain in Jallikattu as per prevention of cruelty to Animals act (PCA Act) as they have done investigations in five places where Jallikattu held.

SC Bans Jallikattu:

The Supreme Court banned Jallikattu in 2014, upholding concerns raised by activists stated that the Jallikattu amounted to cruelty to animal besides posing a threat to humans.

The Supreme Court stated, “use of bulls in such events severely harmed the animals and constituted an offence under the Prevention of Cruelty to the Animals Act.”

Consequently, bulls were banned from being used as “performing animals” either for jallikattu events or bullock-cart races in the States of Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra or elsewhere in country.

From that onwards, Jallikattu didn’t take place in Tamil Nadu for 3 consecutive years.

2017 Pro- Jallikattu Protests:

The 2017 Pro – Jallikattu protest is the protest against Supreme court’s order to ban Jallikattu.

The protest was done by various groups of youngsters & students in mass without specific leadership.

The Pro Jallikattu protest started in Alanganallur (Madurai district) and rapidly spread to all parts of Tamil Nadu with the help of social- media which lead to huge flow of youngsters and students. It gained mass support from all streams of people in Tamil Nadu.

The Pro Jallikattu protest was held in all over Tamil Nadu and also in some places across India and in foreign countries.

On Jan 23, 2017 the protest ended when the Tamil Nadu Government passed an ordiance to amend the PCA act to revoke ban on Jallikattu.

Amendment of PCA act by passing an ordinance:

What is Ordinance?

Ordinances are temporary laws that are promulgated by the President of India on the recommendation of the Union Cabinet. It can also be promulgated by the Governor of the States. They can only be issued when Parliament or state legislature is not in session. They enable the government to take immediate legislative action when Parliament or state legislature is not in session.  An Ordinance will become invalid after 6 Months. Hence, within 6 Months, it should be enacted as a law in the Parliament or state assembly (as the case may be). Ordinances also ceases to operate either if Parliament or state legislature does not approve of them within six weeks of reassembly, or if disapproving resolutions are passed. However, in such cases, an ordinance can be re-issued.

Article 123 – President can issue Ordinance (for Parliament – Central Government).

Article 213 – Governor can issue Ordinance (for state legislature – State Government).

Key aspects of Ordinance passed by Tamil Nadu Government:

Tamil Nadu Government passed The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Tamil Nadu Amendment) Ordinance, 2017 also said as Tamil Nadu Ordinance No. 1 of 2017. It is an Ordinance to amend the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 so as to preserve the cultural heritage of the State of Tamil Nadu and to ensure the survival and wellbeing of the Native breed of bulls.

Jallikattu Ordinance needs president’s approval as “Animal Welfare” is an concurrent subject (Animal Welfare comes under both Central and State Government).

The ordinance defines Jallikattu, and amends some sections of PCA Act to conduct Jallikattu.

It defines ‘Jallikattu’ as an event involving bulls conducted with a view to following tradition and culture between January and May every year in Tamil Nadu, and which includes ‘manju virattu’, ‘vadamadu’ and ‘eruthu vidum vizha’.

It amends Section 3 of PCA so that notwithstanding its provisions, Jallikattu may be held subject to rules and regulations.

It amends Section 11 to add ‘the conduct of Jallikattu’ as another exception to the list of actions that do not amount to cruelty.

It amends Section 22, which relates to restrictions on some animals being used for performances, to make this clause inapplicable to Jallikattu.

It adds Jallikattu as another item in a list of ‘exemptions’ from the rule against using some animals as performing animals. The original list contained use of animals by the police and military after training them and for use for scientific and educational purposes.

It adds Section 28A to say nothing in the Act would apply to Jallikattu.

 

The Tamil Nadu Government later passed “The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Tamil Nadu Amendment Act, 2017)” as a full law and thereby repealing The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Tamil Nadu Amendment) Ordinance, 2017.                                                 

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