Jallikattu.The game of Death

                                      Game of Horns

New games have been emerging in the market overpowering the old ones. Some games reward lives while some demands life. Some are crucial to play but some are dangerous to face. Same is the case with one such game. This game is actually not exactly a game but it’s kind of a ritual now. People risk their lives just to ride on to the back of the bull.  This game is none other than the most controversial “Jallikattu”. This game demands people trying and struggling to catch the bull’s hump just to have a ride of the running released bull. For this, the bulls are fed to make it liable to run and ready for this activity.

The main source to lure the people especially the youth is by tempting them with heavy amounts if they succeed in surviving till the last stage of this game. This game has its name in the history of Tamil Nadu where it marked its significance with the rulers of that age. 

                          

Several questions and protests have been raised by several animal activists like FIAPO (Federation of Animal Protection Agencies) PETA India (People for Ethical Training of Animals) against such practice since 2004.  

This is not it even the Animal Welfare Board of India filed a case in the Supreme Court Of India for an outright ban on “Jalikattu”. Because this game is just a practice of cruelty and a great threat to animals.  Breeding a bull in critical situations and then tying it hard will but obviously make it more vulnerable to run and be violent. These are tamed just for this sport. The ministry of forest and environment did issue a notice in 2011 against banning but the practice continued to be held under the Tamil Nadu Regulation of Jallikattu Act No.27 of 2009. Then 2014 the Supreme Court altogether struck down the law and banned it all over. This is not all several sitting and several protests were being held for the banning of this cruel activity where in between in 2016 the forest and environment ministry did allow this practice under certain conditions which led to a whole protest AT Marina Beach at Chennai in Tamil Nadu.

Around 15,000 people have gathered now at the Marina beach just to protest against the ban. According to students, they believe that protesting for such activity is a great step in preserving the great culture of Tamil Nadu. The question being raised all the time “Is Jallikattu has anything resembling Spain’s bullfight” So I hope after reading this blog a self-introspection is much needed. The ministry of state and the Supreme Court should take the decision of how fatal this sport lead to could.  We understand that spiritual sentiments are connected with this sport but I believe that no sport is above life. So it's tentatively your call to support or stand firmly against such rituals which can be a life taker. Because at the end, there is no stage or extra life when it comes to this game.