Bull fights have no place in civilised society
The Supreme Court's ban on the use of bulls for sport and entertainment could not have come a day sooner. The wide-ranging verdict, which covers traditional bull running in Tamil Nadu and bull racing in Maharashtra and also extends to the bovine’s use as load-bearers, is an important step towards safeguarding the welfare of animals. It upholds the fact that the right to live in peace and dignity is not exclusive to humans alone; that the right extends to animals as well — which is as it should be in any progressive and civilised society. Notably, the Supreme Court had banned bull running in 2008 but later reversed its order on the condition that the sport, called Jallikattu in Tamil Nadu, would be strictly regulated. In 2011, the Union Ministry for Environment and Forests also prohibited Jallikattu but then sought to withdraw its own Gazette notification this year. On Wednesday, the Supreme Court, however, made clear that the 2011 notification had to be upheld. It also struck down Tamil Nadu's Jallikattu Act No 27 of 2009 that permitted bull running. There are no two ways around the fact that during the games, the bulls are tortured both physically and mentally for the amusement of humans. They are poked and prodded, stabbed and punched, their tails are twisted and their horns are broken; forced into the sporting arena, they are as petrified by all the tamasha around them as they are disoriented. There is not an iota of humane concern for the animals in all of this; just the cheap thrill of over-powering a creature that only seems stronger but, in effect, is rather defenceless against the will of man. And this is just one side of the story. On the other side, there is also the alarming number of bull runners who have been either grievously injured or sometimes even gored to death in the arena as the games have increasingly become more reckless. There is really no justification for this senseless violence — no, not even social traditions.
The centuries-old practice of Jallikattu used to be a test for valour and courage in the olden days; young men who passed this test were considered to be desirable grooms. Jallikattu supposedly finds mention in ancient Tamil literature as well and many believe that Thirumal (lord Vishnu) tamed seven bulls to marry Nappinnai. But while there is a legitimate case to be made for preserving the country's rich cultural heritage, it cannot be an excuse to cling to practices that are not in sync with the times. The ability to tame cattle, which is what Jallikattu is all about, may have been important in an ancient society but it has no place in the 21st century — much like Sati and child marriage, both traditional practices rightly abolished by the state.