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Why Jallikattu is so important for us Tamils

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K Srinivasan
K SrinivasanJan 24, 2017 | 13:36

Why Jallikattu is so important for us Tamils

It was not just a show of strength, but a war against vested interests groups, which want to destroy the source of farmers' livelihood and decimate the indigenous cattle breed.

The past few days have seen massive protests, mainly by the youth of Tamil Nadu, against the ban on Jallikattu. A record number of protesters — around 5 lakh — descended on Chennai's Marina Beach on Sunday evening.

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While many have described this wild spurt of youth anger against the Supreme Court-imposed ban as a phenomenon triggered by a few activist groups, there appears to be many truths at the heart of this struggle. Let us try to unravel the true story.

Jallikattu is not just a simple display of bravery during Pongal, as many seem to think. It is a deep-rooted issue connected with the need to preserve the native breeds of cattle in Tamil Nadu. If Jallikattu is banned, farmers too will be forced to abandon the native bulls over exotic or cross breeds.

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'Jallikattu is not a simple display of bravado during Pongal.'

We also have some of the most educated people among the pro-Jallikattu protesters — including lawyers, judges, doctors, vets, writers and genetics professionals — who do not mean to inflict any cruelty by extending their patronage to the sport. On the contrary, they have helped us gain valuable scientific insights into the subject.

It is important for all to understand the fundamental aspects of preservation of indigenous breeds of cattle and the larger implications the issue has on the cattle wealth of the country.

Jallikattu needs to be perceived as a symbol and a sport aimed at preserving the indigenous breeds.

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Many may not know that the DNA bank in Indonesia had to once turn to a natural gene bank in the Silent Valley to protect standing paddy crop from a strange threat of a pest unknown until then to the researchers there. The story of genetically modified BT Cotton and BT Brinjal are similar examples that pose threats to the native varieties.

The ministry of Ayush had also recently asked the Advertising Standards Council of India to identify and weed out misleading claims through advertisement of traditional systems of medicine such as ayurveda, siddha, unani, homeopathy and yoga. It was aimed at protecting consumers from the misuse and exploitation of traditional knowledge by unscrupulous pharma and wellness consortiums.

Coming back to Jallikattu, the mass movement at Marina Beach was apolitical and leaderless. Even top politicians were kept away and asked to leave the venue. The protesters proved that their main struggle was against the ban on Jallikattu, which they consider an integral part of their tradition. It was this spirit that dissuaded everyone from turning Jallikattu into a mere political issue.

The movement was unique and it succeeded in garnering support from various sections, including the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, to unanimously pass a permanent historic legislation.

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The pro-Jallikattu struggle envisaged protection of livelihood of millions of farmers at a micro-level and maintaining ecological equilibrium at a macro-level that surround the human life (of which Jallikattu in only a part).

The protests were a beginning of a silent journey for restoration of human as well as animal rights. 

Last updated: January 24, 2017 | 13:38
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