Jallikattu ban and Tamilnadu

The main argument in favour of not conducting Jallikattu this year is that there is a Supreme court ban in force against Jallikattu. Tamilnadu did not conduct Jallicut for the last two years respecting the ban. Tamilnadu people by and large are a law abiding lot. This can be seen from their conduct in many judgements of the apex court that went agains the states interest.The recent instances are, despite the apex courts order to form the Cauvery Water Management Board with in a stipulated date, the Central govenrment went against the SC order. State governments of Kerala and Karnataka have continously defied apex courts order on water sharing between states.Defying the apex courts order brings in its wake a constitutional crisis. Katchthivu a bone of contention between Indian and Sri Lankan fishermen was handed over to Sri Lanka without a ratification by the Indian parliament. There are legal documents to show Katchathivu was owned by the Raja of Ramanathapuram . With the accession of princely states to India this land automatically becomes part of India.But in  SC the government of India's  lawyers stated Katchthivu was never a part of India jeopardising the intrests of Tamil fishermen with the sole aim to justify a wrong committed in the past.  Dahi handi is a Maharashtrian festival where human pyramids are fromed during Janmashtami .Minors take part in this human pyramid fromation. SC banned human pyramids above 20 feet height .Mr..Raj Thackeray of MNS defied  and flouted SC ban with impunity and formed human pyramids to the height of 40 feet, in line with populist sentiments. What did the SC and Maharashtra government do to prevent him from defying the ban . The Central government is silent on the pleas of TN govenrment to continue the Keladi Archaeiological survey, while two other surveys started along with Keladi survey in the northern part of the country is being continued and funded. Kelady survey has unearthed rare evidences about the Sangam Age and Tamils antiquity. This is not the firs time this is happening.A British Marine archeologist wanted the Central govrnment to continue research on Poompuhar about 15 years ago.Nothing has happened since then.The Birtish marine Archeologist said the findings could rewrite the entire world history. There is a submerged civilisation which could be 10,000 years old, much older than the 5000 year old Babylonian civilisation, which is believed to be the world's oldest civilisation  

For a country as large and diverse as India defying court bans will have serious consequences,especially by a peace loving state.Spontaneous upsruges doesn't happen unless there is some deep rooted sentiments to it. Courts should take cognizance to this while delivering its final judgement on Jallikattu.

The premise on which Supreme court has imposed the Jallikattu ban is based on cruelty to the bulls. Ironically the same SC says in another judgement in a PIL against animal sacrifices for religious practices that the PCA act has provisions for minimal pain and trauma in the case of animals killed for food.The court went on to say "we can not shut our eyes to centuries old traditions and start examining the relevance of animal scrifices of each religion." Is this not a bundle of contradictions?.The rough estimate of number of animals sacrificed in India every year is around 5 lakhs. But in Jallikattu no bull is killed.When the SC can not shut its eyes to centuries old traditions of animal sacirfices, how can it shut its eyes on an age old Tamil tradition followed for centuries, perhaps one of world's oldest civilisation.

Today there is a huge upsurge in TN against the Jallikattu ban. Political parties are always quick to read the popular sentiments of the people at large.None of them is prepared to go against the popular sentiments and  risk their chances in the next elections. Had our law makers been sensible they would not have made things to come to this stage.Laws must reflect the cultural ethos of the society. All lawmakers must be aware of this fact. TN is at the receiving end in issues like cauvery water dispute, Katchathivu ,Cauvey Water Management Board formation,fishermen problems etc No doubt patiene is  virtue. But in the case of Tamils, patience is a minor form of despair,disguised as a virtue.One can not bottle up their patience for long. That is what is now witnessed as an upsurge against the Jallikattu ban.

Comiing to bull fighting per se it is intersting to note bull fighting is still practiced in many parts of the world. Bull fighting is traditionally practiced in Spain,Portugal ,parts of Southern France and Latin American countries like Mexico,Columbia,Eucador,Venezula and Peru.. Bull fighting is practiced in China and Japan too.In Japan it is a fight among bulls Bull taming is considered a sport depicting the valour of the person confronting the bull. In spain there were few woman bull fighters too. However bullfighting is already banned by law in few countries, including Argentina, Canada, Cuba, Denmark, Italy and the United Kingdom.

Bull fighting is protected by law in spain. It has been given the status of Spanish cultural heritage. The spanish law says "It is an intangible and unquestionalbel part of Spanish cultural heritage".I feel it is so in Tamilnadu also. Apart from Spain there are a host of other countries where bull fighting is legal.There are other catergories too.In some countries bull fighting is legal in certain parts of the country and banned in other parts.There is another category of countires where bull fighting is legal but not practised traditionally.There is an yet another category where bull fighting is legal but not protected by law. And there are countries like spain where bull fighting is legal  and protected by law.

Tamilnadu being the seat of one of the the oldest civilisation in the world, I certainly feel TN should uphold its rich and intangible cultural heritage .This sport should be allowed to continue with rules and regulations.The authorities should enforce and ensure that the rules are followed both in letter and spirit.