Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Court ruling

The Supreme Court’s decision to grant conditional permission for the conduct of jallikattu (bull-taming) in Tamil Nadu is unfortunate. Inflicting injuries on any living thing is barbaric.

Mattu Pongal is an occasion to honour the bulls for the services they render to farmers. But human beings chase them and harass them to display their valour. Innocent spectators are harmed and they too blame the bull which is also innocent. The servitude of animal to man is being blatantly misused.

S. Uthayakumar,

Chennai

The court’s conditional permission to conduct jallikattu has come as a shock to all right-thinking persons. It is a retrograde step, all the more so in a country which we say is an abode of ahimsa. If jallikattu is about displaying valour, let me point out that bravery is something that should be displayed only when the situation demands. When a woman is molested in public, how many of us are brave enough to intervene? Don’t we hear of instances of people being attacked, even murdered, in broad daylight with people watching helplessly? Let us not mistake bullying for valour. When a bull is provoked and attacked by many youths, it is an instance of bullying. If fight we must, let us fight with our equals.

For those who argue jallikattu is part of our tradition, have we not rid our society of many cruel and meaningless customs? All the precautions and preventive measures will not alleviate the suffering of the innocent animal which never wanted to be part of the sport.

Saroja Hari,

Chennai

Surely, the court must have been aware that there would be a furore over a ban on jallikattu. It should have stuck to its decision as no new arguments were put forth or assurances given on behalf of the Tamil Nadu government. Reviewing its own order within a week will dilute its judicial authority. It will send the wrong message that in the face of concerted opposition, the judiciary will reverse its rulings.

V.N. Gopal,

Chennai

In the name of bull-taming, what is happening is bull-torturing. There should be no place for such activities in a civilised society.

Saurabh Sharma,

Bangalore

The front page photo of a young man playing the jallikattu (Jan. 17) was quite disheartening. The Supreme Court might have taken into consideration tradition and people’s sentiments while revoking the ban. But the fact that more than 80 people were injured in the course of playing this dangerous game, a symbol of medieval macho power, makes one feel that the court acted in haste.

There will always exist a group of people who swear by tradition and custom. But a modern society should shun certain practices for the sake of larger good.

N. Divakar,

Mysore

The court’s decision to revoke the ban on jallikattu is appreciable in a way because it is in keeping with people’s sentiments. But the conditions imposed for its conduct are similar to warnings on cigarette packets or wine shops. They will not do anything to prevent cruelty to animals or danger to innocent lives. Jallikattu is an inevitable annual ritual and the people have to bear with it. That is the reality.

A.J. Rangarajan,

Chennai

We cannot resolve any issue by force. If we can, why do terrorism and casteism continue to exist? The ban on jallikattu did not work because no effort was made to convince the people to give up the practice. Had the government taken up an exercise explaining the dangers involved to the people, it would have helped to reduce the spirit of the participants. In the absence of any step to educate people, how can we expect them to cooperate?

S. Xavier,

Tiruchi

The court order on jallikattu didn’t surprise me. What did were the views expressed by animal activists and people crying hoarse. Do they ever speak about banning the killing of cows? Aren’t they also poor, dumb animals? Why should someone stop a day’s jallikattu when the country doesn’t stop the killing of cows even for a day?

Kiran Damle,

Manipal

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

The global slowdown
Telangana issue to the fore
Discrimination for dummies: V. 2008
The idea of India is under assault statecraft
Religion and the politics of Hindraf
New lyrics to Spain anthem axed after just five days
Bird flu
Bharat Ratna
Court ruling
Ensuring safety

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu