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Photo: Shilpa Nair Anand

Real life Ganga in her wedding attire.

The crowds that throng Manapattiparambu grounds is ample proof. The Supreme Court banned the use of wild animals such as tigers, lions, monkeys, bears and leopards in circuses in 1998. Everybody thought that would be the death of the 135 year-old ‘industry’. It did have a negative impact, but in the last 10 years or so it has recovered, says Ajay Shankar. Gemini Circus too had its share of problems with it changing hands a few times before Ajay Shankar and Ashok Shankar took charge.

“If the circus has survived for the last 135 years, and if we have played for the last 55 years or so then the show will go on. Part by part, every limb has been ripped off us, but the heart still beats and we will go on,” Ajay Shankar says, referring to the ban on animals and Government apathy. The circus is part of the non-organised sector, but “Employees have benefits such as PF, their medical bills are taken care of, there is insurance. But we lack a well-defined status. Everything else is an industry except us, the government is being unfair to us,” says Ajay Shankar, who is the joint secretary of the Indian Circus Federation and has been championing for industry status for the circuses.

As we sit talking under the circus tents, six elephants chomp their way through palm fronds, as horses and camels on the other side seemed content and the conversation veers to animals. Animal rights organisations have raised a hue and cry about the way animals are treated in circuses. “Is there no cruelty elsewhere? These organisations have to be realistic and practical in their demands. Tethering animals is their grouse, but realistically speaking, can I leave these animals loose? They should look at the bigger picture. A circus these days has limited space, and then for animals, they say, give 100 sq. feet. Then where do we put the rest of the circus?” asks Ajay Shankar.

There is another side to the animal issue, “If all those wild animals such as tiger and lion were there in the circus, I would have incurred a lot of expenses on food, trainers and handlers. Now that expenditure is not there. However, that said, we are the only country in the whole world which does not permit wild animals in the circus. But the government can surely permit monkeys. What happened to all those ‘rescued’ animals anyway? The last I heard several of them had died. If they were with us maybe we would have doubled their number, who knows!”

Ajay Shankar agrees that there may be circuses that violate laws but then “there should be some guidelines (by the Government) to monitor circuses. Those who violate the rules should be penalised, not the entire circus fraternity,” he says.

The animals went out and the Russian acts came in. The artists at Gemini circus are from Uzbekistan. The skin on show has definitely added spice to the performance, a tad titillating given the fetish for white skin. They are paid twice, sometimes three times of what the Indian artistes are paid. He avers that life in a circus is tough but the remuneration is not bad at all. Artistes, get paid anywhere between Rs. 5,000 and Rs. 15,000.

The circus thrives despite all the apathy. Ajay Shankar lists the things that would help, “Give us more space, more grounds, subsidies on the ground rents. In Gujarat we just need to pay around Rs. 200 for the ground. There is no recognition for the artists. If there are awards for Kabaddi and Kalaripayettu, then why not for those in the circus?” The most important thing on his agenda is an academy to train artistes for circus. “The Centre for Gymnastics, Thalaserry and the Circus Federation can have a mutually beneficial relationship. But nothing is happening on that front. Every other country has academies for circus, why not India?” wonders Ajay Shankar.

“This business is a gamble; it sometimes pays off sometimes it does not. But I can assure you, the kind of wholesome family entertainment that a circus can provide, nobody can. Can you watch television with your family today?” he asks.

What the circus is to the artistes is evident when two circus artists, the Malayali groom and the demure Nepali bride come and seek Ajay Shankar’s blessings after their wedding at a nearby temple. An employee who was going off on a break tells Ajay Shankar as he leaves, “Hum wapas aayega. Aur kahan jayega, circus to meri ma hai!” (I will come back, where else will I go, the circus is my mother.)

Crossover act

Ajay Shankar at work.

The couple is accompanied by the motley group that is their extended family – their colleagues at the circus. The rules in a circus are tough for single men and women, separate mess and sleeping quarters for men and women. But then there are always the practice sessions!

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