AG RICULTURE

Banning Jallikattu Will

Decimate Indias
Indigenous Cattle Breeds
BY HIMAK IR ANANUGULAON10 /0 1/20 1799COMMENT S

If the sport is banned, farmers will be forced to abandon the raising

of native livestock, which already stands threatened due to the
extensive use of motor pumps, tractors and mechanised
agriculture.

ThebullsinAlanganallurcameoutofthevaadivaasal(entrydoor)athighspeed.Onlyaquarterofthe
contestantswereabletohangontothebullandwinthecontest.Credit:VinothChandar/FlickrCC2.0

Note:ThisarticlewasfirstpublishedonJanuary13,2016.

ImaginethissceneafewthousandyearsagointheIndusValleyregion.Agroupofherders
outgrazingafewhundredcattle,enjoyingthewarmsunontheirbackswiththeoccasional
cryofacalfseekingitsmotherandthemotherguidingit.Thewholeherdisonthemoveas
thelazydaypassesby.
Suddenlyabulldecidestorunastray.Withwildanimalslurking,thereisthedangerofthe
herdbreakingupintosmallergroups.Ayoungherderemergesandchasesthebull.Bulls
beingmaleshighontestosteronerunquitefastandfinallytheherdercatchesupwithit.He
lungesforwardandholdsontothehumpofthebull.ThehumpisauniquefeatureofBos
Indicuscattle.Hemanagestoholdontothehump,slowingthebulldownandfinally
stoppingit.Heleadsitbacktotheherdandthegroupcontinues,whileshoweringpraises
ontheyoungherderforcatchingthebull.

(https://i2.wp.com/thewire.in/wp
content/uploads/2016/01/indusjali.png)Now
imaginethisscenerepeatedonadailybasis
andtheherderssharingthestorywiththe
villagerswhentheypenthecattleforthe
night.Overtime,theskillofembracingthe
humptoslowthebulldowniscelebrated
andcontestsareheldtoshowcasetheskill.
ThisiscalledEruThazhuvuthalmeaning
EmbracingaBull.IndusValleycivilisation
isknownforbeingoneofthemost
advancedandsophisticatedamongstits
contemporaries.ThesportofEru
Thazhuvathaliscelebratedsomuchthat
theydecidetomakeasealdepictingthe
same.

DuringtheruleoftheNayakkings,goldcoins,wrappedinapieceofclothweretiedtothe
horns,andthetacklerhungontothehumpofthebullanduntiedtheknottogetatthe
prize.Jalli/sallimeanscoins,andkattuistied.Asmallbagofcoinswastiedtothehorns
ofthebulls,whichtheplayersclaimedasaprize.Theonlywayyoucoulddothatwasto
embracethehumpofthebulllongenoughtograbthebagwithoutgettinghit.

Nowatokenclothistiedinthehornswhichthetacklercollectsasatrophy.Thefocalpoint
oftheeventisthevaadivaasal,theentrance.Thebullsareletthroughthisentrance,into
thetrack,wheretheplayerswait.Thetrackisusuallythemainstreetofthevillage,withthe
sidelanesblocked.Theeventbeginswiththevisitofvillageelders,ledbyabanddrummer,
tothetempleofthevillagedeity.TheKoyilKaalai(templebull)ofthehostvillageis
allowedfirstandmasamarkofrespectandgratitudetothehostvillage,playersallowita
freerunanddonttouchit.Today,educatedyoungstersfromthesevillagesarealso
involvedintherearingofbullsandparticipateinthesport.Allclassesofpeopleandall
castestakepartinJallikattu.Thereisanegalitarianperspectivewhereitshumansand
theircattle,nothingmorenothingless.

Anancientheritagethatsurvivedcolonialperiod

Jallikattuisanancientsport.ThesealsoftheIndusValleycivilisationdepictit,whichis
proofthatthissportwasinvogue5,000yearsago.AncientTamilpoetry,knownas
Sangamliterature(2ndBCE2ndCE),hasmanydetailedreferencestoEruThazhuvuthal
(huggingthebull).
ThefactthatEnglishcolonialadministratorshavealsowrittenaboutjallikattutellsusthe
sportwasplayedcontinuouslydowntheages.

Forthefollowingaccountofthejellikattuorbullbaiting,whichispracticedbythe
Maravans,IamindebtedtoanotebyMr.J.H.Nelson.This,hewrites,isagame
worthyofaboldandfreepeople,anditistoberegrettedthatcertainCollectors
(DistrictMagistrates)shouldhavediscourageditundertheideathatitwassomewhat
dangerous.

Thejellikattuisconductedinthefollowingmanner.Onacertaindayintheyear,large
crowdsofpeople,chieflymales,assembletogetherinthemorninginsomeextensive
openspace,thedrybedofariverperhaps,orofatank(pond),andmanyofthemmay
beseenleadingploughingbullocks,ofwhichthesleekbodiesandratherwickedeyes
affordclearevidenceoftheextradiettheyhavereceivedforsomedaysinanticipation
ofthegreatevent.

Theownersoftheseanimalssoonbegintobragoftheirstrengthandspeed,andto
challengeallandanytocatchandholdthemandinashorttimeoneofthebestbeasts
isselectedtoopenthedaysproceedings.Anewclothismadefastroundhishorns,to
betheprizeofhiscaptor,andheisthenledoutintothemidstofthearenabyhis
owner,andtherelefttohimselfsurroundedbyathrongofshoutingandexcited
strangers.

Unaccustomedtothissortoftreatment,andexcitedbythegesturesofthosewhohave
undertakentocatchhim,thebullockusuallylowershisheadatonce,andcharges
wildlyintothemidstofthecrowd,whonimblyrunoffoneithersidetomakewayfor
him.Hisspeedbeingmuchgreaterthanthatofthemen,hesoonovertakesoneofhis
enemiesandmakesathimtotosshimsavagely.Uponthisthemandropsonthesand
likeastone,andthebullock,insteadofgoringhim,leapsoverhisbody,andrushes
afteranother.Thesecondmandropsinhisturn,andispassedlikethefirstand,after
repeatingthisoperationseveraltimes,thebeasteithersucceedsinbreakingthering,
andgallopingofftohisvillage,chargingeverypersonhemeetsontheway,orisatlast
caughtandheldbythemostvigorousofhispursuers.

Strangeasitmayseem,thebullocksneverbyanychancetossorgoreanyonewho
throwshimselfdownontheirapproachandtheonlydangerarisesfromtheir
accidentallyreachingunseenandunheardsomeonewhoremainsstanding.

Afterthefirsttwoorthreeanimalshavebeenletlooseoneaftertheother,twoorthree,
orevenhalfadozenareletlooseatatime,andthescenequicklybecomesmost
exciting.Thecrowdswaysviolentlytoandfroinvariousdirectionsinfranticeffortsto
escapebeingknockedovertheairisfilledwithshouts,screams,andlaughterandthe
bullocksthunderovertheplainasfiercelyasifbloodandslaughterweretheirsole
occupation.Inthiswayperhapstwoorthreehundredanimalsareruninthecourseof
aday,and,whenallgohometowardsevening,afewcutsandbruises,bornewiththe
utmostcheerfulness,aretheonlyresultsofanamusementwhichrequiresgreat
 courageandagilityonthepartofthecompetitorsfortheprizesthatisforthecloths
andotherthingstiedtothebullockshornsandnotalittleonthepartofthemere
bystanders.TheonlytimeIsawthissport(fromaplaceofsafety)Iwashighly
delightedwiththeentertainment,andnoaccidentoccurredtomarmypleasure.One
manindeedwasslightlywoundedinthebuttock,buthewasquiteabletowalk,and
seemedtobeashappyashisfriends.

(FromEdgarThurston,Castes&TribesofSouthernIndia,Vol5.)

Thisisconcreteevidencetoprovethatjallikattuhasbeenpartofthelongheritageofthe
country.OnestrongcharacteristicoflifeinIndiaisthepersistenceofcertainsocial
institutions,theoriginsofwhicharelostinprehistory.Thoughtheprofileofthese
practiceschange,theyretaintheiressentialfeatures.Jallikattuisonesuchprecious
heritagethathasbeenpreservedovermillenniaandourdutyistotakethisforward.Of
courseweshouldhaverulesandrestrictionsfortheconductoftheeventbutJallikattu
shouldgoon.

Nativebreedsasafactor

Therewere130orsocattlebreedsinIndia100yearsagoandnowthereareonly37.Unless
weengagewiththetraditionallivestockkeepersandsupportthem,wewilllosethese
breedsaswellaslaythegroundforcommercialcattlebaseddairiesandslaughterhouses
todominatethecountry

TamilNaduhadsixcattlebreedsearlierandnowwehavelosttheAlambadibreed.The
remainingbreedsareKangayam,Pulikulam,Umbalachery,BarugurandMalaiMaadu.
Thereareafewmoreminorbreedswithoutproperdocumentationorcare.Mostofthese
areonthevergeofextinction.Eachbreedhasevolvedinperfectharmonywithitslocal
region.Kangayamsfedongrassesinthecalciumrichsoilarethesturdiestanimalsandcan
pullupto2.5timestheirbodyweightwithease.Umbalacheryshaveshorterlegswhich
makeiteasyforthemtowalkaroundinthewaterfilledfieldsofthedeltaregion.Barugurs
inthehillsofErodedistrictandMalaiMaadusinThenidistrictaregrazedinreserve
forestsandareadeptatwalkingaroundinhillyterrain.ThePulikulam,foundmostlyinthe
regionaroundMadurai,Sivaganga,Ramnad,PudukottaiandpartsofTiruchidistrict
areherdedinseveralhundredsandwalkalldaygrazingbeforebeingpennedforthenight.

Nativecattlehaveevolvedovermillennia,adaptingtothelocalenvironmentalconditions.
Theyareanintegralpartoffarming,especiallyforsmallandmarginalfarmersasthey
servemultiplepurposeslikeploughing,transportation,sourceforfarmyardmanure,
organictreatmentslikepanchagavya,jeevamritham,andasasourceofA2milk.Thenative
cattlearebothaninputaswellasinsurancetothelivestockkeepers.InancientTamiland
Sanskritliterature,cattleisconsideredaswealth.Cattleweremeasuredasaunitofwealth.
IntheTirukkural,educationisconsideredtobewealthandthewordusedforwealthis
madu,meaningcattle.Soithasasocioculturalconnotationwhichdenoteslivesand
livestockhavingcoexistedandcultureshavingcoinedusagesaroundthem.
ThePulikulamisasemi
domesticatedbreed.The
bullsareknowntoattack
anyoneexcepttheirowners.
Theyaremainlygrazedin
reserveforestlands.
Herdersneedtobeableto
tamethemwithoutropesas
thenoseropesareremoved
whilegrazing.

Howdoesonetameabull
withoutropes?Ifyoutryto Pulikulam.Credit:ICAR
tackleitfromthefront,it
willtossyouwithitshornsifyoutrytocatchitfromtheback,itwillkickwithitslegs.Its
alsoveryagileandcanturnaroundinasplitsecond.Theonlyoptionistoapproachitfrom
thesideandgrabthehump.

WhyJallikattumatters

Studbullsarerearedbypeopleforjallikattu.Theonesthatwinaremuchindemandfor
servicingthecows.Smallfarmerscannotaffordtokeepstudbulls,soeachvillagehasa
commontemplebullwhichservicesthecowsofthevillage.Jallikattuistheshowwhere
bullsarebroughtandexhibited.Theoneswhicharemostagile(andvirile)arepreferredby
farmers.Thecalvesfromsuchbullsareindemand.

Theintricateconnectbetweentheseeventsandfarmingcanbeseenfromthechronological
orderinwhichshowcaseeventslikejallikattuhappenfirst,thentheshandiesandthenthe
mainfarmingseasonstarts.Onceharvestisdone,farmerstaketheirbullstoparticipatein
sucheventsoverthenextfewmonthsspectatorsandvisitorsmakeanoteofthetopbulls
andseekthemoutinsandhais(cattleshandies/markets)whichhappenfromDecembertill
AprilalloverTamilNadu.Thecalvesandbullsareboughtforjallikattuandsomeoftheir
offspringwillbecastratedandusedasdraughtanimalsintransport/farming.
 Special report: Women who breed jallikattu bulls

Studbullsneedtobealert,virile,andagile.Inthepeakoftheirreproductiveperiod,they
needtosecretethenecessarymalehormonesandexperienceadrenalinrushesand
pumpinghearts.Theyneedthisforthemtobevirile.Thisisintheinterestofthespeciesas
selectivebreedingisdonetopropagatethespecies.Studbullsareusedforjallikattuand
matingonly.Experiencedbullsenjoythesituationanddisplayawellthoughtoutexitfrom
thevaadivaasal.Manyofthemshowoffbyshakingtheirheadsasawarning.Thisshows
theirfamiliaritywiththeJallikattuevent.

Manypeoplewhocareforanimalsdontunderstandthatnaturecreateseachspecieswith
uniquecharacteristicsandbehaviour,andthatwithinaspecies,abull,anox,acowand
calfallaredifferent.

Malecalvesinotherregionsaresoldandtakenforslaughterinafewdays.Onlyinregions
wherethereareeventslikejallikattuaretheykept.Theownerofanimportedcowwilllike
ittodeliverafemalecalf.Ifshedoes,itsawindfall.Ifitsamalecalfthenhewillhaveno
useforitandhehastofeedit.ItwillgototheslaughterhouseforRs.500.Alotofmutton
weeatisthemeatoftheseunderoneweekcalvesmixedwithmutton.Thesamewill
happentothesenativebreedsifnotforactivitieslikejallikattu.Withreducedavailabilityof
males,farmerswillhavetogoinforartificialinsemination,whichiscostprohibitiveandis
directlyincontraventionofinsituconservation.Unlesstherearebullsbeingbredand
rearedintheinsituregion,thegeneticpoolofthebreedwillnotbehealthyasno
adaptationtochangesinclimate,localenvironmenthasbeeningrained.Wearemessing
withevolutionwhenweabandoninsituconservationwithbullsandnatural
servicing/mating.
Nativecowsdonotyieldasmuchmilkastheimportedbreeds.Sotheydonthavea
supportiveorsponsoredbreedingprogramme.Artificialmeansarenotadoptedfornative
breeds.Soasafalloutofthebanningofjallikattu,theywillsoonfadeawayandbecome
extinct.

Underarticle48ofthe
constitutionofIndiathestatehas
toendeavourtopreserveand
improvethebreedsandprevent
slaughterofcowsandcalvesand
otherdraughtandmilkcattle.
HencetheUniongovernmenthas
tointerveneinthisissue.

Accordingtoprinciples1,2&3of
theConventiononBiological
Diversity(CBD),towhichIndiais
asignatorystate,livestock
keepersarecreatorsofbreeds
andcustodiansofanimalgenetic
resourcesforfoodand
agriculturelivestockkeepersand
thesustainableuseoftraditional
breedsaredependentonthe
conservationoftheirrespective
ecosystemstraditionalbreeds
representcollectiveproperty,
theyaretheproductsof
indigenousknowledgeandthe
Deathofatemplebullcoversthevillageinapallofgloom.The
funeralisconductedwithutmostrespectwithwomen
culturalexpressionoflivestock
mourningandvillagepriestscarryingoutrituals. keepers.

Whyistheresomuchoppositiontojallikattu?

Therearetwoanglestotheopposition.

FirstistheurbandisconnectwithruralIndiaandallthatitentails.Policiesaremadeby
cityfolk.JustaswedestroyedthelakesofChennaiandsufferedtheconsequencesof
ignoringthetraditionalknowledgeofvillagersinbuildingandmaintainingwater
bodies,weareallowingthesameurbanmindsettogetawaywithrampantdestructionof
ourlivestockandfarming.Ifwelookatmediareportsoverthelastdecadeorso,every
headlinescreamsaboutinjuriesinajallikattuevent.Thefocusoftheurbaneditorsand
reportershasalwaysbeenonsensationalisingnewsandgrabbingeyeballs.Fedwiththis
constantdietoveradecade,itsnosurprisethatsomanyinternetwarriorsareshouting
aboutjallikattu.
Inayear,thereare10,000instancesofabullleavingthevaadivaasal(gate)during
jallikattu.Ofthethousandsofplayerswhotakepart,hardly50100getinjuredinayear,
anddeathsaremuchmuchless.

Thesecondgroupisthedairylobby,whichwantsallnativebreedstobeeradicated.Events
likejallikattuthrowaspannerintheirplansofcreatingcommercialdairyfarmswith
importedbreedsjustlikeintheWest.

Beefexportersalsobenefitfromabanonjallikattuandotherevents.Farmersbringtheir
cattletobesoldinweekly/monthlyandannualshandies.Brokerswilltakethecattlefrom
thefarmersandholdthemtobedisplayedtoprospectivebuyers.Buyersfallinto34
categories:(1)Thejallikattuenthusiastwhowillbuythebullsandmalecalvesmostly(2)
Buyersofoxenforfarming/transport(3)Buyersofcowsforbreedingandhousehold
usage(4)Beeftraderswhoaremostlyifnotallagentsofexportcompaniesandslaughter
housesbasedinKerala.Theybuyallcattleastheyareonlyinterestedinmeat.

Whenabanonjallikattuisinplace,thesimplesupplydemandequationgetsskewed.
Therearenotakersinthefirstcategory,whichmeansthebullswillonlysoughtbythe
fourthcategoryi.e.beeftraders.Withnodemandfromjallikattuenthusiasts,thepriceof
suchprizedbullsfallstorockbottom.Bykillingthemarketforbullstobeusedin
jallikattu,theanimalrightsactivistsaredirectlyresponsibleforsendingthemtoslaughter.
ThereisahugedemandforBosIndicusvarietybeefintheGulf,MalaysiaandWestern
countries.Itisconsideredanexoticandhealthymeat,justlikecountrychicken.

Misconceptionsabound

ThefistmisconceptionisthatjallikattuhasanythingincommonwiththeSpanish
bullfight.Thetwoareverydifferent.ThesportinIndiaisnotaboutbaitingorinjuringthe
bullbutofembracingthebull.

Doesitharmthebull?

Itissaidthatcrueltyismetedouttoanimalsbygivingthemalcohol,proddingandtwisting
theirtailsetc,thatorganisersbeatthebulls,stuffingsomethingpungentintheirnostrils,
confinetheminadark,suffocatingplaceinordertoenragethem.

Therealityisdifferent.Amidstalltheregulationsandscrutiny,whichbullownerwillrisk
givingalcoholtothebulls?Glucosewaterisgiventothemforstamina.Outofthe10,000
instancesofbullsletoutayear,theantijallikattuactivistshaveproducedimages/videosof
maybe78bullswhereanoffencemighthavetakenplace.Theyhavethepowertoidentify
theownerandtakeactionagainsthimunderthePreventionofCrueltytoAnimalsAct.
Eachbullisregisteredwiththeauthorities,withphotographsaswellastheowners
information.

Everyrulehasanexception.Weregulatetocurtailtheexceptions,butnottoendthesport.
Theapproachoftheactivistsfromdayonehasbeentoendjallikattuatanycost.
Arethereothermeansofconservingthebreeds?

Eachbreedhasevolvedoverseveralmillenniaandinadistinctway.Onemethodofbreed
conservationwillnotworkinanotherarea,withanotherbreed.Everyplaceintheworld
whereindigenouspeoplehavelivedwiththeirlivestock,therearecelebratoryshowcase
eventspostharvestlikekambalabuffalowaterracingintheDakshinKannadaregion,
OngolestonepullingincentralandcoastalAndhra,reklaracesinwesternTamilNaduand
Theni,bailgadainMaharashtrawiththeKillaribreed.Eacheventhasevolvedlocallyand
hasstoodthetestoftime.Insituconservationisthebestmethodforconservinganybreed.
Thelifetimeandhealthofthespeciesisextendedonlyduetosuchevents.

Howisthegameplayed?

Bullsarebroughttothearenathepreviousdayandtiedincoconutgrovesaroundthe
village.Fodderisbroughtalongandwaterisprovidedbythehostvillagers.Sometimes
fodderisalsoprovided.Ateamofveterinarians,animalwelfareofficialsinspectthebulls
andgiveamedicalcertificate.Beforetheeventstarts,theyarelinedupinbatchesof15
closetotherearsideofthevaadivaasal.

AbullwaitsitsturnatthegatetothePalamedujallikattuinMadurai.Credit:ManuManohar/FlickrCC2.0

Afterthetemplebullofthehostvillagehasleftthearena,eachbullistakenintothevaadi
vaasal,whereAnimalWelfareofficersarepresent.Thenoseropeofthebulliscutandthe
bullisfreetorun.Youngbullsanduntrainedonesparticipatingforthefirstfewtimes
hesitatetoleavethevaadiandareproddedbytheirowners.Itisnoteasytomovethemas
theyweighanywherebetween250350kilos.Theexperiencedbulls(whichhavelong
memories)arefamiliarwithjallikattueventsandoffertheirheadtotheownerstocutthe
rope.Theyplantheirexitfromthevaadivaasalandtimetheirjumptoavoidtheplayers.
Theseareintelligentanimalsandhaveevolvedinthisenvironmentovermillennia.

Thisbullcannotbecaughtashehasperfectlytimedhisjumptoreachaheightof810feetandwilllandagood
1012feetawayfromthevaadivaasal.Bythetimehelands,hewouldhaveclearedmostoftheplayers.Credit:
SpecialArrangement

Thesportconsistsofholdingontothehumpofthebullandrunningalongwithitfora
givendistanceusuallyabout2030meterswhichiscoveredinbarely1020seconds.

Thisbullusedadifferenttechniqueofchargingwhilejumping.Noticehowthathasputfearintotheplayers.
withtheireyesclosed.Credit:SpecialArrangement

Althoughafewhundredplayersarepresentinthearena,only23attempttogetcloseto
thebullandonly1hasashotatgrabbingthehump.Everythinghappenssofastthatmost
playershitthedirtandthebullsgofree.
 Thebullsarenotinfear,buttheplayersare.Credit:SpecialArrangement

Afterleavingthearena,theygotoabarricadedcollectionareaofabout44,000sq.ft.
whereexperiencedherdersawaittheowners.Ownersfollowthebullsfromthevaadiinto
thecollectionarena,thistakesabout510minutes.Oncetheyenter,theherdershelpthe
ownersropeinthebullsandtakethemoutofthecollectionarena.12bullswillrefuseto
beropedandchargeateveryone,someofthemjumpoutofthecollectionareaandmakea
runforit.Mostofthemheadinthedirectionoftheirvillages.Thereistheoccasionalinjury
duetothebullsnotbeingroped.

Abanwillbefatal

UndertheConventiononBiologicalDiversityandheritagestatuspracticesworldwide,itis
customarythattheseancienttraditionalpracticesareleftastheyarebutwithrulesto
organiseandregulatethem.

Ifjallikattuisbanned,livestockkeeperswillbeforcedtoabandontheraisingofnative
livestock,whichalreadystandsthreatenedduetotheextensiveuseofmotorpumps,
tractorsandmechanisedagriculture.Ifthesportisbanned,itwouldbethedeathknellof
nativecattlespeciesinTamilNadu.

Wewillnotonlyloseourbreedsbutalsoourselfsufficiencyinmilkproductionaswellas
promotionoforganicfarming.Ifweloseourbreedsandimportforeignbreeds,
multinationalcommercialcompanieswilldominatethedairyindustryinIndia.
ThelivelihoodofmillionsinruralIndiaisatstakehere.

Peoplewhowantabanonjallikattuarefarremovedfromvillagelifeanddonotknowhow
thischainworks.

TheSupremeCourtandtheGovernmentofIndianeedstolookatthebigpicturebehind
jallikattu.TheConventiononBiologicalDiversity(CBD)supportstraditionalpracticesto
keepthechainintactandthusenableconservationofnativebreeds.Asanancientnation
withanancientpracticegoingbackmillennia,jallikattushouldbepreserved.Thereisno
 tortureofanyanimalofanysortthattakesplaceduringthesportandtheevidenceof
thiscanbeseenfromlivemediatelecasts.Thetimeabullspendsengagedinthesportis
lessthan30seconds.Ifrequired,rulescanbeimplementedtoenhancethesafetyofthe
animalsandmenifrequired.

Indiahasalreadylostmanycattlebreedsanditcantaffordtoloseanymore.

HimakiranAnugulaisanorganicfarmerandentrepreneurbasedinChennai.Heisa
trusteeofSKCRF(www.kangayambull.com(http://www.kangayambull.com/)),an
organisationworkingtoconservenativebreedcattleinTamilNadu.

Whattoreadnext:

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Welfare
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GopiShankarayearago
WheredidthisPETAandAnimalWelfareBoardofIndiawentwhenthousandsofcows
areslaughtereddailyprimarilyinKeralaandotherpartsofIndia?Theydidn'teven
endorsedBeefban.JallikattuisdifferentfrombulltamingandMyfamilyownednearly12
cowsinMaduraiso,IknowwhatJallikattumeans,thenewmodernageVegan
westernizedIndiansaretryingtoteachIndiaonhowtorespectlife.Iamfromthelandof
TamilJainswhotaughtAhimsatotheworld.Respectforallformsoflifeisspiritualityin
IndiaIdoagreethattheresomesuperstitionprevailoverreligiousritualsandcreedsbut
thathasnothingtodowiththegreatDharmaofthisland.Whenwewalkwearekilling