Recent protests everywhere shows people across the city coming out in scores in support of Jallikattu. But what is the protest really about — sustaining culture, bulls, farmers or the dairy industry?! The mix is boiling hot.


In October 2016, world leaders at UN Habitat III agreed that for sustainable development, cities and human settlements should promote civic engagement and cultural expressions, foster social cohesion and inclusion, and enhance safety in peaceful and pluralistic societies, where the needs of all inhabitants are met. Sustainable Cities must be committed to promote culture with respect for diversity, and equality as the key elements in the ‘Humanisation of their Cities/Settlements’.


Whether it is the famous Running of the Bulls (made popular by a recent Bollywood movie), Bull fighting or Jallikattu, the tussle between man and bull has been a sport for centuries across the world. In Spain, young men would hurry cattle to the market to sell them, by racing in front of them to their pens without being overtaken. This turned into a competition that became so popular that many cities adopted it and turned tradition into a tourist attraction.


In Tamil Nadu, Jallikattu was practiced as a bull taming event in the villages since the Tamil classical period (400-100 BC). On Maatu Pongal day, prizes are given to the young men who stop a running bull released into a crowd after rituals to the village deity.

These men train to stay fit and prepare to grab the bull’s hump and ride it for as long as possible or till they remove flags from the horns. Bos indicus bulls are bred specifically by farmers in villages for the event in which temple bulls (koil kaalai) also participate. After the event, tamed weak bulls are used for domestic activities and agriculture, and the strong bulls as studs.


Animal activists and People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) protested against bulls being ill-treated and participants being cruel. Today there is more that is being said regarding the involvement of ‘foreign’ species which are being introduced, thereby possibly wiping out indigenous bulls’ role in the local dairy industry.

In a day and age where industrial processes are so much a part of every food industry, it would be naïve for the dairy industry to rely on indigenous bulls if they were not as ‘productive’ as any other. The point about farmers losing their livelihood is highlighted as part of the Jallikattu ruling as well — but let us not lose focus now from the real issue.


All sporting events involving horses and dogs have strict rules. If not, there could be a robust debate about every kind of animal sport, pageant or show. Jallikattu is no exception and should also develop a plan that details roles and procedures.


Let’s support steps that better protect animals, participants and spectators from harm. Like arts, sport brings peoples’ character to the fore; but not sport that is inhumane. Activities that embrace cultural values enhance social inclusivity and holistic sustainability making our settlements ‘humanised’. Culture is central to holistic sustainability. Be aware and stay on the Bull’s side!

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India has reported its largest-ever wildlife haul.

On Jan. 11, the police in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh (UP) recovered over 6,000 freshwater turtles from poachers who planned to smuggle them to southeast Asia. The rescued reptiles weigh 4.4 tonnes in all and were found stuffed in 140 jute bags at a smuggler’s residence in Gauriganj town of Amethi.

“Wildlife authorities confirmed that this is the largest haul in the country’s wildlife history, both in terms of number and weight,” Arvind Chaturvedi, head of UP’s special task force that rescued the turtles, told Agence France-Presse. The rescued turtles are currently being kept at a makeshift sanctuary in UP.

Freshwater turtles are not rare but they feature on the protected species list under India’s Wildlife Protection Act. This species is found in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Myanmar. The bones of these turtles are used to make traditional medicines, while their meat is considered an aphrodisiac and even used in occult rituals. Smugglers can earn up to Rs1,000 ($15) per turtle on this variety of the species.

Freshwater turtles are much sought after in southeast Asia, which has led to a rise in their smuggling from India. Over the last year or so, Indian agencies have busted several such attempts.

Between Dec. 29 and Jan. 01, over 3,000 flapshell turtles were seized by forest department officials in West Bengal in two separate raids. In February 2016, forest officials in Jharkhand had seized another 3,000 turtles from a truck. The same month, Manipur forest officials found over 1,400 Indian flapshell and black pond turtles in two separate raids in the state.

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