Native Tamils in UK launch ‘support jallikattu’ campaign

Ever since the sport - which has been conducted for centuries in various parts of Tamil Nadu during the Pongal festivities - was banned, there have been protests both in support of and against the event by all sections, including residents, political parties, NGOs and others. Now the protest has reached the heart of London where around 50 people, both young and old, travelled over 200 miles from Manchester, Birmingham, Kent and the suburbs of London to take part in the event.

Holding placards saying ‘Save Jallikattu’, the members, all hailing from Tamil Nadu, but residing in UK, not only showed their support for the sport, but also for indigenous breeds. Speaking to DTNext, a member said, “There has been so much talk about banning jallikattu. If the sport is banned people will stop rearing bulls and the male to female ratio will decrease. The population of bulls have drastically decreased since 2009 and the number of bulls being taken to the slaughterhouse has increased,” says a member of the initiative. In south Tamil Nadu, the sturdy Kangeyam bulls, which is the all attraction of the jallikattu, is preferred breed for reproduction.

The NRI protestors demand a regulated version of the game. “The government should ensure that the bulls are not ill-treated and those flouting the rules must be punished. Banning a tradition, just because a few people ill-treat animals doesn’t make sense.” The core team of around 10-12 members of Jallikattu Lovers, who are from the IT sector, finance, research and also in business, have also made a short video to garner support. “The participants of Saturday’s event have signed a petition and we plan to present it to the UK High Commission. We also plan an online petition.”

Union Minister for Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi on Monday said jallikattu was a dangerous sport. In a brief chat with reporters on her arrival at the airport here, she said Tamil Nadu has several intellectuals. “We should look for good things to promote’”, she added. Terming jallikattu, a rural and traditional sport held during the four-day Pongal festivities in January every year, as a dangerous sport, she said it has to be consigned to history.