Sunday, February 11, 2001		Lead Article

CRUEL SPORT?
By Prabhjot Singh

A letter from S.K. Verma, Deputy Secretary, Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, to S.K. Sandhu, District Collector, Ludhiana, on November 17, 2000, reads : "It is learnt that bullock-cart races are being conducted in various villages in the District of Ludhiana. As you are aware that the very practice of bullock-cart racing itself is not to be encouraged in view of the cruelty inflicted on the animals. In addition, it has been reported that cruel practices are being adopted by bullock-cart owners to win the race, such as use of chilli powder, severe beating and goading, etc.

"To ensure that there is no cruelty inflicted on the animals, strong action should be taken against the following :

* use of sticks to beat or goad the animals

* use of red chilli powder on the animals

* use of alcohol or any other intoxicants to intoxicate the animals

"It should be ensured that the use of any of the above would lead to the immediate stopping and cancelling of the events.

"To further ensure that the above is enforced, inspectors of the SPCA, PFA and other animal welfare groups may be asked to be present during the performance of the races. Any complaints reported by them should be taken up for immediate action."

THE controversy over the ban imposed on animal events in the traditional sports festivals has taken rural Punjab by storm. The blanket ban, imposed by the Ludhiana Deputy Commissioner, S.K. Sandhu, as a sequel to a letter received by him from the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment headed by Maneka Gandhi, has threatened the future of this healthy tradition that started early last century.

For example, in Ludhiana district alone, more than 50 such traditional sports festivals are organised between mid-January and March-end. These festivals include the mini rural Olympics of Kila Raipur. The popularity of these festivals not only stems from mass participation of rural folk but also because of participation of animals, which are considered a lifeline of rural Punjab, in these festivals.

The tradition of introducing animal events, especially bullock-cart , rehra and tonga races, goes back to late 1930s and early 1940s as does the practice of camel races, horse and dog races and tent-pegging. Earlier, these festivals used to be an exhibition of "individual excellence" as well as "collective excellence", displayed through various sporting events like kabaddi, tug-of-war, lifting of heavy sacks, lifting of heavy stones, pulling of heavy machinery with teeth and lifting of a plough by teeth.

Kila Raipur claims to be a pioneer in this traditional movement that keeps ruralites "gainfully occupied in constructive activity during what is presumed to be a comparatively free period for farmers". Many other villages in Ludhiana too have been organising these annual festivals for more than 50 years.

Phalewal, near Ludhiana, for example, organised its 74th such festival last month. Though more than 50 entrants for bullock-cart race reported at the festival, they were politely turned back as orders of the District Magistrate had been served on the organisers just on the eve of the four-day festival on January 10.

"We were shocked by these orders," says Pal Singh Grewal, Sarpanch of the village, while maintaining that the organisers had no choice but to cancel all animal events.

Neither the district administration nor the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment understand the sentiments of rural Punjab, feels Pal Singh. "For us, our animals— bullock, dogs and camels— are more precious than our wards. They are very much a part of us. How can a farmer drug his bullock ? His survival depends upon these animals and he does not spare any effort in their upkeep," adds Pal Singh, maintaining that such orders would force the rural youth to resort to some destructive activity during this comparatively lean and free period. "People have always been looking forward to these festivals. Well in advance, they start preparing themselves and their animals for these events, which symbolise communal harmony, brotherhood, and the true spirit of sportsmanship.

"After a tiring day of events, participants relax in the evenings and listen to top folk singers of the region, who are invited to perform. For the entire duration of the festival, people stay at the venue. If the Government wants to ban all this, it should also be prepared to face the consequences," asserts Grewal.

Veterinarians, including those from Punjab Agricultural University do not share the apprehensions of the activists of the People for Animals and the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

A.S. Grewal, immunologist, and Jarnail Singh Narangwal, Veterinary Officer, at the College of Veterinary Sciences at PAU, Ludhiana, maintain that there is no law that can ban the holding of animal events. They say that even in the modern Olympics, equestrian events are organised. Then there is the famous Rodeo Festival of the US where legendary cowboys display numerous animal sport events. Participation of animals in events, they maintain, prevents diseases besides helping in the improvement of draft-power cattle breeds and preservation of the germplasm.

According to Sukhvir Singh Grewal, Chief Technical Organiser of the Kila Raipur Rural Sports Festival, laws governing welfare of animals date back to the 19th century when the British and the Americans enacted them. In 1822, the British Parliament passed the Martin Act for Animal Protection and two years later Richard Martin formed the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

The American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was formed in 1866 by Henry Bergh. In 1877, the Humane Association for Protection of Animals and Children was set up. The organisers of the rural sports festivals hold that use of intoxicants, if any, affects the performance of an animal and does not enhance it as was held by both the PFA and the SPCA. Further, use of red chilli powder also dwarfs the performance of an animal in a race.

The organisers say that they too were for strict regulation and control of "torture of animals" or "making animals perform under intoxication".

"We support the demand that legal action should be taken against those who torture animals or try to enhance their performance through intoxication. Let veterinarians be posted at the venue of all such rural sports festivals and let them examine the animals before their participation in the events. However, the animals should not be debarred from any constructive and necessary recreational activity," they add.

Those who have witnessed these rural sports festivals growing from strength to strength, want that animal events should be allowed to continue in these festivals. They, however, suggest that necessary steps must be taken to prevent torture of animals.