Thursday, December 31, 2015

[Editorial # 29] A stand against reason : The Hindu

[Following editorial has been published in The Hindu on 31st December 2015. Read through it and try to answer the questions that follow. Please do not copy and paste answers. The objective of this exercise is to get you in the groove of answer -writing. Try to write in your own words. Don't hesitate to write in a bulleted-format, if you are uncomfortable in writing in paragraph form.]
Risk-taking, possible grievous injury and testing the limits of physical and mental exhaustion have always been part of competitive sport, and the resultant tension has held the imagination of participants and spectators alike. But the participants have a choice in partaking in the risk and are aware of the consequences — intended or unintended — of their actions even as they engage in the sport with adequate precautions and take steps to mitigate unnecessary risks. Jallikattu, the popular bull “taming” sport conducted every year during the “Pongal season” in Tamil Nadu, also engages young participants and spectators in a violent and irrational risk-taking endeavour, requiring the taming of a raging bull at the risk of even fatal injury. Yet the bull itself is a “silent” participant, goaded into frenzy in this “sport” and subjected deliberately to gruesome injury in the process. The rush of adrenaline, in fact, drives participants to abandon caution, and many get gored, resulting in violent injuries and even deaths. Spectators are not spared either as the temporary barricades that separate them from the bull run are mostly weak and unsteady. Jallikattu might be a popular tradition having evolved from a single man-bull combat in the past to the random spectacle that it is today, but that it is both irrational and against animal rights is beyond question.
In a judgment last year, the Supreme Court for this very reason had banned jallikattu along with bullock cart races in Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra, ignoring the argument for tradition and “culture”. It is unfortunate, therefore, that the Tamil Nadu government has urged the Centre to pass legislation — even through the route of promulgation of an ordinance — to amend the laws for the conduct of jallikattu. Surprisingly, Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar has responded positively to this request. Traditional belief systems and customs have been invoked by proponents of jallikattu to seek revocation of the ban. Only those aspects of the customary rituals that put the well-being of participants and animals at disproportionate risk were considered in the Supreme Court decision in banning jallikattu. It would have been appropriate for the Tamil Nadu government to absorb this reasoning and explain it to rural youth who have complained about the loss of their traditional “sport”; instead, it has acceded to irrational demands and sought to have the ban overturned. Dominant political forces in the State of Tamil Nadu had, in the previous century, sought to contest irrational tradition by espousing rational values. The ideological decay and loss of fervour in promoting such values is evident in the recent plea made by the State government and the support this has received from opposition parties. The festive atmosphere during Pongal and the traditions of community bonding and competition can still be easily retained without the irrational practice of jallikattu.
Questions:
1. What is Jallikattu? What is its history?
2. What is Pongal? Where and how is it celebrated?
3. What is adrenaline? Why is there an "adrenaline rush" in the human body?
4. Why is the editor considering Jallikattu an irrational sport?
5. What do you mean by animal rights? What are the laws to protect animal rights in India?
6. Why did the Supreme Court ban Jallikattu and bullock cart races in TN and Maharashtra?
7. What is the TN government trying to revoke the ban? How and why is it trying to do that despite the sport being an irrational one? 
8. What do you mean by an Ordinance?
9. What are the reasons given by the proponents of Jallikattu to revoke the ban?
10. What are the measures suggested by the editor to retain the tradition, community bonding and spirit of competition? What in your opinion could be other such measures?
11. Have you come across any such irrational event/practice in your life? How have you responded in such situations? 

21 comments:

  1. 1.What is Jallikattu? What is its history?
    It is a ritual in kerala practised since sangam age. in it the coins are tied to the bull horns and make it run. The game is to bravely get the coins tied to the horns of the bull.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Its practiced in TN and not in Kerala..
      Pasha...Before attempting to write.. do a research on the questions as well...

      Delete
  2. 2. What is Pongal? Where and how is it celebrated?
    Pongal is an annual festival celebrated in tamil nadu. also known as MAKARA SANKRANTHI.in this the sun god is worshipped for energising agriculture.

    ReplyDelete
  3. 3. What is adrenaline? Why is there an "adrenaline rush" in the human body?
    A. Adrenaline is the stress hormone secreted from the adrenal glands on the kidney.
    released during the fight or flight mode. The cause of adrenal rush can be physical stess, mental stress, disorder of brain or adrenal glands, anxiety etc. Under such circumstances these hormones helps to raise the respiration process.

    http://www.livestrong.com/article/203790-what-happens-during-an-adrenaline-rush/

    ReplyDelete
  4. 4. Why is the editor considering Jallikattu an irrational sport?
    A. It is the mistreatment of animals which have no rights to make their survival
    The people can use various ways to infuriate the animals by pulling tail, giving wine, throwing chilly powder in eyes etc. which is considered as cruelity to animals.Hence it is irrational to be curel with such animals which share this ecosystem.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is a risk for participants and audience as well in case the animal turns violent . so, it has a life threatening aspect on human beings as well.

      Delete
  5. 7. What is the TN government trying to revoke the ban? How and why is it trying to do that despite the sport being an irrational one?
    reasons:
    1. it is being followed since ages
    2. politics: need votes of people
    3. traditional sport of local people

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. TN govt has urged centre to promulgate an ordinance and amend the law for allowing Jallikattu.

      Delete
  6. 8. What do you mean by an Ordinance?
    A.when the parliament is not in session and when there is urgent need of passing a bill, the cabinet through president can pass the ordinance under article 123 of the constitution. It will have the same effect as that of the law.However, once the par reassembles it has to be passed in the parliament within 6 months

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. not within 6 months but within six weeks from the 1st day of the next Session

      Delete
    2. Max validity of an ordinance is 6months and 6 weeks.

      Say, sessions have ended today and tomorrow due to certain unavoidable circumstances President issues an ordinance. Next parliament sessions can be held max at a gap od 6 months and once session is held ordinance is valid for max of six mire weeks. Hence, total time period from its issuance till its validity is 6 months and 6 weeks.

      Delete
  7. 10. What are the measures suggested by the editor to retain the tradition, community bonding and spirit of competition? What in your opinion could be other such measures?
    A. "can still be easily retained without the irrational practice of jallikattu."
    author had not give any alternatives other than this.

    ReplyDelete
  8. 11. Have you come across any such irrational event/practice in your life? How have you responded in such situations?
    A. Even in this 21st century , people believe in superstitions and hence they indulge in the war against humanity by sacrificing children,young woman etc.Such human sacrifices are more prevalent in local rural villages than its counterpart. I had once complained against a rich businessman who is performing the human sacrifice in the forest. The police reacted at right time and we could able to save the life of infant child and latter returned to the parents who had been kidnapped from his parents. Thanks to the men in uniform who are quick in response.

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  10. 6. SC has termed "jallikattu" as a tradition that promotes cruelty toward animals and even risks life of human being.

    This game is played without taking any security measures like proper fencing to ensure protection of spectators and participants in case animal turns voilent.

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  11. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  12. 5. Animal rights is not just a philosophy but a social movement that challenge society's traditional views that all animals exist solely for human use. Animals do have worth.when it comes to sufferings, pain, love, joy, loneliness and fear a rat is a pig is a dog is a boy. Each one values its life and fights the knife.
    In India several animal rights grop s are operational viz. Animal Aid Unlimited, Blue Cross of India, Buddha society for Animal Welfare, Help in Suffering, National institute of animal welfare etc

    Protection to Animals under the Indian law:-
    The prevention of cruelty to animals act, 1960
    Section 11 (1)(a) to (0) of this act prescribe and enumerate different forms of cruelty to animals.

    Readers can go through the respective sections.

    ReplyDelete
  13. 6. Jallikattu has been explained in the previous answers.
    Bullock cart race is the key feature of Pune festival organizations held during Ganaapati Festival. These races are regularly held in Bhosari, Khed and the adjoining rural areas.

    However, animal welfare activist have pointed untold miseries, cruelty and pain inflicted upon the bulls/bullocks during these races and argued that these violates the right of animals guaranted under the prevention of cruelty to animals.
    The court upheld the Animal Welfare Board of India's contention that 'Jallikattu', Bullock cart races and such events violate the PCA Act provision and banned these sports.

    ReplyDelete
  14. 5 ans continued...
    The Animal Welfare Board of India was established in 1962 under section 4 of the PCA Act 1960. Well know humanitarian smt. Rukmini Devi Arundel was instrumental in setting up the board and was its first chair.

    ReplyDelete