1

Indian Governmental Policies on

JALLIKATTU & BEEF EXPORT
Double Political Standards

A Research paper Submitted

In Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements
For the Degree of B.com. LL.B., (Hons)

RESEARCH PAPER
Submitted by
K.Amartya Sen
BC0170008
nd
II Year B.com.LL.B.,(Hons) Section B
Tamil Nadu National Law University
E-mail: amartyasen_ug17@tnnlu.ac.in

Supervised by

Dr.S.Subaa Rao
Assistant. Professor-Political Science
Tamil Nadu National Law University

TAMIL NADU NATIONAL LAW UNIVERSITY

(The University established by Tamil Nadu Act No.9 of 2012)
Navalurkuttapattu, Srirangam (TK) Tiruchirappalli-620 027, Tamil Nadu, India.

23rd March, 2019 Saturday

 2

I
CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY

I hereby, declare that the Research paper entitled Indian Governmental Policies on Jallikattu
& Beef Export- Double Political Standards submitted to Tamil Nadu National Law University
in the 4th semester during the academic year 2018-2019, is a record of an original work done
by me under the guidance of Dr.S.Subaa Rao, Asst.Professor-Political Science, Tamil Nadu
National Law University, Srirangam, and Trichirapalli.

I solemnly declare that this research work is true to the best of my knowledge and no part of
this research has been submitted here or elsewhere.

DATE: 23.03.2019

PLACE: Trichirapalli

Amartya Sen K
2nd year B.com.LL.B (Hons)
Roll No: BC0170008
 3

II

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The success and final outcome of this research required a lot of guidance and assistance from
many people and I am extremely privileged to have got this all along the completion of my
project. All that I have done is only due to such supervision and assistance and I would not
forget to thank them.

I would like to express my deepest and profound sense of gratitude to the Hon’ble Vice
Chancellor Dr.Kamala Sankaran, for providing us with the fully fledged and enormous amount
of knowledge basis in the form of library and giving us all the available resources at our own
discretion and comfort.

I respect and thank Dr.S..Subha Rao, Assistant Professor-Political Science, for providing me
an opportunity to do the research work and for giving me all the support and guidance which
made me complete the research duly. I am ineffably indebted to his conscientious guidance and
encouragement to accomplish this project.

I also acknowledge with a deep sense of reverence, my gratitude towards my parents and
members of my family, who has always supported me morally.

At last but not the least gratitude goes to all my friends who directly or indirectly helped me to
complete this project.

Any omission in this brief acknowledgement does not mean lack of gratitude.

Thanking you all.

[AMARTYA SEN K]
 4

Contents

Certificate of Authenticity……………………………………………………………………...I

Acknowledgement…………………………………………………………………………….II

Introduction……………………………………………………………………………...…….5

Brief History of Jallikattu……………………………………………………………………...6

Jallikattu the Sport that saves the native cow breeds…………………………………………...8

India’s Beef Export-Latest trends…………………………………………………………….10

The Governments Double Standard-comparing Jallikattu and Beef Export…………………11

(The Conclusion)

Bibliography………………………………………………………………………………….14
 5

Indian Governmental Policies on: Jallikattu & Beef Export

Double Political Standards
Introduction

Jallkikattu- The 2000-year-old traditional practice of taming a bull, which is linked with the
cultural tradition of Tamil Nadu as a popular sport among warriors since the “Sangam era”
finds a mention in the ancient Tamil text “Silapathigaram" and various other Tamil transcripts.
The specially trained bulls are lead through a small gate to a restricted path, where the local
lads try to conquer it by jumping and holding onto the hump of the bulls. It is intricately linked
to rural, agrarian customs and has religious significance, with families donating bulls to temples
in fulfilment of vows. Jallikattu also addresses the cause of conservation of native germplasm
since bulls with excellent physical attributes are reared, and the less capable bulls are used for
farming purposes.1

In 2011 the Environment Ministry added bulls to its 1991 notification banning the training and
exhibition; According to Section 11(3) of The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960
which prevented the practice of Jallikattu. There was a continuous legal battle between the state
of Tamil Nadu and Peta (a NGO proclaimed to animal welfare) in the Supreme Court, although
it may seem like a battle by the NGO to protect the Bulls, there are lot of conspiracies and
corporate involvement in banning this cultural sport. Peta is regarded as a corporate lobby and
the ban on Jallikattu was considered a corporate ploy for destroying the local bull breeds which
are capable of producing high grade Milk bearing cows, and such bans ultimately result in the
vanishing of native species and ultimately result in the country turning into import dependent
on bovine animals.This ban faced a lot of strain between the centre-state politics and political
dilemma’s, the present BJP government whose ideologies are related to the worship and
protection of cows, and were morally opposed against the killing of cows for beef consumption,
and in their manifestation they promoted the protection of cows by putting a ban on beef
consumption. Hence the BJP tactically saw Jallikattu ban as a means to protect cows, but the
least they understood about the cultural and traditional importance behind it.

Contrastingly, India tops in Beef Export, not many Indians know that India is today the world’s
biggest BEEF exporter under the Narendra Modi (BJP/RSS) Government after toppling Brazil,
the BEEF ban instigated by the NDA Sarkar is a SHAM, it did not mean end to cow slaughter

1
Babu, Gireesh (2017): “Jallikattu: Tug of War over Bull-taming Festival in Tamil Nadu Continues,” Business
Standard, 10 January.
 6

and beef exports. Though the RSS/BJP ideologies strongly stand with the protection of cows
and their worship, their leaders have been maintaining double standards, the seek a ban on
Jallikattu under the pretence of animal protection, and on the other hand the Government still
continues to give profitable sanctions, tax exemptions for the export of raw BEEF to various
countries. 2

In this paper we intend to discuss in detail the importance of Jallikattu, and how the
governmental policies and sanctions may affect not only the taming sport but the future dairy
market and how such bans will make India dependent on importing bovine animals, if such
bans were implemented which may cause the extinction of our native breeds, and has drawn a
relation between Jallikattu & Beef export- how the government’s policies are being double
standard- in promoting animal welfare by banning a traditional sport (which seeks to protect
the native breeds) but at the same time whose policies still encourages and makes India the
largest exporter of BEEF in the world.

Brief History of Jallikattu

Jallikattu- the bull taming sport has a long and spectacular history. It’s one among the oldest
existing traditional practice, rather a sport. The sport has various cultural, ethnic, biological
and agricultural aspects streamlined to it. Many archaeological findings, and a hard evidence
of text- “silapathigaaram” proves that the bull taming sport- originated and long existed among
the Tamil community through ages and ages. It has vivid and rich history attached to it. The
practice predominantly involves worshipping the bull, which is considered to be an agricultural
companion for the man who practices farming to feed his stomach. As a token of gratitude
towards the service of the bulls, every year during the month of “Thai” i.e. January, between
the 2nd and 3rd week, a special day to honour and worship the cows and bulls, known as “maatu
pongal” is dedicated to commemorate the service which the bulls and cows render to us, by
helping and aiding us in farming practices. Though the technology has advanced far superior
and modern innovations brought in tractors and other modern machineries, the practice of
worshiping cows has become more of an ritual and custom, for more the 2000 years as of now.

2
India produced 3.643 million metric tons of beef in 2012, of which 1.963 million metric tons was consumed
domestically and 1.680 million metric tons was exported. India ranks 5th in the world in beef production, 7th in
domestic consumption and 1st in exporting.
 7

Reducing such a rich cultural practice and a taming sport to fit into a so called “barbaric sport”
replicates nothing but pure lack of knowledge on history and the biological aspects that devolve
around the taming sport and is very ridiculous to call it an uncivilised act of hurting the bulls.

Rather on the contrary, the people of the Tamil soceity worship the bulls and cows, and
celebrate a day known as “maatu pongal”, on that auspicious day, the cows and bulls are given
special bathes, their horns are colored, their skin are painted with colourful designs, they are
fed with “Sakkar pongal” (a sweet dish made from rice, dal and jiggery) and worshipped by all
the members of the agrarian family.

Putting a ban on Jallikattu by calling it a barbaric sport is nothing but an act to belittle the
cultural identity of the Tamil soceity.

Learned historians in various studies have discussed and brought about the significance of the
bull-taming sport- they describe Jallikattu as a bull taming sport held during the month of
harvest festival-pongal, that attracts much attention around the world, the sport is not just about
bull taming, unlike with the horses where they forcefully tame the uncontrolled horse, here the
specific act involves embracing the bull (yeru thazhuvuthal) than just a show of human bravery
over the bull. The literal meaning of Jallikattu is jalli or salli- meaning coins, kattu meaning-
tied, together means a bag of coins tied over the horns of the bull, and the person participating
will embrace the bull and remove the baggage of coins, which is gifted as a souvenir for his act
of bravery. Also in many communities, it’s also an important matrimonial process, if the owner
of the bull whose bull is participating has a daughter or a sister, will make a promise that
whoever has the grit and bravery to stand against their bull and victoriously embrace it can
claim to marry the owners sister or daughter. It is not as peculiar as it sounds, because
embracing or even just nearing the raging bull takes a lot of grit, strength and bravery, if a man
is said to have that amount of strength and bravery, he then needs to have a healthy, strong and
disciplined way of living. So as a matter of fact, the person embracing proves his physical
prowess, which comes as a result of a healthy and strong way of living. But such practices are
very rarely practised in these modern days. Previously, this sport had a significant matrimonial
binding.

The practice of bull taming is predominantly practised in the southern parts of Tamil Nadu,
especially in the parts of Madurai, the Old Sangam city with more than 2000 years of heritage.
The places include Allanganallur, Avaniyapuram, and Palamedu. Allanganallur being the
biggest organizers for more than a 1000 years, and is takes pride in having a global fame, and
 8

attracts tourists from various parts of the world during the month of harvest, with people
coming from various parts of the globe to witness the bull-embracing sport. More than 2000
bulls participate each year, and more than 1000 brave young men take part in the event to
showcase their bravery and prowess. The event starts with worshipping the cows in the temple,
special rituals and poojai are performed, after that, the bulls are brought into a specially staged
arena, with spectators on both the side, with the vaadivaasal( the colloquial name given to the
entrance through which the racing bulls are released one by one for the embracers to embrace
the bull) at the centre, the side are barricaded with wooden logs to prevent the bulls from racing
into the crowd and to direct the raging bulls into one specific direction. The event begins with
usually releasing the bulls, that belongs to the temple, as a ritualistic practice, nobody is
allowed to touch the bull that belongs to the temple, releasing it marks the opening of the
Jallikattu event. Bulls from various parts of Tamil Nadu, participate, the bulls are released one
by one, with the bracers waiting on both the sides of vaadivaasal to embrace the bull and claim
their reward.

Jallikattu- the sport that saves the native cow breeds.

The very statement might raise a lot of brows and arouse various skeptical questions, how
possibly such a dangerous can and risky sport help in saving the native cow breeds. In order to
understand this, we need to dwell deep into clarifying the biological aspects, which the sport
involves. Ever since man learned to domesticate animals, cows and bulls predominately
became his livelihood companion, and has remained an integral part of the socio-economic
fabric of rural people since time immemorial, it became not only as a source of livelihood but
also a provider of draught energy, manure and fuel. In order to understand how Jallikattu plays
an important role in protecting the cattle breeds we need to comprehend the basic biological
composition of milk, especially the A-2 grade milk that is one hundred percent natural, and is
not genetically modified. The Milk which is produced by cattle breeds contain almost 85
percent water content, the remaining 15% is what we call the milk, the milk is nothing but
lactose sugar, protein, fat and minerals, in which beta-casein is about 30 percent of the total
protein content in milk. A-2 milk contains only A-2 beta-casein protein whereas, A-1 milk
contains A-1 beta-casein or A1A2 type variant which most commonly found in milk from
crossbred European jersey breed cows obtained by genetic cross breeding and artificial
insemination. In much more simpler terms, A-2 type milk is the best quality protein rich milk
obtained from pure breeds without any cross breeding or genetic modification.A-2 beta casein
protein containing milk is the one which has been produced even before the cows were
 9

domesticated 10,000 years ago, and it has no negative effects on humans who consume it for
nutrition. A-1 milk producing cows resulted as a process of mutation throughout the centuries,
now predominantly it dominates the dairy industry, even in India, the states which contribute
to large milk production are as a result of this A1 milk producing buffalo breeds, but Tamil
Nadu is the only state which produces energy rich, side-effects free, and A2 grade milk from
cows. These cows are bred from the native breeds of Tamil Nadu, especially like, “Kangeyam”
bull which is considered to be one among the superior breeds of bull.

Earlier back in the 1970’s there was a large export of Indian cows, especially native breeds
from Tamil Nadu to various predominant dairy producing countries like Brazil, New Zealand
etc, in view of the high grade quality A2 milk which these cows produce. That how Indian
native breeds were considered to be.

So, there arises a question, how specifically does, Jallikattu help, in protecting this native breed
types. The sport of Jallikattu or more properly known as “yeru thazhuvuthal” which means
embracing the bull. The structure and the method in which this is conducted itself is very unique
and scientifically ahead of its time, considering that this sport has been there for more than
3000 years. The person participating has the objective to jump over the racing bull, and get a
strong hold of the bulls hump, and hold it in a way as if the muscles in the hump contracts and
squeezes itself, in the process. By doing so, the person agitates and stimulates the nerve endings
situated specifically in the hump part which is connected to the bull’s groins, the place where
its semen is produced, the person holding the hump, has to hold it for a long time, for a specific
duration. It seems easy when said, but it’s not so. Here comes the tough part, the thrill is that
any bull strong enough having enough virility will stand against the perpetrator (the person
trying to hold) and would not allow the person to hold its hump, the bull moves swiftly and
tried to evade the chase, by using its horns and head as a shield, the person trying to get hold
of the hump has to fight against the bulls strong defence, and embrace the hump. If a bull
evades the chase, without letting the person holding its hump, the bull is considered to have
very high virility and stamina, and biological such virile bulls are used for mating, producing
good quality off-springs and continuing the breeding of the high grade species. If as a result of
the mating process if a cow is born, it produces A2 quality milk and is let grown to acquire
maturity to be further bred with the bulls, if bulls are the result of such breeding, the bulls are
then specially fed, specifically trained to take part in Jallikattu to determine their virility and
capability. In just another scenario, if the bulls is successfully embraced and loses to the person
trying to embrace, the bull is considered to be with less virility, low stamina and basically old
 10

enough to produce, good quality off springs, hence such bulls are categorised for other farming
purposes, like ploughing, pulling the bullock-cart, manure production from its dung, which
emphasises green farming and green cultivation, and as a result assists the farmers in generating
revenue. In either cases, even if the bull returns victorious from the chase or not it helps the
farmer who is domesticating it, both economically and with physical labour.

The whole process of Jallikattu, is nothing but a biological test, combined with the socio-
cultural-religious aspect in worshiping the cow and bulls for its service as well as deciding the
best quality bulls to be bred. So it’s not just a barbaric act of cruelty casted over the bulls, it
has dominant historical, cultural, as well as biological aspect protecting the native breed and
breeding high quality cows and bulls. Ancient people had the right sense of knowledge they
understood nature and its creation, its purpose, and established systematic ways to protect and
conserve it, they did so by binding those process and practice with customs and traditions as a
way in which people wouldn’t forget or neglect such practices and conservation methods in
safeguarding the species from exploitation and extinction. Hence we cannot blindly expose our
traditional practices to be labelled as barbaric, uncivilised and call it as a torture and cruelty
upon the animals.

As we learnt about the significance and importance, of Jallikattu both historical, traditional as
well as biological aspects in which the Sport or custom of Jallikattu devolves around.

In order to discuss about the Government contrasting stand and dilemma between protecting
the native breeds and their policy in slaughtering and exporting beef, we need to discuss in
brief about the Beef export in India- in a more statistical and empirical view.

India’s Beef Export- latest trends

It’s flabbergasting to acquaint with the fact that, India at present tops in Beef export- and
exports tonnes of beef to various American and European importers. It is nothing to be proud
about, knowing India tops in Beef export, because this policy of slaughtering and exporting
beef would only result in decimating India’s indigenous cattle breeds, which are adapted
perfectly to survive our tropical conditions and having better yield, but through indiscriminate
slaughtering of cow and bull for export will only benefit crony industrialists and exporters, who
own high profiting meat and other processing factories. Until recently, a decade before the
present NDA governments reign, India boasted of having the record of largest milk and cattle
production state and the most nutritious A2 milk producing country. Speaking with facts as of
2014 reports India produced 3.4* million metric tonnes of beef, and as much as 1.6* million
 11

metric tonnes were consumed domestically and almost 1.6* million metric tonnes were
exported, India ranks in 5th position for beef production in the world, 7th largest in domestic
consumption and 1st in Exporting, all established within the last 5 years, and is quite undeniable
that the NDA’s double standard policy is highly discriminatory.

The Government sought a ban on Jallikattu under the pretence of animal protection, by listing
the bulls under the category of protected animals. Also it implemented beef ban, whereby
domestic consumption of beef was banned, saying cows are a religious symbol, their
consumption would hurt and undermine the religious sentiments of the majority Hindus, but
later did we realise that such ban was only for the Nations people from consuming it, and not
for beef export, reduced domestic consumption means the exporters had more beef to export
and profit. Factually the country has made more than 26,000 crores (approximately) from beef
exporting only in the year 2015, and ever since under the NDA government beef export grew
manifold with 14 percent increase in production every year.

The Governments Double Standard- comparing Jallikattu and Beef Export

Earlier with the ban of beef eating, is nothing but an ardent act of food fascism, India being a
secular state, comprising populations from diverse social strata, and religious belief, such acts
of restricting peoples food preference is no good to a democracy. Millions of Indians, including
Muslims, Dalit’s, and Christians consume beef as a staple food and is an integral part of their
regular appetite. Apparently few months ago, more recently a mob attacked a man and killed
him over the rumour that his family consumed beef, it is quite shocking to realise that, a cow,
which is such an humble animal became a powerful polarising animal. Many vigilante cow
protection groups are operating with independent impunity and have killed people for
consuming and transporting cattle and the government has deafened ears to any of this and has
not taken appropriate actions to curb such injustice. But many critics have labelled such policy
of the government as “dietary profiling” or to be more precise-“food fascism”, it mocks on
India’s secularism, and it clouts hard on cultural imperialism. Right to food is Right to live.
Reports suggest that almost 71 percent of the population over 15 years of age is non-vegetarians
with half that percentage eat beef. Poor people, hardworking labours who cannot afford to goats
meat or other meat sources, consider beef as a cheap source of protein rich food.

Through various journalistic articles and outsources, its notable that many beef and meat
exporters across India had been the substantial donors and sponsors for Modi’s campaign in
the previous election. For instance, an ardent Hindutva politician Sangeet som- a BJP MLA
 12

from Meerut was one of the fore runners in seeking ban on cow slaughter, is also a founder
director of two meat processing and exporting firms. Previously the UPI government subsidies
for beef exports under what was known as PINK revolution, and facilitated with beef export,
and even in the NDA reign there was not much of a reform. The reason why Europeans and
Americans import beef from India is that, their European cows known as the jersey cows often
suffer from mad cow disease or bovine spongiform disease, their meat when consumed will
accelerate the consumer faster towards Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease in old age.
On the other side, our cows are immune to such bovine disease and are fit for consumption.

But how does Jallikattu get involved in this. That’s because of the involvement of corporates,
who wanted to take over the Indian diary industry by introducing A1 milk producing jersey
cows, in order to facilitate that they need to curb the breeding of native cows, and a very
important thing which is keeping the native breeds from extinction is the traditional practices
such as Jallikattu. The Foreign companies have acquired the patent for artificial insemination,
a process were cattle off springs are produced not with precreation but with artificially
inseminating the semen to the cows and procuring the hybrid off springs that produce
maximised A1 milk and which yield high production rates. But A1 when compared to A2 milk
is toxic for consumption. Many countries like Brazil long before understood the value of our
native cow breeds and with the very knowledge of the government exported them from India,
and used them to breed their cattle. But we ignore their importance. The Government enlisted
bulls to the category of protected animals thereby putting a ban on Jallikattu. The bulls are
specially reared and bred for Jallikattu, and as discussed above in earlier sections of this paper,
it is evident that only such traditional ways help in conserving the native cows and bulls.
Jallikattu ban without realising the historical, traditional and biological importance, is nothing
but an arbitrary act of the state. With the persistent of native breeds the crony capitalists realise
that they cannot market their hybrid jersey cows, which are not only toxic but bring in more
side effects like diabetes, and India tops in the rank with people with more diabetes, which
resulted from consumption of A1 milk from jersey cows. Therefore the market for diabetic
medicines and treatments widen in India. The corporate markets are intertwined, by making
the native cows and bulls extinct the sale of jersey cows increase in order to produce jersey
cows we need to artificially inseminate our cows, for which they have the patent holing, if the
bulls are extinct the farmers will shift towards using tractors to plough rather than bull, the
cows and bulls dung produce natural manure and now with its absence the farmers need to use
 13

fertilizers, thereby increasing the fertiliser market. It alienates the farmers from being self-
sufficiency, and makes them dependent on the corporate products to procure and produce crops.

With a ban on Jallikattu the farmers cannot breed and maintain bulls, as they require high
maintenance, and their cost is considerably high. Banning on the sport, clutches the poor
farmers and forces them to sell their bulls to slaughter houses, and as a result the export of beef
soars high.

Jallikattu was banned in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh quoting cooked up excuse of animal
cruelty by an animal welfare group known as PETA, which under false pretences and motives,
and PETA acts as a corporate lobbyist, in propagating corporate marketing strategies. If PETA
was a just and a real animal welfare community as it propounds it to be, then it should have
filed Public Interest Litigation against the government’s policy on exporting beef.

The government or the state is established to look into the welfare of both the civilians and also
the flora and fauna that encloses the states territory. The state should act just, and not arbitrary.
It should take a rigid stance, and not be in a dilemma or double standards in implementing
policies.

As Plato once quoted, “….political systems have a tendency towards dictatorship and self-
interest, and these human instincts must be tempered with the truth…”
 14

Bibliography
Babu, Gireesh (2017): “Jallikattu: Tug of War over Bull-taming Festival in Tamil Nadu Continues,” Business
Standard, 10 January.

Karthikeyan D (2012). Jallikattu: Tradition First, Safety Next. Retrieved From:

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/jallikattu-tradition-first-safety-next/article 2801743

Prasanta Boro (2016). A1 and A2 Milk & Its Impact on Human Health. International Journal of Science And
Nature. Vol.7 (1). pp: 1-3

Sugandha (2017). Science Behind Tamil Nadu’s Pride Called Jallikattu. Retrieved From: http://Satyavijayi.com/
science-behind-tamil-nadus-pride-called-jallikattu

Facts About Beef (2013). There’s a Cow in My Marshmallow?! Retrieved From:

https://factsaboutbeef.com/2013/12/19/theres-a-cow-in-my-marshmallow/