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After Jallikattu, Kambla feels the pinch as SC bans sport in Udupi

Mangaluru : After cracking its whip on Jallikattu, the Supreme Court has turned its eyes towards the traditional buffalo race game called Kambla practiced in the coastal districts of undivided Dakshina Kannada.

The ruling touching upon banning the traditional sport has created a sense of fear among the Kambla connoisseurs.
 
The Supreme Court had banned ‘jallikattu’ (bull fighting) and bullock cart racing in Tamil Nadu after the members of Animal Welfare Board of India demanded a ban on sports, which harm animals. While Jallikattu tends to take a violent turn during the course of the fight eventually grievously hurting the animal, Kambla, which is no where even close to Jallikattu has been treated in the same bracket by the Apex Court.

The Deputy Commissioner of Udupi has forwarded the circular issued by the Supreme Court of banning Kambla, in the district. The ban comes into effect on Saturday and will be in force till the end of March 2015.

When the ban was imposed on Jallikattu by the Apex Court citing that the sport was harming the animals, the Kambala organising committees of DK and Udupi districts deliberated and resolved to organise Kamblas with minimum whipping. In fact the Jodukere Kambla organised by the Dakshina Kannada district administration in December, 2014 even has rewards for runners who whip the buffaloes the least.

Still the Animal Welfare Board of India had appealed to the Udupi Deputy Commissioner and District Superintendent of Police to ban the sport in the region.
 
Deputy Commissioner A B Ibrahim stated, “DK district administration is yet to receive an order from the higher authorities. I can comment on the issue only when I receive the order.”
 
The Apex Court’s ban on the exhibition and training of bulls as performing animals has been extended to Kambla by the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), Chennai.

 
Animal Board Trust’s stand
 
Animal Board Trust has in its memorandum to the Udupi Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate and SP Rajendra Prasad has requested to take action against the proposed sport scheduled on November 15 terming it illegal under the SLP (C) No 11686 of 2007 and citing that events including Jallikattu and bullock cart races are against the law and are banned.
 
It also stated that the Supreme Court in para 77 (10) of the judgment has directed that it is the duty of the Government to enforce the PCA  (Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) Act and that the directions and declarations of the Supreme Court are not properly and effectively complied with.
 
Udupi SP Rajendra Prasad said, “Primarily the traditional sport of this region Kambla, cannot be compared to Jallikattu which is being practiced in Tamil Nadu because they two very different kinds of sports with just one similarity that animals are means of entertainment. We have passed the circular issued by the Supreme Court.”

File pictures www.kemmannu.com

Taking a clear stand in support of Kambla he said, “The Kambala Commitee and the organizers should give a clear picture of Kambla, which is entirely different from the banned Jallikattu, to the Apex Court and the Animal Welfare Board.”

The SP said that he personally feels that organising committees must appeal before the Court to exclude the sport from the ban because the sport evinces little to no harm on animals, whatsoever.
 
Kambla, the buffalo racing, is a hugely popular pastime among villagers along the southern Karnataka coast. Kambla events are usually held between November and March.

Parallel tracks are laid out in a paddy field, along which buffaloes hurtle towards the finish line. In most cases the man rides on a board fixed to a plough share, literally surfing his way down the track behind the animal.
 
With the sword of ban hanging over the head, one may have to wait and watch if the traditional sport will enthrall the enthusiasts or the marshy lands will lay dry this Kambla season.