If Kambala can be regulated like horse racing, why should a ban exist? Sudhakara Bhandari Saja warns on attacking a tradition blindly. Perhaps an outright ban is not the solution to everything in a democracy.
Now that Tamil Nadu has achieved it's goal of getting the ban on Jallikattu lifted, naturally interest has renewed in Karnataka to get the ban on Kambala, the Coastal Karnataka sport of buffalo racing, lifted.
There are plenty of arguments both pro and against. The 'against' is the usual - prevention of cruelty to animals. However, many Kannadigas familiar with the sport say the animal cruelty argument arises from ignorance about sport.
In a column for the newspaper Kannada Prabha, Sudhakara Bhandari Saja, the producer of the critically acclaimed film Rangitaranga made a strong case for the sport, arguing for regulatory laws if needed and surely not a ban.
Here is an excerpt from his column -
People who criticise Kambala should see how our farmers nurture the buffaloes with love and affection. People like Kankanadi Rampa Poojari of Mangaluru, who were nurturing Kambala buffalos had even invited chief ministers to visit his bulls.
Kambala is the Olympics of Tulunadu. If Usain Bolt can have a leap of 2.20 metres, a person accompanying the Kambala buffaloes leaps at least 3 meters per step. Looking for a pair of Buffalo costs the owner ₹12 lakh to ₹15 lakh. These animals have special caretakers and are given healthy food, get an oil massage. They just have to train to run and are not used for any other purpose. It is just like training an athlete, but with more rest and food, than the human athletes.
The government has falsely compared Kambala with Jallikattu and has banned it. In our coastal region, this has happened with betel nuts also. In the drive to ban tobacco, they have damaged the reputation of betel nuts, which is a prime crop of our region.
In a democratic system, we cannot put a ban on something which seems to be unpleasant to us personally. Our colonial mindset has unquestionably accepted the horse race. We have established racecourses and golf grounds in the heart of the cities. But we become rational and liberal when it comes to our folk tradition and culture.
Kambala is a celebration of our farmers. We have no rights to take away that celebration from him. Ashok Kumar Rai of Puttur is leading the group of people who are fighting in the Supreme Court to lift the ban on Kambala. There is a need for a united voice to lift the ban on the sport. Currently, Sandalwood stars have joined the movement. There is no point in blaming the court. It has done what it seemed the best within its limitations.
Now, the decision to revoke the ban is in the hands of the lawmakers, who should show the necessary will to do their bit for Kambala and rejuvenate the sport, by taking necessary measures and actions.
