Kambala: Sport or cruelty?
Every year during the November through March period about 18 events are held under the banner of Kambala Samithi. These events involved racing of buffaloes in paddy fields filled with slush and mud. These Kambala events were very popular drew a large number of people, so when there was a recent ban put on this traditional buffalo race, there was a large debate that followed. They debated over whether the events were cruel to animals or just a simple sport.
Kambala was banned after the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) said that it was cruel towards animals. AWBI argued that is should be banned since Jallikattu (bull fighting) was banned in Tamil Nadu. In its traditional form, Kambala is non-competitive and it consists of a pair of male buffaloes racing after each other in a paddy field. The Karnataka government also argued that buffaloes are not anatomically structured to run and making them run amounts to cruelty.
Now I don't know what it's like over in India or what their ethics are like, but if we had a traditional sport of buffalo racing in the U.S., I would see no problem with it. I don't think it's cruel at all to make buffaloes run. It's not like anyone is physically beating them or hurting them, we're just watching them run. I don't think the economy will take too big of a hit from this recent ban because India is still allowing the annual Kambala events to be held. The authorities said that making buffaloes run in 'Kambala' amounts to cruelty, so as long as they don't do that anymore, the rest of Kambala will still be allowed. I tried to relate this to something we talked about in class, but I couldn't think of anything since we didn't talk about ethics or anything of that nature.
Traditional ways of doing things are changing in places even like India. Just like the changing things here in America, traditions float away because of various libertarian reasons. I wonder how far the change will go.
ReplyDeleteIt takes some serious guts to do what these people do. I have never even heard of this before. I think it is dumb that they are banning a sport where people want to do it. If it is part of a pastime I say let it go. This just goes to show how much things are changing in the world.
ReplyDeleteI agree that if the buffalos are not being hurt than it should not be banned. Events like that could bring in consumers who would spend money and possibly help the economy.
ReplyDeleteI can see where the ethics could come in. Even though they may not be abused or anything during the actual event, it is not really know what goes on behind the scenes, at least not from reading this.
ReplyDeleteIf the animals are not being hurt then I see no problem with it. If they are, however then it may be best to move away from such a tradition.
ReplyDeleteTraditions are always hard to change. People are set in their ways and don't see the negative side that this could have. Times change and sometimes you have to change with it.
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