Cockfight in Tamil Nadu, India

Cockfighting (Seval Sandai in Tamil, Kodi Pandem in Telugu) in India primarily takes place in January, coinciding with Makara Sankranti. The practice is widespread in coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh, including Krishna, Guntur, East Godavari and West Godavari districts, despite being illegal in India.[1][2]

Overview

Sculpture depicting cockfighting during the Battle of Palnadu

Fights between birds such as junglefowls and roosters are said to have been arranged in ancient India as a mode of entertainment.[3] It is recorded that the outcome of the Battle of Palnadu (1178–1182) was decided by a rooster fight, following which cockfighting gained foothold in Andhra Pradesh.[4]

In the present day, cockfighting takes place in Andhra Pradesh and other parts of India such as Telangana, Karnataka, and Odisha.[3]

Roosters are specially bred for cockfights, with knives and blades tied to their legs. The fight typically results in the death of one of the birds.[5] Roosters are trained for fights year-round and are worth as much as ₹50,000 (US$630). Events which can last as long as three days are organized during Sankranti, with each event drawing thousands of people.[1] In a 2019 investigation, The Washington Post called the practice the "Super Bowl of cockfighting".[6]

History

Cockfighting is an ancient spectator sport. There is evidence that cockfighting was a pastime in the Indus Valley civilization.[7] The Encyclopædia Britannica (2008) holds:[8]

The sport was popular in ancient times in India, China, Persia, and other Eastern countries and was introduced into Ancient Greece in the time of Themistocles (c. 524–460 BC). For a long time the Romans affected to despise this "Greek diversion", but they ended up adopting it so enthusiastically that the agricultural writer Columella (1st century AD) complained that its devotees often spent their whole patrimony in betting at the side of the pit.

Based on his analysis of a Mohenjo-daro seal, Iravatham Mahadevan speculates that the city's ancient name could have been Kukkutarma ("the city [-rma] of the cockerel [kukkuta]").[9][10] However, according to a recent study,[11] "it is not known whether these birds made much contribution to the modern domestic fowl. Chickens from the Harappan culture of the Indus Valley (2500–2100 BC) may have been the main source of diffusion throughout the world." "Within the Indus Valley, indications are that chickens were used for sport and not for food" (Zeuner 1963)[12] and that by 1000 BC they had assumed "religious significance".[12]

Kukkuta Sastra

Kukkuta Satra (transl. Cock Astrology) is a shastra dealing with cockfighting.[13] There is no information about the author or when the book is written.[13]

Kukkuta Sastra recognises 50 types of cocks suitable for cockfighting. It prescribes the diet for the cocks raised for cockfighting, including but not limited to almond, cashew, pistachio, and meat. Kukkuta Sastra is diligently followed when cocks are raised for cockfighting in India.[14][15]

Ban

Cockfighting has been illegal in India since the enactment of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act in 1960. Subsequent judgements by the Supreme Court of India in 2015,[16] and the Hyderabad High Court in 2016, upheld the ban.[17] In January 2018, the Supreme Court allowed the sport to be held in a traditional way, without the use of knives and blades and without gambling or betting.[18]

Despite the ban,[2] cockfighting is still popular in Andhra Pradesh, with an estimated amount over ₹900 crore (US$110 million) being wagered in the state during a three-day period in 2019.[19] More than 200,000 roosters have been used in cockfights in the state.[19]

Incidents

  • In 2010, in West Midnapore of the state of West Bengal, a man was killed by his rooster, which pierced his neck with a blade attached to its leg.[20]
  • In 2019, in Pragadavaram, Andhra Pradesh, a spectator succumbed to the injuries inflicted by a rooster. It reportedly sunk the blade tied to its leg into his abdomen during a cockfight.[6]
  • In 2021, in Telangana state, the owner of a rooster fitted with a blade was killed after it impaled him in the groin as he attempted to recapture it after an escape attempt.[21]

References

  1. 1 2 Slater, Joanna (5 February 2019). "Inside India's illegal 'Super Bowl' of cockfighting, where the roosters wear razors". The Washington Post. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  2. 1 2 Srinivas, Rajulapudi (12 January 2020). "Despite ban, stage being set for cockfighting in Andhra Pradesh". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  3. 1 2 "Bird Fights". Beauty Without Cruelty – India. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  4. ↑ Bhattacharjee, Sumit (12 January 2020). "A favourite pastime". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  5. ↑ Bommakanti, Ujwal. "Cockfights continue across Andhra Pradesh despite court ban | Vijayawada News – Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  6. 1 2 "Man killed by chicken at illegal cockfight". The Independent. 22 January 2020. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  7. ↑ Sherman, David M. (2002). Tending Animals in the Global Village. Blackwell Publishing. 46. ISBN 0-683-18051-7.
  8. ↑ Cockfighting. Encyclopædia Britannica 2008
  9. ↑ Iravatham Mahadevan. "'Address' Signs of the Indus Script" (PDF). Presented at the World Classical Tamil Conference 2010. 23–27 June 2010. The Hindu.
  10. ↑ Poultry Breeding and Genetics By R. D. Crawford – Elsevier Health Sciences, 1990, page 10
  11. ↑ Al-Nasser, A.; Al-Khalaifa, H.; Al-Saffar, A.; Khalil, F.; Albahouh, M.; Ragheb, G.; Al-Haddad, A.; Mashaly, M. (2007). "Overview of chicken taxonomy and domestication". World's Poultry Science Journal. 63 (2): 285. doi:10.1017/S004393390700147X. S2CID 86734013.
  12. 1 2 R. D. Crawford (1990). Poultry Breeding and Genetics. Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 11. ISBN 9780444885579. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  13. 1 2 "కోడిపందేల చరిత్ర తెలిసి ఉండొచ్చు.. మరి కోడి చరిత్ర తెలుసా?". BBC News తెలుగు (in Telugu). Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  14. ↑ "కాలుదువ్వుతున్న పందెంకోళ్లు... | ఖమ్మం | www.NavaTelangana.com". Nava Telangana (in Telugu). Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  15. ↑ K, Srinivas (12 January 2011). "కోట్ల రూపాయల కోడి పందేలు". Suryaa. Archived from the original on 13 January 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  16. ↑ Esha Mitra. "Man dies after rooster attack on way to cockfight". CNN. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  17. ↑ "Despite Ban, Roosters and Punters Ready for the Cockfights". News18. 12 January 2017. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  18. ↑ "SC allows conduct of cockfights in 'traditional manner' in coastal Andhra". The Hindustan Times. 13 January 2018. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  19. 1 2 "cockfights: Cockfights have turned into a multi-crore biz in coastal Andhra Pradesh – Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
  20. ↑ "Master dies in rooster revolt". The Telegraph India. 14 December 2010. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  21. ↑ "Indian man killed by his own rooster during cockfight". BBC News. 27 February 2021. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
  22. ↑ "'Aadukalam':Facsinating shades of grey". The Hindu. 22 January 2011.

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