The kurrang karuswal or training of young bullocks is among the many centuries-old traditions of Adivasis, which is on the verge of being lost, thanks to mechanised ploughing of fields and the use of weedicides. The training of bullocks before being deployed in kharif operations was among the most important preparations for aboriginal farmers in Adilabad and neighbouring districts.
Athram Bheem Rao, a Gond farmer from Daboli in Jainoor mandal in Kumram Bheem Asifabad district, said kurrang karuswal is usually initiated in April which continues till the end of May. “The training continues till the young animals are used for the first time in minor work during kharif,” he pointed out.
The first part includes making the animals get a feel of the kind of strength they need to exert while ploughing the land. A pair of bullocks are yoked and are made to drag the girre or an inverted U or V shaped wooden piece on which the farmer stands.
“This strengthens the sinews of the bullocks,” observed Bheem Rao. “Training on the girre is done only on plain surface,” he added.
If only one bullock needs to be trained, the second animal to be yoked is an experienced one. “This makes the job of the trainer a bit easy as the older animal takes care of some of the finer aspects of training.”
“The finer aspects include training the young bullocks to amble in a straight line. Besides, the animals also get trained to use the same amount of force as that of its yoke mate,” said Kanaka Ambaji Rao of Marlavai village in the same mandal.
Another crucial part of the training given to the kurrang bullocks is the ability to recognise commands. The animals in farming learn to recognise commands that the farmer gives by making different kinds of sounds.
The commands include the ones which ask the bullocks to start, stop or amble slower than usual pace. “A trained bullock also recognises commands which ask it to run and jump,” Ambaji Rao said.
