The Kambala Committees of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts would be staging a protest against the banning of “Kambala” (slush track he-buffalo race) in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s Office in Mangaluru on November 29.
Kambala or he-buffalo race is popular traditional folk sport in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts. But the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences banned the “Kambala” in Udupi district on November 15 and in Dakshina Kannada district on November 21, following objections raised by the Animal Welfare Board of India.
Addressing presspersons here on Wednesday, Deviprasad Shetty, President of Aikal Bava Kambala Committee, said that the Kambala had a history of 1,200 years in Tulunadu region. (Tulunadu comprises of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts and Kasaragod district in Kerala). There had been references of Kambala in the stone inscriptions found in Udupi, Barkur, Kollur and Sringeri. It had been in existence since the time of rule of Alupa dynasty in Tulunadu.
There were nearly 52 Kambalas in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts. The ban on Kambala was based on misconception of the sport. There was no cruelty to the buffaloes involved in the sport. “In fact the buffaloes are treated with lot of care and affection,” he said.
All the ministers from Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts including the Union Law Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda knew the real nature and character of Kambala. It was incumbent upon both the Union and State governments to convince the Animal Welfare Board of India on this issue. Both these governments should declare the Kambala as a folk and rural sport.
All elected representatives right from Gram Panchayats to Members of Parliament should put pressure on both the governments on this issue. The Committee had also written to the Animal Welfare Board of India on this issue. It was also planning to approach the court on this matter.
Nearly 25,000 persons including farmers, Kambala lovers and members of various voluntary organisations along with 200 pairs of buffaloes from different parts of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts would participate in the protest in Mangaluru on Saturday.
Those organisers of Kambala would wear their traditional uniforms during the protest. “If the government do not respond to our protest, we will not hesitate to intensify our agitation,” Mr. Shetty said.
Barkur Shantharam Shetty of Barkur Kambala Committee, Vinay Ballal and Subash Ballal of Katapady Kambala Committee, Chittaranjandas Bhandary of Aikal Kambala Committee, Bhujanga Shetty, former President of Zilla Panchayat, were present.
