Social-Cultural Aspects of Cock Fight: a Study Among the Santals of Foringdanga, Paschim Medinipur, West Bengal, India
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Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Vol-2, Issue-10, 2016 ISSN: 2454-1362, http://www.onlinejournal.in Social-Cultural Aspects of Cock Fight: A Study among the Santals of Foringdanga, Paschim Medinipur, West Bengal, India. Parikshit Chakraborty1 & Falguni Chakrabarty2 1Ph. D. Research Scholar, Dept. of Anthropology, Vidyasagar University, Midnapore – 721102, West Bengal, India. 2Professor of Anthropology, Dept. of Anthropology, Vidyasagar University, Midnapore – 721102, West Bengal, India. Abstract: Cock-Fighting is a very old sport. Cock- However, according to a recent study, "it is not fights were widely advertised in the eighteenth known whether these birds made much century. Most of the fights were held in an inn that contribution to the modern domestic fowl. was specially prepared or in a cockpit. The Cock- Chickens from the Harappan culture of the Indus fighters selects two types of fighting cock—one is Valley (2500-2100 BC) may have been the main called Desi Morog and another variety is called source of diffusion throughout the world." "Within Pahari Morog. The modern methods of feeding are the Indus Valley, indications are that chickens were eight to ten days for chickens and stags, and ten to used for sport and not for food (Zeuner 1963)" and fourteen days for cocks. The fighter cocks eaten that by 1000 BC they had assumed "religious some amount of grains of rice, with plenty of water, significance". small snake and also feeding red mirchi and Haria, In many countries cockfighting is illegal local alcohol. The training of a fighting cock is and forbidden, like India, Indonesia, Bangladesh, very interesting. When age of the cock will be six etc. But not everywhere! Many countries have month, then the owner of the cock bring his cock in developed their own breeds for cockfighting. the fighting area, in every Sporting day. The fighting-places can vary according to the size of Clifford Geertz’s “Deep Play: Notes on the place and the organizers. the Balinese Cockfight” is one of the most Training begins at a very early stage with recognized modern literature on cockfighting. the owner sparing no expense to guarantee his Geertz’s use of thick description to analyze the cocks the best chance to be a winner. At the times, motives behind the actions of Balinese cock these fighter cocks were treated even better than fighters is an important methodological approach in family members, receiving better care and more understanding cock fighting around the world. attention. Preparation for a fight begins close to Geertz’s essay, although crucial in its pioneering two hours before starting the fight. The cock use of thick description, cannot be used as a fighters of Santals in Paschim Medinipur have universal source on cock fights. Geertz continued some rituals which are related with cock fight. by explaining that the relationship between Therefore, the present paper aims to study Balinese men and their gamecocks was not just different stages of cock fighting and the social metaphorical. They spent large amounts of time relations centered on cock fighting. To study the with their gamecocks which led to an even stronger rituals related to cock fighting. identification between the two. Cock fighters in the Midwest identified just as much with their Key Words: Procurement, Feeding, Training, gamecocks as the Balinese did but they also Places for the Fight, Preparation, Knives, emphasized the importance of breeding and as a Occurrence and Ritual. result stressed the significance of hens. In the INTRODUCTION: The sport was Midwest, cock fighting was more than just a popular in ancient times in India, China, Persia, and cultural practice. other Eastern countries and was early introduced Now a day, cockfighting still takes place. into Ancient Greece in the time of Themistocles (c. Although forbidden in most of the developed and 524–460 BC). The significance of the original developing countries it still takes in various name of Mohenjo-daro inferring that the city was place of worldwide, mostly by immigrants. In "the city of the cock" takes on great significance if many countries in Africa, Latin America and some taking into account that it has been claimed that the of the country of Asia cockfighting is still allowed. chicken was domesticated in India in 6000 BC. Governments do worry about the social Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Page 2116 Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Vol-2, Issue-10, 2016 ISSN: 2454-1362, http://www.onlinejournal.in disruption on households, in particular if a lot phase of menstruation. Such touches are regarded of betting takes place. Betting can be devastating as a premature death judgment. Sometimes fighting for household incomes! In some countries cocks get more care as children. therefore too much is at stake. It will be difficult to Feeding of the fighting cocks: ban this bloody sport totally. The modern methods of feeding are eight to ten Materials and Methods: days for chickens and stags, and ten to fourteen For the purpose of present study the Santals days for cocks. First step of feeding is 1st day to 3rd residing in a village named Foringdanga under days the cocks when empty are given some amount Kotwali police station of Paschim Medinipur of grains of rice, with plenty of water and no district were selected since the Santals are well exercise; 4th day to 7th days, in the morning, fly known for their participation in cock fighting them five or six times, and give the cocks a anywhere they live. However, since the caste tablespoonful each of scalded wheat and the same Hindu people play some definite role during the of scalded cracked grain mixed, half the amount at cock fighting therefore they have also considered noon and evening, with a little water, no exercise. for data collection related to the present work. 8th day to 10th days, in early morning, give each For the collection of data standard cock three table spoonful of broken rice, cracked anthropological methods like house-hold census corn, and wheat scalded, no dinner, and before survey, participation observation method, interview feeding at night in the same, give them five or six with the structure and unstructured questionnaire, fly’s each. After 10th days, fly eight or ten times in panel discussion, case history method were morning and again in afternoon, increase feed and adopted. exercise a little if cocks are doing well. Beginning the 15th days, increase work and feed a little (the Procurement of fighting Cock: flying is done by tossing the cocks in the air two or three feet so they will alight on a stuffed cushion in The Cock-fighters selects two types of fighting a box or barrel in front of you). This day begin cock—one is called Desi Morog and another feeding the white of one boiled egg to each cock variety is called Pahari Morog. The fighting cocks morning and night mixed with crushed oats and are purchased from the market of Jhargram and th crushed corn, scalded. Later the 20 days, spar the Panshkura. Sometimes some of the cock fighters cocks of equal weight until they are blown and get select fighting cock from their own poultry. Once a to billing, of course putting muffs on their heels, hen gets broody and set to start setting eggs and set same work and feed as yesterday and the cocks on the nest. In the first two weeks, hen and chicks well work done in the morning and very little at are kept in enclosures. The hen is and her chicks night, feed twice on white and cracked corn. After are tethered together. After two weeks, the chicks th the 25 days, muff put to cocks and spar them until may be allowed on outside for freely moving. After they come to billing, feed as before. With regard to three month owner of the chicks select chicks for feedings every breeder has his own nutritional-plan making fighter cocks and developing for training. onto which he known from other experienced The most critical age for ranged chickens is when persons. The cock fighter or the ownership of the they are still about 3 months old. This is because cocks feeds perhaps his cock with broken rice and they might not be hardened enough for exposure to wheat, vegetable and old bread. Wealthier owners the elements. select different grain sorts, Snail, various types of However, the chickens that regularly take small fish like a tiny fresh-water fish, small frog pro-biotic are less prone to coccidiosis. It is no and different types of insects as well as food exaggeration to say that the owner of the cock love additives like vitamins, minerals, electrolytes or their cocks more than their children. They always even amphetamines. Sometimes fighting cock eats show their deep concern for the cocks. The fighting small snake. On the other hand fighter cocks freely cock always dwells separately from other cock. ranging allows foraging which enables to eat all the Sometimes light presents and sometimes darkness varied plants, grass, and insects they can find. have seen in cage of cock dwells at night. Eating large proportions of living greens, seeds, After six months fighting qualities can be insects and myriad other natural commodities, tested by help of another cock as sparring partner. makes ranged chickens more vibrant than those In this phase the knife is mostly covered by a raised in limited space. In addition the offering of leather cover. In a few months later a chicken strychnine is reported in order to increase the mature enough for fighting at about 9 months of appetite and to stimulate heart and blood age.