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 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- 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, , 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 ” 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 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 . 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. was domesticated in India in 6000 BC. Governments do worry about the social

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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 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 . Once a to billing, of course putting muffs on their heels, hen gets broody and set to start setting 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. Before a fight the cock is mostly not allowed circulation. Nevertheless, the majority of cockers to have sex, because this could weaken the fighting refuse such special diet. On the other hand, before spirit. It is told, that some cockers take care, that the sporting day owner of the cock feedings to his the cock is not touched by a woman who is in the cock very low amount of the drug (Locally known

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Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Vol-2, Issue-10, 2016 ISSN: 2454-1362, http://www.onlinejournal.in as Affing) mixed with grain sorts of broken rice boxing ring and measuring square arena about eight and wheat and also they feeding red mirchi and meters per side. There can also be an important Haria, local alcohol to their fighting cock. place for the registration purposes. And in Almond gardens have various types of places where selling Training of the fighting Cock: of snacks, and fight preparation held. The training of a fighting cock is very Preparation for the Fight: interesting. When age of the cock will be six month, then the owner of the cock bring his cock in the fighting area, in every Sporting day. And owner Cockfighting was not being a very of the cock will "drive" his cock. The cock runs lucrative endeavor in Foringdanga village. With near at the fighting area and makes a pair with the mean spending lot of times, lot of rupees and their other fighting cock. After this the pair of the cocks heard labour on nurturing, preparation of area and becomes aggressive against each other. Sometime also a prize for a fight. Training begins at a very the pair of the cock run faster and faster and the early stage with the owner sparing no expense to pair of the cock attack each other in the training guarantee his cocks the best chance to be a winner. time. The training time is longer and longer. It may At the times, these fighter cocks were treated even be twenty days to thirty days. After the training, the better than family members, receiving better care owner of the cock will let the cock have a rest and and more attention. Preparation for a fight begins drink some water, every day. At about 10 o'clock close to two hours before starting the fight. The morning, the cock will be let free from the cage or cocks ever steps into the ring. From birth they are be reduce to the tight rope for a walk on an open fed a diet of special grains, vitamins and ground so as to relax its tension of spirit. The cock antibiotics. When the is fight-ready, will be fed at about 12 and then it will have a rest sometimes professional groomers trim some of the in the cage. At 3 or 4 o'clock the cock will have cock’s , the underbelly is shaved and its another walk and then it will be trained for another combs and wattles are surgically removed. hour. Before the evening, the cock will be given an Groomers also cut the cocks spurs with a sharp additional meal. These routines or the methods of knife. The new spurs can be metal and are used to the training continue from day to day before fully inflict more pain, which could lead to a cock’s preparation for the fighting of the cock and the death in an even quicker fashion. Sometimes method of training can make the cock strong and owners rub tobacco or other chemicals like desi quick for fighting. Rearing and training try to alcohol or affing injects into the roosters body, to improve primarily "gameness", that means fight make the cocks fight harder or to affect the strength, aggression and endurance of the cock. opponent fighter cocks. Cockers want to have a light-footed, hilly cock The Knives for Cock fighting: with strong legs and wing musculature. Too much muscle mass can make the cock immovable. Most The fighter cocks defend their area important, in the care of stags for fighting, is to aggressively by help of their rear spur. As I know, keep in mind that in stag fighting we are trying to there are no systematic investigations on the results hasten the development of the chicken. Other of such fights in free nature. However, as far as I procedures to enforce the aggressiveness especially see it. In case of institutionalized fights the cock before a fight are caging of cock in darkness, can be "upgraded" on different kind and manner. blowing of smoke of cigarettes in the eyes of cock The Occurrence of Cock Fight: and the spreading of chilli on the anus. No mating acts before a fight - but before fight the cock can are held in a ring about eight receive injection with digitalis drugs. meter squares area. Usually they begin toward 3 P.M. and run three or four hours until sunset. Places for the Cock Fight: About nine or ten separate matches comprise a In Foringdanga village have one landmark program. Each match is precisely like the others in for the cockfight. The place is surrounding by general pattern: there is no main match, no almond tree and it is situated beside the village. connection between individual matches, no The fighting-places can vary according to the size variation in their format. The man who attaches the of the place and the organizers. The cock fighter spurs also provides the fighter cocks, and the spurs improvised fights without permission of the are affixed by winding a long length of string organizing fighting committee. Almond gardens around the foot of the spur and the leg of the cock. up to specially construct outside of the arenas Most of the time, in any case, the cocks fly almost (galeras) with air and shadow of those almond immediately at one another in a wing beating, trees. The shape of arena of cock fight is oval head-thrusting, leg-kicking on the opposition cock. shaped but center of the fighting area surrounding Within moments one or the other drives home a by timber construction with square arena like a solid blow with his spur. Before the combat the

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Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Vol-2, Issue-10, 2016 ISSN: 2454-1362, http://www.onlinejournal.in fighting spirit of cocks gets stimulated by bringing Burung because in this worship they sacrificed them together, so that they go in feint attacks. This chicken for the gratified of these gods. So, cock gives an impression to the audience, which cock is fight have spiritual: "in every motion of these the favourite. They become visibly exited as the fighter cocks un-endowed with reason there was two handlers enter the pit with Kathkars in hand. nothing ungraceful since, of course, another higher The cocks are raring to fight, with neck feathers reason was guiding everything they did". erect, feet clawing at the ground and fire burning in CONCLUSION their eyes. Suddenly they are released. The fighter cocks fly up against each other. A cockfight is a between two fighter cocks and a cockfight consists of several rounds of The crowd reacts with each blow putting weight-matched pairs of specially reared delivered. Each peck, slash and heart stopping leap fighter cocks against each other in arena of fighting elicits a grunt from the now standing audience. ground. Depending on the circumstances, they Both fighter cocks fall on the arena of fighting usually fight until one is dead. Cocks possess ground.. One of them is maimed, its feathers congenital aggression toward all males of the same tainted with red, but it carries on the fight. So spirit species. Cocks are given the best of care until near of these fighter cocks was ended that they battle to the age of six month old.Most of the people the death. Feathers fly. Blood flows. It is all in a involved in cockfighting are men, although there matter of seconds. At that moment blood rushed are some women are indirectly involved in cock into their tiny brains, their anger flashed like fighting in terms of either rearing of cock or lightning and with all their natural courage they ownership of the fighting cock. But woman cannot hurled themselves impetuously upon each other, participate as a cock fighter nor is she allowed to against beak, and breast to breast, steel spur carry her fighting cock near the arena of cock against its fellow, wing to wing: but the blows were fighting. It is observed that not only the Santals but parried masterfully, and only a few feathers fell. also the people of other castes and communities Blood soaked the ground of the pit; the brave take active part in cock fighting. The rural peasant, encounters were repeated again and again; but construction workers usually participate in large victory remained uncertain. At last, in a supreme number in cock fighting. effort, the wining cock hurled itself forward to give a final blow; it nailed its spur in one of the looser After the fight, which cock had lost the cock's wings. The looser cock, bound to it by the fight and dead then owner of the wining cocks gave wing, remained standing beside it, but little by little 5o rupees to the Kathkar and wining Kathkar also its own legs crumpled and eyes closed. gave 20 rupees to the organizing committee. And owner of the wining cock take the defeated cock. If the fight has several rounds it may The defeated cocks name is Sara, this is locally happen that the Kathkar sucks blood from the known. throat of a wounded hurt cock in order to make his cock fight-fit again. A fighter cock was declared as Cockfighting can be said to have a mythos dead, when it gives no life sign after three times centered on the purported behavior and character of lifting. A dead cock can be declared as the winner the fighter cocks itself. Cocks are seen as emblems if he dies in an offensive attitude. If a cock kills his of bravery and resistance in the face of opponent, he is not yet a winner automatically. A insurmountable odds. In fact, boys are frequently regulation demands, that he must peck still twice exhorted to follow the example of the fighter cock the defeated cock. If the pecking does not take in protecting his "turf' and family constellation. place, because the fighter was injured too strongly, While cockpits are violent and loud, and at times, he loses the victory and the draw is declared. bloody places, fighting between human male competitors or gamblers is taboo. Many cock Ritual related with Cock Fight: fighters had been adopted the fighter as a totem. At The cock fighters of Santals in arena of cock fight one may expect to see men with Foringdanga have some rituals which are related displaying the cock in a combative or terrifying with cock fight. Before the starting of the fight, aspect. Frequently I have been seen cock fighters when Kathkar attach the spores with the cocks legs with misty eyes leaving the pit cradling their limp, then Kathkar make obeisance to knife or spore winged champions. However nostalgic the cock which as a sign of worship. And before the coming fighter may feel about his cocks, I have been also of the arena of the cock fight, Kathkar had done his noted a theme of fighter cock as friend or worship with knife and spores. Because after that companion among mature cock fighters, in god of Bishawkarma may be gratified and as result Foringdanga village. The cock fighter may raise the the fighter cock should be won the fight. On the cock from a chick, feed and work with the cock other hand owner of the fighter cock who are every day for months; and yet may not relate to the Santals, they also practice spiritual of Marang cock other than as a fighter or, if the cock lacks

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Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research (IJIR) Vol-2, Issue-10, 2016 ISSN: 2454-1362, http://www.onlinejournal.in requisite combative qualities, a meal. Clearly, the 5. Hawley Fred, “The Moral and Conceptual cock fighter views the fighter cocks on several Universe of Cock fighters: Symbolism and levels: cock as totem, emblem of bravery, and Rationalization.” STATE perhaps symbolic sacrifice. Cock fighters value of UNIVERSITY status and their traditional interpretation carries 6. Daniel M. Peniston, “Between a Cock and with it a certain credibility and at least in the eyes a Hard Place: Cockfighting in of the cockfighting fraternity. Cock fight has an ”.(2012) important tradition role or status in many Santals family in Foringdanga village. 7. Eiseman, Jr., Fred B. “Cockfighting: a Loud and Raucous Sport,” Bali: Sekala & References Niskala Vol. II, Essays on Society, 1. Abacherli, L. “The Gamecock.”(1991, Tradition and Craft. Pickell, David. Bali: May). Periplus Editions, 1990. 2. Dundes, A. “The cockfight: A casebook” 8. Daniel M. Peniston, “Between a Cock and (1994). Madison: University of a Hard Place: Cockfighting in Wisconsin Press. Bali”.(2012) 3. Darden K. Donna and Steven K. Worden. 9. Lukk Hans, “The History of Cock “Marketing Deviance: The Selling of Fighting”.Copyright 2014. Cockfighting”. (1996) white Horse press, 10. Wanni Wibulswasdi Anderson, UK. “BEYOND THE COCKFIGHT: 4. Geertz, Clifford, “Deep Play: Notes on a MASCULINITY AND THE THAI DOVE- Balinese Cockfight,” in the Interpretation COOING CONTEST”. of Cultures, Basic Books. Press Books Group. , NY, 1973

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