Challakere: Even God's oxen are forced to migrate

Chitradurga: When the rains fail, even God’s own oxen and their owners have no option but to migrate. The Myasa Beda tribals, indigenous to Challakere and Molakalmuru taluk in Chitradurga, are doing exactly this taking their cattle to greener pastures in Malnad as they fear they will be cursed by  their ancestors if they fail to protect  the revered oxen. As many as 12 sects of Myasa Bedas rear the oxen and believe that these are the reincarnation of their deceased elders.

The oxen are reared in a 'roppa' or open field fenced with thorn with a Kilari-  the holy title given to a Myasa Beda tribal who rears the cattle, keeping a watchful eye.  Now, these Kilaris' are migrating along with the oxen to Malnad region in search of fodder for the holy cattle.

According to tribal norms, these Kilaris must live a rigorous religious life. They  wear a small piece of white cloth around their waist and a Kambli or woolen blanket on their shoulders and do not wear footwear. They consume only self prepared food, cooked in a pot.  “For the last ten years, we are facing drought. On top of this, our vast grazing land was taken over by the government. We are seeing the death of eight to ten ox every week because of fodder scarcity,” said Kilari Ramanna who is migrating to Shivamogga or Chikkamagaluru.   District officials said they have opened goshalas and fodder banks. “We are ready to take care of these oxen in goshalas, but we are told the tribals do not want their cattle to mingle with others,” said an officer with the animal husbandry department.

During every festival and family rituals, Myasa Beda tribals pay their first tribute to God’s oxen and even have a burial ground for them. They bury the dead ox after removing horns and leave the removed horn in the burial ground.  The hunter and cattle rearing grazing community follows a pastoral culture. But the vast grasslands where cattle grazers from time immemorial had led a quiet life of seclusion, are set to be nuked-by a Science City or a giant military-industrial complex which the Central government has planned. Now, of the 15,000 acres of grasslands in Challakere, almost 10,000 acres of Amrit Mahal Kaval grasslands have been given away to various establishments including scientific and defence research institutions.

Boraiah, 90,is a disappointed man as he ponders over his plight in Chikkakumathi village. Sitting under a neem tree and looking at the ‘devara ettugalu’ or holy bulls, he says, “May be I’m the last Kilari.”