Guest guest Posted February 15, 2008 Report Share Posted February 15, 2008 http://www.thestar.com/News/World/article/302347 India's Big Top hits hard times The nation's once grand circuses are finding it tough to compete with movie theatres, malls Feb 11, 2008 04:30 AM Sonya Fatah SPECIAL TO THE STAR KALYAN, India–Hindi film songs crackle over old-school speakers drifting into the busy streets outside. Under a faded striped tarpaulin speckled with holes, the sun's rays spray a hundred little spotlights on the mud stage. On the once-red carpet that covers the stage, two dwarfs and a teenager spank each other with plastic paddles, setting off titters among the uniformed students sitting in the rickety wooden bleachers. Uninspired musicians listlessly play tunes from a raised platform over a board with " Rayman Circus " painted in scarlet letters. The tent is barely half full. Rayman Circus is 84 years old, and it shows. In its heyday, decades ago, the circus was the biggest draw in town, pulling large crowds under roomy tents of brilliant colours showcasing fabulous acts, with lines of anxious customers hoping to get last-minute seats. Today, however, like Rayman, the Indian circus industry is in decay. New competition – vast movie complexes, huge suburban malls, modern theatres, and television entertainment – has grabbed the spotlight in the 21st century. Meanwhile, the circus has limped into this age, and been gently edged out to suburban areas and smaller cities like Kalyan, 50 kilometres northeast of Mumbai's city centre. " Now they've constructed these tall buildings and glossy structures, there's no space for us in the cities anymore, " said Rameshwar Prasad, who has spent 35 years as a labourer in the circus. Unable to afford steep rents, upgrade its decaying facilities or attract the middle-class audiences it once entertained, the Indian circus is inching its way to oblivion. The decline began in earnest in 1998, when the Indian government banned circuses from using bears, monkeys, tigers, panthers and lions. At the time, the Indian Circus Federation boasted 33 large circuses. After the ban, most closed down. For Rayman Circus, the notification, upheld three years later by the Supreme Court of India, proved to be a devastating blow. Its 14 elephants, 55 horses, 50 tigers, lions and chimpanzees had always left crowds awestruck. Today, its parade of performers is a sad spectacle. Apart from a few foreign performers and an unsmiling crew of local entertainers, there is the roster of unhappy animals – four heavily scarred elephants, three aging camels and a dozen parakeets. " Most of the circus owners these days are keeping the circuses going because they are legacies, " said Rajan Pillai, manager of the Rayman and four other circuses. " They are supporting them through their other financially viable businesses. " Indeed, it is difficult for the circus to earn much revenue. Gallery seats are priced at 60 cents, and the most expensive seating is $2.50. Every year, the circus loses between $25,000 and $38,000, said Pillai. Local politicians often demand free tickets for their families. " This season I've already given away 19,000 free seats, " Pillai said. Most of Rayman Circus' performers are students from India's southern province of Kerala or from its eastern states. They earn about $75 a month and send the money home to parents who are either unemployed or earn very little. " At least we have a job, " said Rajna Borathogi, 18, from Nepal, whose father is a labourer. " There are so many educated people who don't have a job these days. " While many animals are on the outs, every Indian circus retains its retinue of performers popular for their slapstick comedy acts. " I've been in the circus 10 years, " said Ganesh Das, 24, a dwarf from Guwahati in the eastern state of Assam. " Sometimes the work is hard and the pay isn't enough, but it's fun when the audience enjoys it. " Das earns $90 a month for performing in three shows daily. The pay is better for foreign artists who hail from countries like Uzbekistan. " This is good for us, " said Ramil Yerzin, 26, from Tashkent, who is on contract for six months with Rayman, and performs juggling and acrobatic acts with wife Shaknoza, 22. " After working in India, we can get work in Malaysia, Singapore and other countries. " For many in the audience, however, the animals are the main draw. " Oh, he's so big, wow! " squealed a young boy as two elephants performed. " Indian people don't care so much for live human acts, " said Pillai. " They want to see animals, wild animals. Lions and tigers. " In their absence, many believe the circus is doomed. " Oh the circus was a real treat in the old days, " said Prasad. " The circus lost its vitality after they stopped the animals. " Pillai adds: " It's already over. It's just staggering to its death. " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 15, 2008 Report Share Posted February 15, 2008 The report is completely one-sided. Not one mention has been made of the views of those who oppose animal performances. All animals in the circus were trained by instilling terror in them if they did not perform. The big cats, the bears, the chimpanzees and the elephants were tortured into doing the most cruel and senseless acts. Bears on cycles; chimps mimicking human slap stick routines; tigers and lions leaping through flaming loops; elephants performing head stands and contorting themselves into standing on their front feet only. Transportation from one city to another was by ordinary trucks onto which the cages were loaded by crude chains and pulley blocks. And in the circus grounds, the animals with the exception of the elephants spent their entire time when not in the show in the same rusting, small cages - none more than 6 feet high, 8 feet wide and 12 feet long. Animals that lived for decades in the wild died in a fraction of their normal lifetimes. Unfortunately, the big cats managed to breed and inbreeding ensured a set of sickly animals. Dead animals were routinely replaced with new ones using the same documents of those that had mercifully died and lack of inspections and corrupt officials ensured no prosecutions. The circus has survived in countries like Australia and Canada because of spectacular acts by humans. Indian circus acrobats are equally or more capable but lack the showmanship. Circus Maximus closed when the barbaric Romans ran out of wild animals; if these circuses in India close because of the Supreme Court upheld ban on just five species of animals (bears, lions, tigers, panthers and monkeys), it is a small price to pay for some degree of animal liberation. The only people responsible for this are short-sighted and greedy circus owners who did not give a damn about animal suffering for almost a hundred years and to whom the animal was just a commodity to be used and then discarded when unfit, only to be replaced by another in its place. S. Chinny Krishna Blue Cross of India aapn [aapn ] On Behalf Of 15 February 2008 12:44 AAPN (IN) Indian circuses rue ban on animal shows http://www.thestar.com/News/World/article/302347 India's Big Top hits hard times The nation's once grand circuses are finding it tough to compete with movie theatres, malls Feb 11, 2008 04:30 AM Sonya Fatah SPECIAL TO THE STAR KALYAN, India-Hindi film songs crackle over old-school speakers drifting into the busy streets outside. Under a faded striped tarpaulin speckled with holes, the sun's rays spray a hundred little spotlights on the mud stage. On the once-red carpet that covers the stage, two dwarfs and a teenager spank each other with plastic paddles, setting off titters among the uniformed students sitting in the rickety wooden bleachers. Uninspired musicians listlessly play tunes from a raised platform over a board with " Rayman Circus " painted in scarlet letters. The tent is barely half full. Rayman Circus is 84 years old, and it shows. In its heyday, decades ago, the circus was the biggest draw in town, pulling large crowds under roomy tents of brilliant colours showcasing fabulous acts, with lines of anxious customers hoping to get last-minute seats. Today, however, like Rayman, the Indian circus industry is in decay. New competition - vast movie complexes, huge suburban malls, modern theatres, and television entertainment - has grabbed the spotlight in the 21st century. Meanwhile, the circus has limped into this age, and been gently edged out to suburban areas and smaller cities like Kalyan, 50 kilometres northeast of Mumbai's city centre. " Now they've constructed these tall buildings and glossy structures, there's no space for us in the cities anymore, " said Rameshwar Prasad, who has spent 35 years as a labourer in the circus. Unable to afford steep rents, upgrade its decaying facilities or attract the middle-class audiences it once entertained, the Indian circus is inching its way to oblivion. The decline began in earnest in 1998, when the Indian government banned circuses from using bears, monkeys, tigers, panthers and lions. At the time, the Indian Circus Federation boasted 33 large circuses. After the ban, most closed down. For Rayman Circus, the notification, upheld three years later by the Supreme Court of India, proved to be a devastating blow. Its 14 elephants, 55 horses, 50 tigers, lions and chimpanzees had always left crowds awestruck. Today, its parade of performers is a sad spectacle. Apart from a few foreign performers and an unsmiling crew of local entertainers, there is the roster of unhappy animals - four heavily scarred elephants, three aging camels and a dozen parakeets. " Most of the circus owners these days are keeping the circuses going because they are legacies, " said Rajan Pillai, manager of the Rayman and four other circuses. " They are supporting them through their other financially viable businesses. " Indeed, it is difficult for the circus to earn much revenue. Gallery seats are priced at 60 cents, and the most expensive seating is $2.50. Every year, the circus loses between $25,000 and $38,000, said Pillai. Local politicians often demand free tickets for their families. " This season I've already given away 19,000 free seats, " Pillai said. Most of Rayman Circus' performers are students from India's southern province of Kerala or from its eastern states. They earn about $75 a month and send the money home to parents who are either unemployed or earn very little. " At least we have a job, " said Rajna Borathogi, 18, from Nepal, whose father is a labourer. " There are so many educated people who don't have a job these days. " While many animals are on the outs, every Indian circus retains its retinue of performers popular for their slapstick comedy acts. " I've been in the circus 10 years, " said Ganesh Das, 24, a dwarf from Guwahati in the eastern state of Assam. " Sometimes the work is hard and the pay isn't enough, but it's fun when the audience enjoys it. " Das earns $90 a month for performing in three shows daily. The pay is better for foreign artists who hail from countries like Uzbekistan. " This is good for us, " said Ramil Yerzin, 26, from Tashkent, who is on contract for six months with Rayman, and performs juggling and acrobatic acts with wife Shaknoza, 22. " After working in India, we can get work in Malaysia, Singapore and other countries. " For many in the audience, however, the animals are the main draw. " Oh, he's so big, wow! " squealed a young boy as two elephants performed. " Indian people don't care so much for live human acts, " said Pillai. " They want to see animals, wild animals. Lions and tigers. " In their absence, many believe the circus is doomed. " Oh the circus was a real treat in the old days, " said Prasad. " The circus lost its vitality after they stopped the animals. " Pillai adds: " It's already over. It's just staggering to its death. " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 15, 2008 Report Share Posted February 15, 2008 Dear Dr Krishna, Many thanks for your insightful comments and views; they are much appreciated. Could you please share some thoughts on why elephants have been spared in the list of banned animals? Of course there would be difficulties housing them if they were to be relocated but elephants walk for miles every day in the wild and are chained for most of the time in circuses. Is there any initiative to rehabilitate circus elephants that you are aware of? It is to be noted that circus owners did not go down without a fight when animal acts were legally challenged; their present carping is reminiscent of sour grapes. Best wishes and kind regards, On 2/15/08, Dr.Chinny Krishna <drkrishna wrote: > > The report is completely one-sided. Not one mention has been made of the > views of those who oppose animal performances. > > All animals in the circus were trained by instilling terror in them if > they did not perform. The big cats, the bears, the chimpanzees and the > elephants were tortured into doing the most cruel and senseless acts. > Bears on cycles; > chimps mimicking human slap stick routines; tigers and lions leaping > through flaming loops; elephants performing head stands and contorting > themselves into standing on their front feet only. > > Transportation from one city to another was by ordinary trucks onto > which the cages were loaded by crude chains and pulley blocks. And in > the circus grounds, the animals with the exception of the elephants > spent their entire time when not in the show in the same rusting, small > cages - none more than 6 feet high, 8 feet wide and 12 feet long. > Animals that lived for decades in the wild died in a fraction of their > normal lifetimes. Unfortunately, the big cats managed to breed and > inbreeding ensured a set of sickly animals. > > Dead animals were routinely replaced with new ones using the same > documents of those that had mercifully died and lack of inspections and > corrupt officials ensured no prosecutions. > > The circus has survived in countries like Australia and Canada because > of spectacular acts by humans. Indian circus acrobats are equally or > more capable but lack the showmanship. > > Circus Maximus closed when the barbaric Romans ran out of wild animals; > if these circuses in India close because of the Supreme Court upheld ban > on just five species of animals (bears, lions, tigers, panthers and > monkeys), it is a small price to pay for some degree of animal > liberation. > > The only people responsible for this are short-sighted and greedy circus > owners who did not give a damn about animal suffering for almost a > hundred years and to whom the animal was just a commodity to be used and > then discarded when unfit, only to be replaced by another in its place. > > S. Chinny Krishna > Blue Cross of India > > > > > aapn [aapn ] On Behalf Of > > 15 February 2008 12:44 > AAPN > (IN) Indian circuses rue ban on animal shows > > http://www.thestar.com/News/World/article/302347 > > India's Big Top hits hard times > > > The nation's once grand circuses are finding it tough to compete with > movie > theatres, malls > Feb 11, 2008 04:30 AM > Sonya Fatah > SPECIAL TO THE STAR > > KALYAN, India-Hindi film songs crackle over old-school speakers drifting > into the busy streets outside. Under a faded striped tarpaulin speckled > with > holes, the sun's rays spray a hundred little spotlights on the mud > stage. > > On the once-red carpet that covers the stage, two dwarfs and a teenager > spank each other with plastic paddles, setting off titters among the > uniformed students sitting in the rickety wooden bleachers. > > Uninspired musicians listlessly play tunes from a raised platform over a > board with " Rayman Circus " painted in scarlet letters. The tent is > barely > half full. > > Rayman Circus is 84 years old, and it shows. In its heyday, decades ago, > the > circus was the biggest draw in town, pulling large crowds under roomy > tents > of brilliant colours showcasing fabulous acts, with lines of anxious > customers hoping to get last-minute seats. > > Today, however, like Rayman, the Indian circus industry is in decay. > > New competition - vast movie complexes, huge suburban malls, modern > theatres, and television entertainment - has grabbed the spotlight in > the > 21st century. > > Meanwhile, the circus has limped into this age, and been gently edged > out to > suburban areas and smaller cities like Kalyan, 50 kilometres northeast > of > Mumbai's city centre. > > " Now they've constructed these tall buildings and glossy structures, > there's > no space for us in the cities anymore, " said Rameshwar Prasad, who has > spent > 35 years as a labourer in the circus. > > Unable to afford steep rents, upgrade its decaying facilities or attract > the > middle-class audiences it once entertained, the Indian circus is inching > its > way to oblivion. > > The decline began in earnest in 1998, when the Indian government banned > circuses from using bears, monkeys, tigers, panthers and lions. > > At the time, the Indian Circus Federation boasted 33 large circuses. > After > the ban, most closed down. > > For Rayman Circus, the notification, upheld three years later by the > Supreme > Court of India, proved to be a devastating blow. > > Its 14 elephants, 55 horses, 50 tigers, lions and chimpanzees had always > left crowds awestruck. Today, its parade of performers is a sad > spectacle. > Apart from a few foreign performers and an unsmiling crew of local > entertainers, there is the roster of unhappy animals - four heavily > scarred > elephants, three aging camels and a dozen parakeets. > > " Most of the circus owners these days are keeping the circuses going > because > they are legacies, " said Rajan Pillai, manager of the Rayman and four > other > circuses. " They are supporting them through their other financially > viable > businesses. " > > Indeed, it is difficult for the circus to earn much revenue. Gallery > seats > are priced at 60 cents, and the most expensive seating is $2.50. > > Every year, the circus loses between $25,000 and $38,000, said Pillai. > Local > politicians often demand free tickets for their families. " This season > I've > already given away 19,000 free seats, " Pillai said. > > Most of Rayman Circus' performers are students from India's southern > province of Kerala or from its eastern states. They earn about $75 a > month > and send the money home to parents who are either unemployed or earn > very > little. > > " At least we have a job, " said Rajna Borathogi, 18, from Nepal, whose > father > is a labourer. " There are so many educated people who don't have a job > these > days. " > > While many animals are on the outs, every Indian circus retains its > retinue > of performers popular for their slapstick comedy acts. > > " I've been in the circus 10 years, " said Ganesh Das, 24, a dwarf from > Guwahati in the eastern state of Assam. " Sometimes the work is hard and > the > pay isn't enough, but it's fun when the audience enjoys it. " Das earns > $90 a > month for performing in three shows daily. > > The pay is better for foreign artists who hail from countries like > Uzbekistan. > > " This is good for us, " said Ramil Yerzin, 26, from Tashkent, who is on > contract for six months with Rayman, and performs juggling and acrobatic > acts with wife Shaknoza, 22. " After working in India, we can get work in > Malaysia, Singapore and other countries. " > > For many in the audience, however, the animals are the main draw. > > " Oh, he's so big, wow! " squealed a young boy as two elephants performed. > > " Indian people don't care so much for live human acts, " said Pillai. > " They > want to see animals, wild animals. Lions and tigers. " > > In their absence, many believe the circus is doomed. > > " Oh the circus was a real treat in the old days, " said Prasad. " The > circus > lost its vitality after they stopped the animals. " > > Pillai adds: " It's already over. It's just staggering to its death. " > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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