Boy takes the bull by its horns... with love
The 7-year-old boy used to be a cynosure of all eyes at bullock races and heavy slab stone pulling events that are held in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh during village festivals for his dare devilry feats.
Alampur (Mahabubnagar): The 7-year-old boy used to be a cynosure of all eyes at bullock races and heavy slab stone pulling events that are held in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh during village festivals for his dare devilry feats. Ravi Naidu is the son of Srinivasulu and Satyamma of Chinna Thandrapadu village in Aiza mandal.
Srinivasulu who is a marginal farmer, bought a pair of Ongole breed bulls for Rs 1.1 lakh two years ago. After naming them Ramudu and Lakshmanudu, he nourished the bulls well for his agricultural operations. Ravi and his brother Jagan used to assist their father in rearing the bulls.
Ravi, a Class III student, showed keenness in taming the bulls. Besides using the bulls for agricultural operations, Srinivasulu trained the animals in drawing a cart and pulling heavy slab stones. Ravi who is a constant companion of his father, developed good rapport with the bulls. Later, they started participating in bullock races and heavy slab stone pulling events, which brought them name and fame.
The father-son duo who participated in about 150 bullock races and other challenges, won several awards and a good amount of prize money. Ravi on his own took part in about 20 such events, which made him popular at bullock races. He virtually takes the bull by its horns, but with love and affection. The animals yield to his commands promptly.
The little boy has so much influence on the bulls that they act without any dissent. The bulls are not even tied to the yoke fully while they are competing in the races. The father-son duo also started training the bulls in pulling heavy slab stone blindfold. There are several instances when the spectators at the bullock races honoured the boy with cash prizes for his bravery and daredevilry feats.
Speaking to The Hans India, Srinivasulu said ``we domesticated the bulls by nourishing them well. Our bulls made us proud by winning several races in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Our show is a major crowd puller at bullock races in the two States. It is the love and affection that we show towards them makes them obedient.’’
Ravi Naidu said ``I want to get more daredevilry feats performed by Ramudu and Lakshmanudu by giving them training in novel ways. It also amounts to upholding the age old tradition. Participation in bullock races and other challenging events gives me thrill. I am not neglecting my studies while pursuing my passion.’’ A villager of Chinna Thandrapadu said ``we are proud of Ravi Naidu. We hope that he will bring more laurels to our village in future by performing such feats.’’
By Lakshmikanth Reddy
