Ludhiana: As the iconic bullock cart races made their highly anticipated return to the Kila Raipur rural games on Tuesday, the dust on the tracks was matched by the vibrant personalities of the competitors.
While the speed of the carts captivated the crowds, it was the modern, high-octane names of the bulls such as Shandar, Bullet, Shehzada, and Cobra that became a major talking point among spectators.The shift in naming conventions marks a departure from decades of tradition. Gurinder Singh Kindi, a resident of Kullewal village and general secretary of the Malwa Doaba Bullock Cart Association, noted that the evolution is rooted in both modern trends and logistical necessity.The evolution of identityAccording to Kindi, whose own bulls include Kindi Kullewal’s Bullet and Shehzada, the naming process was once far simpler. “Earlier, we would name the bulls Kalu or Peelu based on their colour or body form,” he explained. However, the rise of collaborative racing—where owners pair one of their bulls with another owner’s animal—necessitated distinct identities to avoid confusion.“Names like Badshah, Cobra, Bullet, and Khalifa are chosen to keep up with the latest trends,” Kindi added.Other participants echoed this sentiment, noting that a bull’s name is often a reflection of its physical prowess or spirit. Harjinder Singh of Sarwarpur village pointed out that while some still cling to older patterns—like a bull named Maaru—most now opt for titles like Jugnu or Cobra that suit their fierce appearance. For Pavittar Singh of Kot Gangu Rai, the inspiration for his bull Shandar came from a legendary Punjabi horse, choosing the name to match the animal’s “magnificent” physique.
For the owners, these names are more than mere labels; they represent a deep-seated emotional bond. One owner from Ghungrana, who competes with bulls named Toofan and Jogi, emphasised that the animals actively respond when called. “There is an emotional connect between the bulls and us,” one owner stated. “The name is a bridge that gives them an identity. These bulls are priceless to us, and we show that value through the highest level of care.
“Resentment over serial numbersDespite the celebratory atmosphere, a rift emerged between participants and organisers over the registration process. To streamline the heats, organisers assigned serial numbers such as C 56 and C 57 to the carts.This move was met with immediate pushback from the Malwa Doaba Bullock Cart Association. Kindi argued that reducing the animals to alphanumeric codes “snatched the identity” of the bulls. Owners maintained that the practice was a slight against the heritage of the games and called for a correction to ensure the bulls are recognised by their names rather than just numbers.
