The Jallikattu protest was both an agitation and celebration of Tamil youth and their cultural identity with multiple narratives of socio-economic, political, cultural realities shared in the context of the politics of the state and India.
The jallikattu protests and the subsequent passing of the Bill making way for conducting the bull-embracing sport, has, among many other lessons, taught us that power of youth can be harnessed to make the State act, and that use of force is not the solution for enforcing law and order.
After jallikattu, what next? Tamil Nadu's young people seek to build on protests, push for change
Social media activity coalesces anxieties around a variety of concerns.
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The page, “A Change – Tamil Nadu 16th Assembly under Students control with new System”, describes itself as the next political alternative in Tamil Nadu. The organisers, who did not wish to be identified, said the page was created to help Tamil Nadu become [a] better to best place to live.”
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Discontent with Dravidian parties?
Besides anger towards the Centre, there has been a growing feeling of discontentment with Dravidian parties over the past 10 years, especially the current AIADMK government, said Ramu Manivannan, professor and head of department of Politics and Public Administration of University of Madras.
After the death of Jayalalithaa, there has been political turmoil and a power tussle in the AIADMK. VK Sasikala, Jayalalithaa’s aide, is attempting to take over the reins of the state from O Panneerselvam, who took over after the popular leader’s death in December.
“Tamil Nadu, in the recent period, has been going through a turbulent political transition with the passing away of Jayalalithaa,” he said. “There is a big transition in the leadership. But the party did not perform for the last four years, and there was very little governance during that time. All the manifested in the form of an anger against the state, jallikattu being a more cultural rallying point it really moved people into action.”
According to Yuvaraja Muthusamy, state president of Tamil Maanila Congress’ youth wing, the impact of the protests may felt during the local body elections this year. “We may have more youngsters contesting as independent candidates,” he said. “But right now, no party can immediately benefit by the students. We have to wait and see who can take their votes.”
Aalur Shanavas, the deputy general secretary of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, said the protests may bring about polticial change, as their intensity and spread would prompt parties to think about revamping their way of functioning.
“After this protest, we are also motivated to look at where we went wrong,” said Shanavas. “We are discussing among ourselves why people have lost trust in politicians and what we may have done to incur their anger. We may have missed something somewhere.”
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Social media activity coalesces anxieties around a variety of concerns.
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