The
opening of “Vaadivasal” (jallikattu arena) is the closing ceremony of the
greatest peaceful agitation of independent India. It is a classic case study
for people’s movement in a democracy.
A quick
chronology:
2006: The Madras high court (Madurai branch) banned Jallikattu and Rekla race.
Appeal against the judgement is made in the high court bench by pro-jallikattu organizations.
2007: Ban removed – regulations made.
AWBI appealed in Supreme Court against this judgement.
The state government made an ordinance and got it signed by the governor. Jallikattu held.
2009 – Supreme Court squashed the ordinance. Ban remains.
2011 – Bulls added in the performing animals list.
7 – May – 2014: Supreme Court banned Jallikattu based on PCA act.
8-Jan-2017 – Marina walkathon supporting Jallikattu.
16-Jan-2017 – Protestors were arrested in Alanganallur
17-Jan-2017 – State wide peaceful protest started without anyone leading it. Marina became the heart of the action.
19-Jan-2017 – CM meets PM. No decisions announced.
20-Jan-2017 – CM announces that ordinance is drafted and sent central government for approval.
22-Jan-2017 – The ordinance was not passed in the state assembly. There was no proper explanation to the public regarding the ordinance and how it is designed to prevent further stays (a press meet would have solved this issue). Govt. tried to conduct Jallikattu but failed.
23-Jan-2017 – Law passed in state assembly. Details were given to the protestors by a retired judge. Success and conclusion of the protest.
2006: The Madras high court (Madurai branch) banned Jallikattu and Rekla race.
Appeal against the judgement is made in the high court bench by pro-jallikattu organizations.
2007: Ban removed – regulations made.
AWBI appealed in Supreme Court against this judgement.
The state government made an ordinance and got it signed by the governor. Jallikattu held.
2009 – Supreme Court squashed the ordinance. Ban remains.
2011 – Bulls added in the performing animals list.
7 – May – 2014: Supreme Court banned Jallikattu based on PCA act.
8-Jan-2017 – Marina walkathon supporting Jallikattu.
16-Jan-2017 – Protestors were arrested in Alanganallur
17-Jan-2017 – State wide peaceful protest started without anyone leading it. Marina became the heart of the action.
19-Jan-2017 – CM meets PM. No decisions announced.
20-Jan-2017 – CM announces that ordinance is drafted and sent central government for approval.
22-Jan-2017 – The ordinance was not passed in the state assembly. There was no proper explanation to the public regarding the ordinance and how it is designed to prevent further stays (a press meet would have solved this issue). Govt. tried to conduct Jallikattu but failed.
23-Jan-2017 – Law passed in state assembly. Details were given to the protestors by a retired judge. Success and conclusion of the protest.
The Spark:
Before the protests, Jallikattu issue was confined to few districts only. Majority of the population have seen Jallikattu only in movies. No major awareness about the sport and its ban in other areas of the state. The issue was sparked by a music video released by Hiphop Thamizha team and subsequent videos about preserving native cattle by Kathikeya Sivasenapathy and others related to this.
The protest:
The protest started with the walkathon in Marina. Not many including the state police and administration expected this magnitude of the protest. The government actually supported this movement. They gave permission to whoever asked for it. The protest spread across the state and it was contagious and pulled lakhs of people to protest areas. It was covered non- stop live by regional news.
Chennai Police termed it as unique protest – there was no hindrance to traffic where more than a lakh people gathered. Volunteers made sure the protest is peaceful and orderly. Those who participated in the protest will cherish their memory forever and have a story to tell their grandchildren – such was the enormousness.
Before the protests, Jallikattu issue was confined to few districts only. Majority of the population have seen Jallikattu only in movies. No major awareness about the sport and its ban in other areas of the state. The issue was sparked by a music video released by Hiphop Thamizha team and subsequent videos about preserving native cattle by Kathikeya Sivasenapathy and others related to this.
The protest:
The protest started with the walkathon in Marina. Not many including the state police and administration expected this magnitude of the protest. The government actually supported this movement. They gave permission to whoever asked for it. The protest spread across the state and it was contagious and pulled lakhs of people to protest areas. It was covered non- stop live by regional news.
Chennai Police termed it as unique protest – there was no hindrance to traffic where more than a lakh people gathered. Volunteers made sure the protest is peaceful and orderly. Those who participated in the protest will cherish their memory forever and have a story to tell their grandchildren – such was the enormousness.
All that
starts well…:
The emotions were running very high in Marina. It can turn ugly if someone can throw an inflammatory speech. In fact one popular figure gave a speech in Marina pointing out further issues for which similar protests should be done. Actually that is wrong. This was started for Jallikattu and the focus should not be disturbed. If the agendas keep growing, it will create difficulties for the authorities to fill them up con currently. So things need to be dealt one by one – this is important because we live in a country where everything is done through a process and it requires some time. In spite of this, the state government heeded to the protesters requests at maximum speed. There is indeed a counter argument that if the government can do this in 5 days, why should they wait for all these years – but that is a discussion for another day.
So when things are done, it is up to the government to explain what is done to the people. All are not lawyers and understanding so many legal terms is difficult to common man. This is where the things went wrong. The government was expecting the protesters to celebrate their victory and end the show. However, the protesters just did not understand what was happening and continued to stay there.
The emotions were running very high in Marina. It can turn ugly if someone can throw an inflammatory speech. In fact one popular figure gave a speech in Marina pointing out further issues for which similar protests should be done. Actually that is wrong. This was started for Jallikattu and the focus should not be disturbed. If the agendas keep growing, it will create difficulties for the authorities to fill them up con currently. So things need to be dealt one by one – this is important because we live in a country where everything is done through a process and it requires some time. In spite of this, the state government heeded to the protesters requests at maximum speed. There is indeed a counter argument that if the government can do this in 5 days, why should they wait for all these years – but that is a discussion for another day.
So when things are done, it is up to the government to explain what is done to the people. All are not lawyers and understanding so many legal terms is difficult to common man. This is where the things went wrong. The government was expecting the protesters to celebrate their victory and end the show. However, the protesters just did not understand what was happening and continued to stay there.
End with
Pride:
One serious point to note is that when the police gave away the photocopies of the ordinance as proof, protesters did not accept it. It is impossible for the government to go back from that point; hence it would have been a different scene if people would have accepted it and went away in celebration mood.
There was violence unleashed on the last day of the protest. There were video evidences available against police as well as the “other side” (claimed to be anti-nationals elements by police). It is difficult to forget what had happened, but instead of living the gory day’s memory – it is important to focus on the rehabilitation of those who were affected.
One serious point to note is that when the police gave away the photocopies of the ordinance as proof, protesters did not accept it. It is impossible for the government to go back from that point; hence it would have been a different scene if people would have accepted it and went away in celebration mood.
There was violence unleashed on the last day of the protest. There were video evidences available against police as well as the “other side” (claimed to be anti-nationals elements by police). It is difficult to forget what had happened, but instead of living the gory day’s memory – it is important to focus on the rehabilitation of those who were affected.
When all is said and done, it is definitely the
greatest peaceful people’s movement in Modern India. This will go down in
History as an example of people’s power. TN people lived the Lincoln’s
statement “Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall
not perish from the Earth”
2 comments:
What are we trying to achieve by this protest? It is definitely not going to save any of the native breeds. Are the distressed farmers going to get anything out of Jalikattu? Somehow the initiators of this protest were able to convince so many people which would be a good case to study in detail.
I agree. I asked a question "Why kill bulls if they ban Jallikattu?" to many people including you. One of my friend who had cattle said that there is no logical reason for this. They breed bulls only for mating and jallikattu. So it's the sentiment for those herders. I don't know but that is the reason :)
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