JALLIKATTU-TN
TO SHUT DOWN
Chennai getting ready
for dawn-to-dusk bandh on20th January,2017, Friday; holiday declared by schools
in Chennai, south Tamil Nadu; agitators vent their ire on Modi, Panneerselvam;
politicians kept out of uprising driven by social media.A sea of protesters massed on Chennai’s Marina
on Thursday for a third day, demanding that the Centre and the Tamil Nadu
government take legal steps to hold jallikattu.The State prepared itself for a
shutdown on Friday as trade unions, traders, hoteliers and others in the
service sector announced a dawn-to-dusk bandh in support.Film industry icon
A.R. Rahman said he would go on fast in solidarity with the ‘spirit of Tamil
Nadu’ and chess wizard Viswanathan Anand voiced his support for the bull-taming
sport.Some District Collectors announced a holiday for schools in south Tamil
Nadu, and in Chennai, individual schools said they would remain closed.Colleges
are already shut in the capital.Frustration among the demonstrating youth
boiled over as there was no solution from the meeting between Prime Minister
Narendra Modi and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam on Thursday.
In the city of scorching summers, it appeared
a bit early for spring, but thousands of people, predominantly students pressed
on with their strong uprising against the Centre to redeem ‘Tamil identity and
culture.’ The State government is under fire for failing to uphold Tamil
rights. What started as a social media protest for jallikattu turned into a
massive movement — peaceful, self-regulated and leaderless.On Thursday,
families, women and children joined the students on the Marina in a rare show
of solidarity reminiscent of the anti-Hindi agitation in the 1960s, also
fuelled by students.Protest meetings were held at every entry point into the
Marina.
The protesters occupied every inch of the
beach, listening to assorted speakers on Tamil race, identity, culture and
jallikattu.The crowds got bigger, but were in control. Volunteers distributed
food and water. The protesters vented their ire on Mr. Modi and Mr.
Panneerselvam for their failure.Anti-establishment slogans were loud and
clear. The protesters kept politicians at a distance, fearing they would gain
mileage out of the spontaneous protests that were driven by media, social media
in particular
Prof. John Kurakar
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