This time last year, the political clamour for conducting jallikattu , the traditional bull-taming sport, was feeble. Fans and organisers of the sport at various places including the world famous Alanganallur and Palamedu in Madurai, felt let down by political parties.
However, this year, with the Assembly polls just months away, parties are seeing the revival of jallikattu as an opportunity to tap into a vote bank as the sport is imbibed in the culture of the farming community, especially the intermediate castes in southern districts.
While the DMK first announced a fasting at Alanganallur (since deferred) to seek the lifting of ban on jallikattu , Chief Minister Jayalalithaa sent her party MPs to meet Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar on the issue and later sought the Prime Minister’s intervention. The PMK had earlier called for amending the law during the winter session of Parliament to legalise jallikattu, which was banned by the Supreme Court in May 2014 citing a Central Government notification listing the bull as an animal that should not be exhibited or trained as a performing animal. State BJP leaders too are now vocally calling for such an action.
“Last year O. Panneerselvam was the Chief Minister. And the government failed to mount the required pressure on the Centre,” says an organiser of jallikattu in Madurai.
The popular notion is that the sport enjoys a huge support among the Thevars, a community with over 20 per cent of vote share in many constituencies in southern districts. For hundreds of bull rearers, the event is their last hope to protect the native breeds, and for thousands of youths who enthusiastically participate, the sport is an opportunity to test and exhibit their valour.
For the rural masses, including women, jallikattu is a good omen for the future. “Since it was not conducted last year, Madurai has not received enough rainfall even when many of other districts experienced floods,” believes P. Karthigairajan of Palamedu.
“ Eru thazhuvuthal and manju viratuthal are age old practices. The domestic animals are let out on an open ground while celebrating the festival of harvest. Only during the late Nayak period, it was transformed into a gallery sport – the present day jallikattu. It became organised during the zamindari system,” says K.T. Gandhirajan, an art historian.
The patrons have also been changing. From chieftains to polygars to zamindars , jallikattu is now in the hands of the ruling party.
Meanwhile, bull owners are confident of jallikattu returning this year. P. Rajasekar of 'Jallikattu Peravai' has been camping in New Delhi meeting Union Ministers, MPs and officials since the winter session of Parliament began.
“ Jallikattu is the only reason for farmers to rear bulls. All other uses of bulls, including in farming have almost ended. We need it for the survival of native breeds like pulikulam, kangeyam, nattu or malai which otherwise may go extinct,” he says.
