Youth spring of protest, a watershed moment in TN’s history

When the youth, especially from Chennai, who hesitated to take part fully in the biggest democratic process called election and showed indifference to anything that is political, no one anticipated saw such a movement from the same youth. 

The government and the law enforcement agencies were taken aback when the crowd started swelling at the Marina in the last two days. Jallikattu has become a trigger that pulled out the angry, aggravated youth from their apolitical slumber and made them hit the streets to vent their anger against a corrupt, inefficient political administration system in the country. 

“I have not seen jallikattu, but we can relate to the angst of the villagers, when one of their centuries- old practice is being banned. Our protest is a resistance against the autocratic decisions that threaten the federal rights of the state and the freedom of people to choose what they want,” says Arulmozhi, echoing the sentiments of a large section of the protesters. 

The youth have grabbed the opportunity and are now displaying their collective bargaining power that has forced Chief Minister O Paneerselvam to rush to Delhi, seeking a solution. “Everyone dismisses the present generation of youth thinking they isolate themselves from social issues. It is true that a strong sense of political liberation is lacking among us, but these kind of protests can bring in a sense of unity and help us bargain better for our rights,” Manivannan, a law student said. 

The energy on display across the state has galvanised various political party heads as they also realise jallikattu could be a tip of the iceberg and this could be replicated on other social issues. “We have come here not just for jallikattu but also to express our solidarity with the students who are on a protest. We feel this energy needs to be preserved and should be used against our corrupt political and administrative systems,” says Bharath, a first year medical student from Tagore Medical College. He  says the younger generation is now perceiving social issues and that many are frustrated with the corrupt politics in the country. The writing on the wall is very clear, if such an uprising can happen for a sport that is hardly conducted in four districts in the state, it could happen for any other social issue in Tamil Nadu, felt many.