Jallikattu Issue – Is it something more than what meets the eye?
This Jan 2017, Youngsters of Tamilnadu have gone on a mass protest against Jallikattu ban. Seeing the level of protest made me think is there something more than what meets the eye. Believe me, it was an Eye Opener. Here is what I discovered. It’s been there for years and even survived the Colonial period!! Ancient Tamil Sangams described the practice as ‘YERU THAZHUVUTHAL’, literally "bull embracing". The modern term Jallikattu is derived from SALLI (coins) and KATTU (package), which refers to a prize of coins that are tied to the bull's horns and that participants attempt to retrieve. Jallikattu has been known to be practiced during the Tamil classical period (400-100 BC). It was common among the ancient people AAYARS who lived in the ‘MULLAI’ geographical division of the ancient Tamil country. Later, it became a platform for display of bravery and prize money was introduced for participation encouragement. Is Bull Taming (Jallikattu) specific to 2 commu