This refers to the editorial, “Keeping Jallikattu alive” (January 24). It is unfortunate that mass protests had to end the way they did. For once, Tamilians have shown that they are not incapable of a mass movement to exert enough pressure on the Government to undo an injustice. It is proverbial that the people of the State look after bulls and cows well and mean no harm to them. They do not see Jallikattu as a cruel or gory sport. They earnestly believe that the sport helps in procreation and preservation of indigenous bovine breeds. Science is yet to take root in rural Tamil Nadu, so much so that the families superstitiously believe that the conduct of Jallikattu brings rains.
Now that a law has been amended to allow Jallikattu, it is time for us, the Tamils, to ponder whether the return of Jallikattu in itself is sufficient to redeem our identity and culture and restore our Tamil pride. After all, Jallikattu is not a very glorious sport to be the be-all and the end-all of Tamil culture. There are more significant things for us to accomplish to be a proud people.