The protest by youth in Tamil Nadu needs to be seen beyond the issue. Often an incident or an issue can be simply a trigger to mobilize the multiple forms discontent brewing under the radar. And here too it is interesting that they get mobilized on identity issue, rather than around an ideological choice. Jellikettu is framed as an issue of Tamil cultural identity/pride and this is relatively easy to communicate to the young. However, there are other underlying narratives that drive the expressions of discontent.
A friend asked : Why there was no huge mass protest against demonetization and why there is huge mobilization in Tamil Nadu against the ban of Jellikettu? My response :
There are many reasons for it :1) Demonetization happened all of a sudden, with a subversive discourse framing it against the enemies of the nation : terrorists and black money and against corruption ; presented by PM with all drama and propaganda blitz , indicating that those who are against demonetization in effect are for black money, corruption and for terrorism 2)Political opposition was in the beginning totally confused and then dispersed and fragmented in their approach 3) The main opposition party congress appeared confused ,devoid of any imagination or the sheer will power to mobilize people across the country 3) People get mobilized on emotive issues 4) Identity and cultural identity can be an emotive issue 5) Jellikettu campaign was active in TN for the last few years as an emotive issue 6) This time there is a trigger of arresting people, lathi charge etc in connection with Jellikettu and campaigners used it to trigger protest 7) In Tamil Nadu, broad politics is driven by Dravidian/Tamil pride/identity issue and the campaigners smartly turned jellikettu campaign as an issue of Tamil pride vs north Indian imposition. It is also important to note that it is the end of Jayalalitha legacy where she tried to link tamil to the broader hegemonic discourse in Delhi.
A friend asked : Why there was no huge mass protest against demonetization and why there is huge mobilization in Tamil Nadu against the ban of Jellikettu? My response :
There are many reasons for it :1) Demonetization happened all of a sudden, with a subversive discourse framing it against the enemies of the nation : terrorists and black money and against corruption ; presented by PM with all drama and propaganda blitz , indicating that those who are against demonetization in effect are for black money, corruption and for terrorism 2)Political opposition was in the beginning totally confused and then dispersed and fragmented in their approach 3) The main opposition party congress appeared confused ,devoid of any imagination or the sheer will power to mobilize people across the country 3) People get mobilized on emotive issues 4) Identity and cultural identity can be an emotive issue 5) Jellikettu campaign was active in TN for the last few years as an emotive issue 6) This time there is a trigger of arresting people, lathi charge etc in connection with Jellikettu and campaigners used it to trigger protest 7) In Tamil Nadu, broad politics is driven by Dravidian/Tamil pride/identity issue and the campaigners smartly turned jellikettu campaign as an issue of Tamil pride vs north Indian imposition. It is also important to note that it is the end of Jayalalitha legacy where she tried to link tamil to the broader hegemonic discourse in Delhi.
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