7 takeaways from Tamil Nadu's Jallikattu protests

The nine-day long youth upsurge against the ban on Jallikattu - a traditional form of bull running during the Pongal celebrations - is expected to peter out after the ruling AIADMK's stop-gap chief minister, O Panneerselvam, managed to defuse the situation, at least partially, with the cooperation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to promulgate an ordinance to lift the ban.

The government may be able to handle it even if it is continued as sections of the agitators would seek a permanent solution through an enactment in law.

The whole episode has seven takeaways for the governments at the Centre and states, civil society organisations and youth leaders all over the country:

1. It is much more than a lot of bull: Though the Jallikattu ban remained the core issue of the agitation, it became a vehicle for the assertion of the Tamil identity, which attracted mass participation.

Tamil identity, perhaps an amorphous phrase, describes the feeling that comes through one's upbringing with distinct language and traditions in a Tamil socio-cultural environment. It transcends religious, caste and community affiliations.

2. Non-violent mass movements possible: It is possible to conduct a non-violent mass movement without political leadership and patronage provided the cause relates to the identity and pride of the people. It requires a cause that appeals to all people to gather mass support.

The support of political leaders, popular film stars and media will automatically reach the mass movement if its voice is strident.

3. Credibility: Mass movements will gain credibility only if the demand appeals to popular beliefs and can be related to other socio-cultural grievances of the people.

4. Peaceful conduct: It will gain massive participation and clout only if lumpen elements, often goaded by political netas, are kept out to prevent them taking over the agitation. Peaceful conduct will neutralise the government's option to treat it as a law and order problem and crush it by using force.

5. Limitations of judiciary and governments: If the public feel any action of the government, civil society or judiciary is a threat to their way of life as they understand it, they will fight relentlessly. Thus, there are limits to government actions to check or eradicate traditional cultural practices as the people perceive them.

6. Keeping calm: While handling a mass movement, the government should not lose its cool but find a democratic way of resolving the core grievance.

Even a half-way solution that would prevent an explosive turn of events is better than no solution. The Tamil Nadu government as much as the organisers of the agitation should be congratulated for avoiding any major law and order confrontation resulting in the loss of life and property. It shows a rare maturity on the part of the people at all levels in the state.

7. Social media: The agitation turned into a mass movement as word spread through social media - Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, YouTube, et al. This only confirms the enormous power of social media even among the rural masses.

It shows how social media can be used as a vehicle to trigger social consciousness among the people; of course, Tamil Nadu has the advantage of having nearly half the people living in towns and cities - who are already using social media actively; a similar trend is visible in rural areas too.

It is to the credit of the chief minister O Panneerselvam that he managed to keep his cool all along. This is, perhaps, an achievement considering his built-in leadership limitations and internal party squabbles with "Chinnamma" Sasikala (styled by her loyalists as heir-apparent to the late "Amma" J Jayalalithaa) threatening to pull the rug from under the feet.

However, in a state that worships charismatic political leaders, it is doubtful whether he would be able to turn it to his advantage in the power struggle within the party.

It is possible Panneerselvam managed to get through the critical days with some smart thinking from the top bureaucracy of the state and hand-holding from a sympathetic Centre.

Perhaps, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also chipped in. He probably prefers the dour Panneerselvam, who has years of experience as a minister, to Sasikala, whose only credentials come from reflected glory as a companion to the late charismatic leader Jayalalithaa, who dominated the state's political scene as a colossus.

But Sasikala's powerful siblings, having created a strong support network within the party, appear to be determined to have a piece of the cake. It matters little now that they were shooed away from the scene during Jayalalithaa's last few years.

So far, the Tamil Nadu political scene is still hazy, as the AIADMK is yet to fully recover from the death of their beloved leader Amma.