For the second consecutive year, the Palamedu Jallikattu event, held in Palamedu village on 15 January 2025, faced severe caste-related issues. Bulls raised by Dalit communities, as well as tamers from these communities, were barred from participating in the prestigious event. Palamedu, which has a century-long tradition of hosting Jallikattu, ranks second only to Allanganallur in its prominence. This exclusion occurred despite a directive from the Madras High Court and the order of the Madurai district collector, underscoring ongoing caste-based discrimination at the event.

Against the backdrop of the Paraiyar community’s temple, bulls owned by members of the community were not permitted to participate in the Jallikattu event. In protest, the “Paraiyar Uravin Murai Sangam” in Palamedu village raised black flags at their homes in their respective colonies, denouncing the discriminatory practices. What was even more shocking was that when bull tamers, especially youths, from the community attempted to participate despite the unlawful ban, they were forcibly removed from the Jallikattu arena by law enforcement. This was a deeply upsetting part of the event.

One of the bull tamers, speaking to the press, stated, “When we went to ask, 10 police officers beat me up. I am an acclaimed tamer for two years, and I’ve won in three other areas over the past three years. I didn’t receive any token initially, and later, I received one around 2 a.m. through recommendations. First of all, they are discriminating based on caste. Some people are coming and participating without any issue. Caste has influenced this once again.”

When the press inquired about the token, he explained, “I received the token late at night. When we asked why, they said, ‘Why should we assign one to you? We’ve assigned them to the important players.'” Others standing nearby angrily pointed out that he had won at events like Allanganallur.

The tamer continued to share his distress, explaining, “We arrived in the morning at 5 a.m., and waited in the queue then, they allowed us in, we thought we would go in around 2 or 4 o’clock. Then, another team from Karuppayurani led by Karthick, who is a skilled player no doubt, was allowed in without issue. They let the entire team participate. This is clear discrimination based on caste. At least they could have allowed me to enter, but no police would let me in. They beat me when I asked about it. My legs are swollen, I can’t even stand. Even if the bull had hit me and I had been injured, it would have been a matter of pride for me. But not being allowed to participate in the event is a shame. I can’t face my villagers—I came here for them, but this is how they’re treating me.” He broke down in tears.

ஜல்லிக்கட்டில் ஜாதி பாக்குறாங்க… அசிங்கமா இருக்கு சார்… 10 போலீசாரின் அடி.. வலியால் துடித்து அழுத வீரர்!#Palamedu #PalameduJallikatu #PalameduJallikatu2025 #PalameduJallikatuLive #Madurai #Jallikatu #Jallikattu2025 #JallikatuLive #NewsTamil #TamilNews #NewsTamil24x7 pic.twitter.com/ZGZfmrShZI

— News Tamil 24×7 (@NewsTamilTV24x7) January 15, 2025

In another viral video, an elder and DMK cadre from the same Palamedu village expressed his anger at the ruling DMK government for caste discrimination, particularly against the Dalit community, despite their support for the party. In the video, the elderly man is heard saying, “You are discriminating against us, asking ‘who are you?’ Now, as a minister, you are doing this, but when you were an MLA, you won with just 1,900 votes. We are the ones who worked day and night for that victory. Even today, I am wearing a DMK-marked vesthi and dhoti—ask my name, and you’ll know me as ‘Kothanar Bose.’ But today, ‘Paraiyars’ have no respect. Then from tomorrow, I won’t allow you to enter our street.”

சோலி முடிஞ் pic.twitter.com/sm9JRrWXOq

— Stand With Savukku (@Karthickrames1) January 15, 2025

In 2024, similar caste-based discrimination occurred at the Palamedu Jallikattu bull-taming event, despite High Court orders aimed at addressing such issues. During an interview with a private media channel, a resident from Palamedu spoke out strongly about the deep-rooted caste discrimination present at the event, particularly against the Dalit community.

A resident from Palamedu expressed strong dissatisfaction with the caste-based discrimination at the Palamedu Jallikattu event, despite legal directives to address it. He criticized the government’s handling of the event, highlighting that while the district collector holds the authority to form an organizing committee, the Madathu Committee (a local, caste-specific group) has been given control, releasing only seven temple bulls for the event. He argued that all 22 castes should be allowed to unleash their bulls to ensure fairness and respect for all communities. He also pointed out that the Paraiyar community has been excluded from decision-making within the organizing committee and that their bulls were often sidelined. Despite seeking support from DMK Minister P. Moorthy, who had received votes from the Paraiyar community, no changes were made, and the community’s concerns were ignored. The resident also shared his frustration over the failure to implement legal orders and the lack of respect for their bulls. He demanded that the government recognize the rights of all castes to participate equally in the event, urging the Chief Minister and Minister Moorthy to ensure fair treatment for all communities next year.

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The post Caste Discrimination Mars Palamedu Jallikattu Again: Bulls Raised By Dalit Tamers Barred Despite Court Orders appeared first on The Commune.

Jallikattu is a traditional spectacle where a bull is set free among a gathering of individuals, and numerous participants strive to seize the hump on the bull’s back with both arms, endeavoring to cling to it while the bull tries to break free. Participants aim to grasp the hump for an extended period, endeavoring to halt the bull. This traditional activity serves as a display of pride and valor for both the bulls and their tamers.

However, this year the Jallikattu event held in Palamedu village on 16 January 2024, has become controversial due to caste-related issues. Despite a Madras High Court directive and the order of the Madurai district collector, a bull raised by a Dalit hamlet was not permitted to participate in the renowned Palamedu Jallikattu. Palamedu has a century-long history of conducting Jallikattu, second only to Allanganallur.

Madras High Court’s Madurai Bench recently addressed a public interest litigation petition filed by C. Selvakumar from Madurai. The petitioner sought a directive for the authorities to regulate jallikattu events by establishing conditions and ensuring that the caste names of bull owners were not mentioned during the events, in accordance with a 2019 High Court order. The court has instructed the state to guarantee that the caste names of bull owners are not referenced during jallikattu events and has dismissed the petition.

The Palamedu Madathu Committee, representing all communities in the village, traditionally conducts the sport. Before the event begins, temple bulls from around Palamedu are released from the “Vadivasal,” the place where bulls are released into the arena. These temple bulls are not tamed or touched by participants, and it is believed that releasing them brings rain to the village. Each community raises a bull on behalf of their deity.

Unfortunately, the bull raised by the Paraiyar community has been consistently barred from participating in the customary releasing event of Jallikattu for several years. Upon the ban of their temple bull, the villagers approached the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court seeking directions to allow the bull to participate. 

A division bench instructed the district collector to consider the petitioner’s plea and issue orders in accordance with the law. Subsequently, the Madurai District Collector convened a peace meeting between the village committee and the SC representatives, directing the Jallikattu organizing committee to allow the temple bull and issuing orders in line with his decision.

In a recent interview to IBC Tamil YouTube channel a resident from Palamedu spoke about the caste issue strongly vested in Jallikattu despite High Court orders.

He said “Palamedu Parayar Uravin Murai Sangam that is Ambedkar Uravin Murai Organization… particularly parayar community people..Today, after 2017, government is conducting the Palamedu Jalikattu event. If we see who has the right to conduct Jalikattu is the collector who is the head and has the power to form an organizing committee. He has the power and responsibility to form but instead, they are recognizing the Madathu Committee (Local Committee) as Organising Committee.. They are only releasing 7 temple bulls, there are 22 castes here. If we consider equal rights, it will be there when 22 bulls are unleashed. Then only it becomes Mariyadhai Maadu (Respected Bulls – They are temple bulls unleashed under the name of temple which is not for sport)”

He further said “Even in the organizing committee they are not allowing every caste to participate. Just calling on stage to adorn shawl. They are not seeing that every caste is represented in the organizing committee instead they covert the private Madathu Committee into the organization. This is completely wrong. Instead of accepting completely, the collector should recognize everyone into the committee. Only 7 bulls are released as Mariyadhai Madu. To participate we are fighting for 20 years and are still fighting for it.”

Going on narrating the manipulation he said “What they’ve done this year was.. Last year, based on the direction of the High Court collector issued an order. When one person went there it became a tussle with the police, so they said openly ‘We will call you only on stage, but will not let release your bulls’”

He said that they threatened them “7 caste of madathu committee said ‘you Paraiyars bull will not be unleashed even if CM comes here’. We have video footage for that. Such atrocities happen particularly against Paraiyar in government-organized Palamedu Jallikattu, they are neglecting us” he added

Despite approaching DMK Minister P. Moorthy, who hails from Madurai they found that he, too, showed no interest in resolving the issue and neglected their concerns “Last year we saw Minister Moorthy 100 times regarding this. He said now and then but Minister Moorthy has not done anything regarding this. No one has accepted us in the organizing committee. If Minister Moorthy decides he can do, but refuses to do so. Particularly in the west constituency, there are 50000 Paraiyars he won by getting the vote from us even for that he did not show any courtesy I’m stating this openly.” he said

He also stated this practice was against influential people too “In 2006 they said not to bring Thirumavalavan to the village but the Paraiyar community brought him. Because of disrespecting the decision by bringing him, they did not give respect to the bulls”

“Last year we fought through the law and got directions for respecting the bulls but here ministers are not willing to implement, Collector is also not willing to implement, DRO, RDO, and Police, are not ready to implement government or laws directive.

He asserted the power of local influence as “Here Madathu Committee is the government, there is no government here”.

While the reporter was asking about the bull he replied “This bull belongs to Parayar Uravin Murai named Paarai Karupu Samy Madu, the community here collectively invests to make somehow 8th respected bull… fight is not for 1 or 2 years it’s for 20 years. We will not leave this protest we will protest for years as it takes. Next year they can’t divert us, next year by law we will win, at least next year the minister and police should implement the direction, last year they did not implement, If next year too they do not implement, our protest will be vigorous.” 

“We got orders to participate here it is … DRO and RDO said.. Including collector by word directive ‘after unleashing 7 Karai Bulls, your bull will be the 1st bull to be unleashed in the event’ and all. To divert us and not to protest, the police came at 3 AM here and said let’s bring the bull. We brought the bull around 4:30 AM to 5:30 AM. Should he not take the bull to the front side? Instead, he took it to the backside of Vaadi. Further said all bulls have come whatever you do only you shall unleash as 50th bull. Is this protest for releasing the bull as 50th? We protested as this village’s indigenous people to unleash as 8th one. We did not ask for 1st respect, 2nd respect, 5th or 7th respect.. I’m asking after all bulls are unleashed, this village’s respected bull be released. What is there in that?” He asked devastatingly 

As a resident, he raised queries and sought clarification “The government is spending money; it has spent 38 lakhs on palamedu. On whose tax money? I’m paying for corporation right? There are 100-150 families paying corporation tax, water tax, and whatever the taxes are there, we pay to the government. Why in a government-organized event you are not giving the right to all 22 castes to unleash their bulls?”

He finally requested interference from the government “Is it not sanathanam?.. Palamedu is the biggest sanathanam village… Atleast next year, the chief minister and Minister Moorthy should give rights to all 22 castes to release their bulls and I place this demand on behalf of Paraiyar Uravin Murai and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi” 

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The post Dravidian Model Jallikattu: Paraiyars Allege Discrimination In Govt-Organized Jallikattu In Palamedu, Accuse DMK Min Moorthy Of Not Resolving The Issue appeared first on The Commune.