No matter the legal hurdles thrown in its way in recent years, Jallikattu, deeply ingrained in Tamil culture, has also been associated with 'Tamil pride'. This indeed became the rallying cry for the current state-wide uprising, seeking lifting of the ban and restoration of the game freely, both as traditional sport with the youth and in the interests of safeguarding Dravidian values and culture as well as special breeds of cattle.

A sea of humanity had converged on the vast Marina, Chennai's famed water-front, and remained determined to stay put until Government yielded to the restoration of the game.

Students and youth in general have taken the lead in making it a mass movement on an unprecedented scale, which has been remarkably peaceful.

As the protest crowds were snowballing, normal life in Tamil Nadu started getting paralysed with shut-downs and cancellation of road and rail services. Shaken up by the turn of events, the ruling AIDMK had to make a quick legal response in order not to allow the peaceful uprising to get out of hand.

Chief Minister Mr O Panneerselvam rushed to Delhi and met Prime Minister Modi to urge for a central ordinance, as legal remedy in a way to overcome the existing apex court ban. The Supreme Court was also approached that its order on a petition pending before it on the subject be delayed until the matter was sorted out by the Centre with the State Government.

While the Court has deferred its further ruling for a week, Mr Panneerselvam and Union Ministers discussed the legal options available between Centre and States. It was finally decided that Tamil Nadu would promulgate an Ordinance to amend the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, removing 'bull' from the list of 'performing' animals.

The State ordinance, with concurrence of the Centre, has to be cleared by the President and then promulgated by the Governor of the State. Mr Panneerselvam said with completion of this process within a matter of days, he would himself go to open the game in Madurai district, the stronghold of Jallikattu.

In the past, the late Chief Minister Jayalalithaa had taken the case for allowing Jallikattu without harm to the animal with the Centre and the Supreme Court but legislative changes in the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act had not helped once the Supreme Court struck down T N law and banned Jallikattu altogether in May 2014.

Given the past experience, the student organisers of the mass movement said they would not call off the agitation on the basis of the official announcement and would back down only after the bulls charge out of the traditional gate in Madurai district, the start of the game. This is what the Chief Minister has said he would himself inaugurate and let the 'bulls run in line with the aspirations of students and youth'.

In the coming days, the picture would become clear whether the ordinance holds valid even after the Jallikattu staged this month, free of any reservations by the Supreme Court if any animal activist takes the matter there again.

Prime Minister Modi has said he would be supportive of steps taken by Tamil Nadu Government, ruling out action by the Centre as the matter was sub judice. It was then the Attorney General of India suggested that the State Government has the power to enact a law treating Jallikattu as traditional sport, as it falls within its jurisdiction, provided there is no cruelty to the animal in the sport.

The Jallikattu agitation, by its mammoth proportions, has attracted widespread support not only within the state but also among Tamils living abroad. But the uprising has also pointers for the future. There is now greater awareness for protecting Tamil identity and cultural interests and pressures could build in future on any moves to promote Hindi as unilingual language in educational and administrative fields.'We shall be on guard and fight for Tamil interests' was one of the messages coming out of this major spectacle.

Also, the student leaders have kept themselves away from associating any political leaders with the movement while spokesmen of all parties in the State have extended full support to it. The movement has also fascinated celebrities from various fields like film personalities, artists and IT professionals and workers, all of whom associated with the protestors.

At the political level, the major opposition, DMK, has tried to project itself as championing the cause of Jallikattu while rebuking the Centre and AIDMK Government for not having moved in time on this issue. Mr M K Stalin, Working President, led a day's fast and also organised a 'rail roko' during the week of mass protests across the state,

Tamil Nadu has gone through a succession of natural disasters - flooding and drought, and is now facing a serious water shortage. The floods which deluged large parts of Chennai in December 2015 was followed by cyclone Vardah in early November 2016 but the North East monsoon proved a total failure.

The Cauvery delta region was already hit by lack of irrigation water flows in the river seriously affecting the major paddy crop. Many farmers had reportedly committed suicide due to crop failures. The AIDMK Government helplessly awaits Centre's assistance it has sought at over Rs. 30,000 crores for drought relief. (IPA Service)