“I am here to save the culture. I am a fellow professor in Cologne university, but this narration is all my sole responsibility.
I have learned Tamil in Tanjavur and Madurai university and have done research works there. I came to Tamil Nadu in the year 1988 and resided in Madurai for two years. I have done research work in sangam literature (ancient) and gramiya kalaigal (village fine arts), for that I have visited many villages and researched about Jallikattu.

Jallikattu bulls live like a king. The people grow them like a child. They are very well trained for the sport. As a result, once they enter from the vaadivasal (the entrance where the bulls enter the ground) they are not stressed. The actual problem is the people who handle the bulls. Before 20 to 30 years there were sports persons who were well trained and they know how to handle a bull entering from the vaadivasal.

Interview on January 21, 2017 (HERE is the video in the original language Tamil)

But now the scenario has changed. This issue has to be rectified so that nobody can question about Jallikattu. Those who are against Jallikattu don’t know anything about this. They might not have visited the villages near Madurai and might not know how they grow them.

Kalithogai is  an ancient tamil literature written 2000 years back, in it, Jallikattu is quoted as yeru thalvudhal in five songs. In ancient times it was in the hands of people who grow the bulls, but now it’s in the hands of mukkulathor devar (historical ruling castes in Tamil Nadu).

But now in the protest, no caste is seen. Tamil youngsters are standing united apart from their religion and caste. Apart all customs and religions, they all united under one roof as a native Tamilan. I felt happy for that.“