Au Revoir Jaylalitha
7.12.16
On 5.12.16 there was only one news on the TV. Ms Jaylalitha
was critical and that she had a cardiac arrest. Just one day earlier it was
announced that she was on her way to recovery and now suddenly this. It seemed
that death was determined to take her in its grip. As night descended the TV
channels announced that a team of specialist from the AIIMS was also flown from
the capital to attend her. Conflicting reports were coming about her condition.
Some of the local channels in Chennai even announced her death which was strongly
denied by the Appolo authorities. Then at 10 PM I listened to a news item that
her condition has slightly improved. It was then that I became sure that death
has finally conquered. I have read in many books that just before death the
condition of a critically ill person improves. It improves slightly before
death to finally extinguish the life within. It is something like a oil lamp
which flares up before finally extinguishing. I went off to sleep and when I
woke up on 6.12.16 there was the news that Jaylalitha is no more. A brave lady
who fought so bravely all odds against her surrendered to death.
Years back I had seen her interview with Simi Grewal. My
respect for her started from there. Her english was flawless and her precise
way of expression was cutting. She measured every word before it left her lips.
She was a very reserved person and people seldom dared to question her. However
this particular interview was extraordinary in which for the first time
Jaylalitha candidly gave a glimpse of what lies in her mind and heart. She was
very small when her father passed away. Her mother was only 20 yrs old. She was
very attached to her mother but due to financial circumstanceous her mother had
to join the film industry to make a living. She left her alone and went to
Chennai.
She used to come very seldom to see her, while little
Jaylalitha cried and pined for her. One can imagine the plight of this little
girl with no father and the mother having no time to see her. This must have
left upon her deep emotional scars. She describes how she used to cry alone.
She became vulnerable and extremely unsecure. Her mother also passed away then
at the age of 47 leaving her alone. She was completely unaware of the worldly
life. She did not even know how to sign a cheque how to run the home. She did
not even know what to purchase and where to purchase from. At that point of time
the legendry actor MG Ramchandra took her into his fold and guided her life.
She acted with him in 28 films and became the number one actress of the South.
She doesn't talk too much about her relationship with MG but it is generally
believed that they were very close. She never married. I think that she looked
upon him as a fatherly figure since her own father died when she was hardly 5
yrs old. Surely the absence of parents and a secure loving home during
childhood leaves a painful wound for a lifetime. Perhaps this was the cause of
her aloofness and egotism which people describe. When life deals you rotten
cards you don't care for niceties.
Later on MG also passed away leaving her completely alone in
the world. She did not leave his dead body for 2 days. She was abused by MG
family but she fought back and vowed to take his political party to new
heights. In the coming years her character was besmirched, she was heaped with
insults. She describes how she was unable to deal with her torturers. She did
not know how to retaliate. She did not know how to fight them. She kept quiet
and kept her emotions under tight control. One can imagine this lonely woman
distressed and being pushed into a corner with nobody to help her. Her mother
gone away, her mentor gone away leaving her alone to fend for herself. Then on
25.3.89 in the Tamilnadu assembly DMK members attacked her. Her sari was pulled
and torn and she was hit with heavy objects. She was saved but that was a
turning point. She no longer remained a coy and fragile figure thereafter. She
vowed that she will enter again the state assembly as CM only. For 2 yrs she
worked laboriously and was elected with a massive Majority. She entered the legislature as the supreme
commander. As the CM of Tamilnadu.
Such is the grit and determination of Jaylalitha. She then
became ruthless to her opponents. She had risen from the ashes. She fought the
male domination and made the men crawl before her. She reigned as a queen. Such
is the story of Jaylalitha. Every woman in the world should learn from her
life. Her life story should inspire every woman.
Jaylalitha was always a winner. In her own words whatever
task she decided upon she put her best in it. She always stood first in her
school. She was declared the best student of her school. She never learnt acting but once in it she became the
topmost actress. She never learnt politics but once in it she made it to the
top. She was not a ordinary politician. Her massive work for women and poor
would be remembered for years to come. Today Amma canteens are spread all over
the state where the poor can have meals for as low as 2 Rs. Crimes against
women have vanished from the state. Power has reached the remotest villages.
Many welfare schemes for women launched. Tamilnadu surpasses all parameters of
development and is today number one state. She had all the merits of becoming
the PM of this country but death snatched her away too soon.
No wonder such a massive crown attended her funeral. Such a
crowd has never been seen since the death of Indira Gandhi. People were weeping
as if their own mother has passed away.
I salute Jaylalitha who would always be remembered alongside
the great leaders who shaped India's destiny.
Au Revoir Amma
ASHOK KUMAR
