9 December 2016

TRIBUE TO JAYLALITHA


 

 

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


 

 

 

 

 

 

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