Amidst this patriarchal society. There was a Lady whom men feared and women admired, conquering the throne twice - consecutively despite the hatred, and her name will go down the history.
J Jayalalitha, she is the one woman I've always admired, despite the allegations against her. I never understood the fondness for MGR or Jayalalitha, people considered them as Gods much more than hero worship. Vaadhiyar, Amma were not just titles. I realized when I started visiting few places in Tamilnadu and when I finally moved to Chennai.
Firstly, a village in Trichy, women there consider Amma as their own mothers. My neighbor who hails from there, asked me, show me one woman who can break through all these stereotypes and emerge victorious in this patriarchal society, ministers mostly men bowed down to her, they feared her. The position she attained is not an easy journey.
It didn't bother me, her being hospitalized, but after seeing her in that iced box and the fact that she's no more, I'm a bit moved. TN will miss her. I was born on the same day MGR was born. During my school days in Bangalore, every b'day, the first thing I hear is MGR songs, his photos with garlands. I was perplexed, after all these years? And that too in a different state? Why do you people love him so much.
And another incident was the prev TN election, I was in my 10th grade. I was traveling from some place to my home in bus, the evening newspaper was being distributed, and an old guy was running through that traffic of Bangalore holding the newspaper shouting "Amma da, puratchi thalaivi" the TN election results were out.
Even today you can see the aged street hawkers and vendors having portraits of MGR right next to the photos of their deities. Whether it's right or wrong is debatable and I don't support their party either. And now it gradually starts to make sense. Why after ages people still vote for that party, why so much love for their leaders. But I know one thing for sure, History will never repeat again.
Tamilnadu will miss you Madam Chief Minister.
-Lohithaksha S
