COVER STORY I I

I B's Legacy r T was as if the heart of had stopped. For two days normal life was 1paralysed. Shops were closed, essential supplies were cut off, vehicular transport ground to a halt and passengers were stranded at railway stations and the air- port. Vice-President S.D. Sharma was stuck at the airport for three hours. As news of Marudur Gopalan Rama- chandran's death spread, Madras suc- cumbed to grief and anar~h~-~erha~sa glimpse, a brief foretaste of what lies ahead. Vandals began pelting stones, burning buses. uprooting road dividers, looting shops and setting ablaze and chipping and chi: ig off the statue of

24 TODAY 1,\NLJAUY li.19UU M. Karunanidhi, Dravida Munnetra Kaz- hagam (DMK) leader and Mas arch political foe. Hurling stones and shatter- ing the window panes of Pals Restaurant on Mount Road, Rd, 21, assisted by a gang of at least 100 All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) members said: "Why should Madras sur- vive when MGR has gone?" Mourned R. Chandrasekhar. 23: "The world wiU never see another leader like MGR." Un-

(From left) Funeral cortege; Union ministers Buta Sih,Narasimha Rao and Fotedar pay respect; and grief-stricken mourners

1 JANUARY 15.1988 .INDIA TODAY 25 COVER STORY

mindful of the advancing wailed a young woman police patrol, G. Raja said: babe in arms, running be "With MGR dead, what is hind the funeral procession the use of us living?" unmindful of the jostline The cries of the an- crowd, immune to the guished multitude had rea- blows that were rained on ched an eerie crescendo by her and her infant by tht the time the body of the hysterical throngs whc matinee idol-turned-chief were screaming, pulling minister of Tamil Nadu, their hair, beating theu was taken on its last iour- breasts and faces in desper- ney through the frenzied ate sorrow. streets of Madras where 4 After a three-hour pro million people had de- cession from Rajaji Hall scended. For three years the where he lay in state for29 people of Tamil Nadu had hours, MGR was finally been expecting his death. brought to the Marina And yet, the sight of the Beach. On Christmas day, venerated leader, lying su- at 4.30p.m. to the ac pineon the flower-bedeck- companiment of Abide with ed gun-carriage, with his me and with full militaq characteristic fur cap and honours, MGR waslowered dark glasses glinting in the into a sandalwood bier and afternoon sun, hit the surg- interred in a6ft by4 ft grave ing, sobbing, milling crowd like a hammer-blow. Flower-strewn road for "Thalaiva, nee sollamai the funeral procession (leh); poittaye" (leader you have and police tear-gas crowd 1 gone without telling us). at Marina Beach by the side of C.N. Annadurai, in part by his numerous welfare former chief minister and founder schemes for the poor and theland- of the DMK-MGR's friend, philos- less, he was able to avoid the opher, guide and political mentor. opprobrium of being branded a A burial identical to that accorded stooge of the Delhi durbar. Union to Annadurai was provided for Minister N.D. Tiwari remarked: MGR-fromthe locationofthesite "MGR was first and foremost a and the design of the coffin, right true patriot." In recognition of his down to the showering of sandal- national stature. the Union Gov- wood billets into the grave. ernment took the unprecedented It was a poignant historic mo- step of declaring the day of his ment when the mourners gazed death a national holiday. one last time at MGR's beloved It is ironic that MGR who had face, before the coffin lid shut him been waging a losing battle with out forever. What had died was his kidney for the last three years not just a chief minister and should die of cardiac arrest. Ac- founder of a powerful regional cording to the doctors who at- party, but a symbol, a phenome- tended to MGR just before he died. non, a legend. President R. Ven- the chiefminister had beengreatly katraman observed: "MGR was exhausted by the last public func- the most charismatic leader in the tion he attended on December 22 country." Added Karnataka Chief where the prime minister unveiled Minister Ramakrishna Hegde: the statue of Nehru. At about 5 "He has left a void not only in p.m. the next day, MGR called Tamil Nadu politics, but at the cardiologist Dr P. Muthuswamy, national level as well." And in- one of the three doctors on duty at terimChiefMinister ofTamilNadu his residence, and complained of V.R. Nedunchezhian aptly re- uneasiness. Muthuswamy imme- marked: "It is the end ofan institu- diately alerted Dr B.R. Subramani- tion, the end of an era." am. MGR's personal phy- MGR: the three letters sician for the last38 years, were like a magic mantra who rushed to the chief for the poor of Tamil minister's side. MGR's Nadu. As one of MGR's blood pressure had fallen. cabinet colleagues said: An ECG monitor revealed "Having faced depriva- an erratic heartbeat. Said tion in his early years, Dr Subramaniam: "Ar- MGR could easily identify ound 7 p.m. I suggested withthe poor."Enthralled MGRshould be hospitalis- by his charisma, enchant- ed to both his wife V.N. ed by his good looks and Janaki and to MGR him- overwhelmed by his mu- self. Both stubbornly re- dcence, the masses had fused. An hour later, come to respect, adore and when the heart was still worship him. MGR's fam- indicating signs of trou- ous free midday meal for ble, I again recommended children came to be look- hospitalisation which ed upon as divine prasa- MGR jovially dismissed. dam. MGR with co-star Lata (top): and My worry was that since he was adiabetic Ultimately, MGR's special link with the midday meal scheme: populist there was always the danger of his having his people had a near psychic dimension a silent heart attack:For, as his peripheral to it. His style of governance was auto- masses, was able to perform a critical nerves would bedead, he wouldn'tfeel the cratic. his demeanour feudal, his attitude balancing act that made him not just a pain of a heart attack. He would only feel vindictive, his administration inefficient. regional politician but a national figure as uneasy." But the people of that region, in their well. He was able to consolidate radical But MGR was stubborn to the very blind, mystic reverence for him, saw none regional aspirations-preserving the end. At 10 p.m after a cup of soup, he went ofthis. Moreover, the adulation cut across character of the state's ethnic and re- to bed. Two hours later the chief minister theusualcaste,economic and party lines. gional identity-while still harmonising got up feeling uneasy. went to the toilet As former vice-chancellor of Madras Uni- with the Centre. He was ableto keepTamil passed 400 CC of urine and had a plate of versity and noted economist Dr Malcolm chauvinism and secessionism-once the rice gruel. Fifty minutes later the ECG S. Adiseshaiah put it: "MGR had a golden pillars of the Dravidian movement-in indicated ventricular tachycardia, which heart." check, enabling the state to return to the meant that the left and right ventricles of Despite his administrative failings, national mainstream. the heart were beating very iast. Ten MGR, because ofthe sway he held over the Because of his popularity, generated minutes later. the heart stopped com-

IANUAKY I.1988 e INUIA TODAY 27 COVER STORY

1 ( JAYALALITHA inside Rajaji Hall for the performance of the last rites by the family. I wasn't allowed there. I didn't mind that. "1 will carry the mesagegg Q. But what happened on the gun- carringe? THE ~~~ourc'sPropngarrdn Secretary, was approaching the main gate, I saw A. I wanted to place a wreath on his rhe glamorous Jagnlalithn Jayarum. 38, the ambulance with MGK's body inside. body when it was placed on the gun- hnd stood rnournfull!y for 21 holrrs in a I ran behind the ambulance, got into my carriage. The soldiers were kind enough n7hitesnri b!yMGRSs bodyasitlayinstntent car, and toldmy drivertoracebehind the to assist me to do that. I also wanted to Rnjaji Hall. Suddenly she was assaulted- ambulance and not allow any other join the funeralprocession and board the lzit on the forehend by MGR's wve Jr~nnki vehicle to come in between. At Rajaji gun-carriage which the soldiers were Rnniochandran's nephew, Ueepun, a hud- Hall I stood by my leader's side for 13 helping me to do. ding filrn ortor-when she tried to get on to hours the first day and eight hours the As I was climbing the carriage, I theg~rn-carriagebearing MGR 's body at the second day. heard sl~outsbehind and saw hfLA Dr. start of thp firneral procession. Unable to Q. Wasrl't thnt ph~jsicallg ex- K.P. Ramalingam advancing menac- accompon;y tlli~procession,she rode home in harrsting? ingly towards me. Immediately, a young her Contessa, escortc~dby soldiers. And A. There was no physical strain I man in a blue shirt, who I was subse- cro\vdsoJpart;g workersnndleaders, incluk suppose it was my will power. Rut there quently told was Tamil film actor rng MPs and MLAs. sfartedpouring in. The was mental and physical torture. Seven Deepan, Janaki'syounger brother'sson, crowds oontin~redthe fnllo\17ing day. with or eight ladies, I wouldn't name them. jumpedon to thegun-carriage, hit meon devo,out party leaders s~renringto stand 1?g landed up on the morning of the second the forehead and oushed me out. The her in her claim to be the slrccessor to MGR day, stood by me, and started stamping armed forces personnel tried to help me as partg leader. on my feet, driving their nails into my back on top of the carriage, and again Ja!yulnlitl~n spoke to Senior Editor skin, pinching me, and so on. Except for Deepan pushed me. beat me, and threw PRABHLI CHAWLA and Prinripnl Correspon- my facewhichwasspared becauseitwas meout. I wasinjured and bruised allover dent S.H. VENKATRAMANI and e~pressed visible, they attacked me everywhere strong feelings ir~an horrr-long interview. else. Ja~alalithawith MGK's body: Excerpts: Then, when the body was taken public humiliation

Q. Did gorr fee! hrirniliuted by the wa!y yorr were treated? A. A very small group of people was determined to see that I was nowhere near the body of my beloved leader. I was humiliatedright from the word go. I was woken up from sleepin theearly hoursof December 24 by a friend who gave me the shoclcing news of MGK being no more. I rushed immediately to Thottam (MGK's Ramavaram Gardens resi- dence), only to discover that I was not being allowed to enter the house. I got out of my car, walked and kept banging with my fists on the main outside door of the residence. After a while. that door was opened for me, but from then on- wards it was another series ofHerculean efforts. Q. Cortld you describe whut hap- pened? A. I ran up and down the front and back staircases of the house several times, but all doors were firmly slammed on my face to prevent me from even catching a glimpse of my leader's dead body. Finally. as I stood outside the front door ofmy leader's roomonthethird and top floor of his residence, I was told that his body had been taken away through the back door and driven to Rajaji Hall. I ran down the flights of stairs and, as I pletely. Emergency measures wereunder- my body. nominated a successor. taken to revive the heart but according to I was disgusted with this uncouth Q.Do you think thefrmernlnrrange- Dr Kalyan Singh, cardiac anaesthetist: behaviour and the unparliamentary ments were ndequnte? "There was only an occasional flicker of language used by Deepan and A. Avery small group which master- the heart which somehow continued for Ramalingam. I decided, much against minded the funeral arrangements didn't the next two hours. At 3 a.m. we gave up my conscience,not to attend the funeral allow the public to participate in Dr hopes of reviving him. Had we persisted, and came away. MGR's funeral. 13y doing that, this select we would perhaps have got an MGR Q. M7ho was responsibleforprevent- group has shown disrespect to the mem- whose brain was totally dead, and who ing you from attending the funeral? ory of a great leader. Anna's funeral was would have been only a vegetable. And A. The answer is very obvious, and I witnessed by 20 lakh people. So even that was doubtful." Dr Subrama- don't wantto say it. Obviously, someone shouldn't more people have seen MGR's niam, whose sense of loss was profound, in MGR's household must have given funeral? And what right had this small said: "MGR was a difficult man to instructions to keep me out. And there group to prevent the public, to whom convince." Indeed, right to the very end was a very small group there and at the MGR belonged. from participating in the MGR disregarded the advice of doctors funeralwhichwas consistently trying to funeral? MGR was a man who belonged and well-wishers. keep me out. to the masses. He belonged to the crores Even though AranrMrC partymen had Q. Do you think elections should be and crores of people. He belonged to anticipated MGR's death because of his held immediately to decide on MGR's Tamilians everywhere. What was this consistently failing health. they had been successor? practice ofissuingpasses for the funeral? unable to create a second line of leader- A. I don't think there is any immedi- The very idea was a blasphemy. Didn't ship. Until the very end. MGR had held the ate need for elections. We have won the everybody have aright to take partin the party in a personal vice-like grip. He had elections with a comfortable majority. funeral of the leader? chosen not to groom a successor. And And we have two years still left. Q. Are you nwnre of the acts of because no one was able to assume com- &. Who do gou think sho~tldbe the vandalism thnt occurred dl over? mand and control, the administration successor? A. All the unruliness was because of collapsed as MGR died. A. Isn't a successor decided by the the acts of suppression and repression. Confusion prevailed from the moment people in a democracy? Anna (former People came from all over, and couldn't MGR's body was brought to Rajaji Hall for chief minister C.N. Annadiwai) never even get a glimpse of their beloved public viewing. Kept out in the open, the leader. So, naturally, they were angry. body deteriorated fast. And ministers And where was the funeral procession? barking out conflicting commands to po- There was no procession. It was just a lice and government oKcials were unable few vehicles carrying selected VIPs. The to contain the vandalism that spread "A very small public at large were prevented from through the city. group of people was joining the procession. Total confusion reigned at the start of The very small group which MGR's funeral procession. Ministers and determined to see organisedeverything madesurethat the officials had no idea which vehicle to that I was nowhere rank and file ofthe party were safely out board, and in what order. ArAnMK minis- of Rajaji Hall before I was assaulted. ters who got into an open vehicle were near the body of my Those who engineered the assault took asked to disembark and were finally ac- beloved leader. I care to see that the last person, excepting commodated in open jeeps. The Jayalali- the selected VIPs, was out before I was tha episode (see intrrvirw) which received was humiliated right attacked. prominent coverage on the national tele- from the word go." Q. Whnt actiorr do you propose vision network. clearly demonstrated the taking regarding the assault on gorr? deep-rooted rivalry within the ATADMK,a P A. Well, I came back home and sent clash that threatens to rent the party identical telegrams to the governor, the asunder. "When Anna chief secretary, and to the director- Party strongman and contender for general of police about my being kicked the top post, R.M. Veerappan has the died, MGR was only and manhandled and then bodily support ofthe MGR household as also the the treasurer of the thrown out by Deepan. I also mentioned ability to manipulate the support of a in the telegrams that I had suffered sizeable number of MLAs. Rival Jayalali- DMK, number four injuries because of the actions of my tha has the support of the party rank and in the party. Now political rivals. file. the MGR fans' association and the Q.It appears there is ngroup within youth wing. And there is little doubt that without MGR, as your party that wnnts to sideline yorr. she continues to be the party's number party propaganda How wiIJ you deal with them? one crowd puller. The public assault on A. I will carry the message of Anna her has produced an outpouring of popu- secretary, I am and MGR to the people. When Anna lar sympathy. As Shahul Hameed, stu- number five. " died. MGR was only the treasurer of the dent chairman of the AIAIIMK in Karur DMK, number four in the party. Now remarked: "We want a charismatic lead- without MGR, as party propaganda sec- er. Jayalalitha is the only person with retary, I am number five. charisma." While Veerappan may command the COVER STORY I

MGR anti-scurrility law against the press in 1980, long before former Bihar chief minister Jagannath Mishra did so. The A Charismatic Reign law was infructuous, but he prohibited all government officers from divulging ORMER Tamil Nadu chief minis- institutionalised corruption. any information to the press, except ter. C.N. Annadurai, used to say MGK's switch to politics was grad- routine statistics. that M.G. Ramachandran had a ual. He joined the~min1953 and party Police rule in the state was exempli- lucky face. All he had to do was to show founder C.N. Annaduraicashed inon his fied by the Goondas Act-the only one it in public, and the votes would come popularity. He became an MLA in 1967 of its kindin the country-under which pouring in. and continued in the party until 1972 district collectors can detain for one Even in death. MGR continued to when he split it to form the AIIIDMIL year, anyone they suspect as potential wear his lucky face as millions filedpast His genius lay in his uncanny ability violators of the law. Under the Act, the his body for a final glimpse of the fur- to think up populist schemes. He pio- police have been detaining about 50 capped, dark-goggled visage. Said state neered the noon-meal scheme for people on an average every month. Director of Information V. Swami- schoolchildren which costs the state The AIADMK came to power in 1977. nathan: "MGR was truly a man of the exchequer Rs 200 crore a year and following its crusade against corrup- masses." He was their 'irlnyn fhri~mnl' benefits about 50 lakh children. He also tion. Rut MGR's halo of cleanliness was (god of their hearts) and 'ptirntchi recently introduced schemes to distrib- tarnished as one scandal followed an- thrrlail~rr'(revolutionary leader). ute free tooth-powder, uniforms, and other: the illegal diversion of rectified With a muscular build and a dis- even footwear to children. spirit to Kerala: allegations ofkickbacks arming smile, he wasa natural for films. But econon~ically.the state paid a in the purchase of foreign ships and in And it was through cinema that he heaw price because of the MGR dole- theallotment ofcountry liquor licences. generated the mass appeal that never raj. When he became chief minister in And through actions bordering on left him. Born in Kandy in Sri Lanka, 1977, Tarnil Nadu was third in the apostasy. hlGR diluted the iconoclastic where his father Gopala Menon was a country's industrial production. Today and atheistic Dravidian movement- magistrate. MGK moved when he was it has fallen to the1 3th place. Opines an from which his party had sprung-and two with his brother and mother to economic analyst: "Two-thirds of the infused it with a new religiosity. He Thanjavur after his father died. He state budget is in hidden subsidies." became a regular worshipper at started his acting career with the MGR's highly personalised. feudal Rarnataka's Mookambiga Temple. And Madurai Original Boys Company when style of politics and administration also in October 1984. AIADMK workers per- he was just seven. demoralised the bureaucracy, muzzled formed public prayers for MGR when His major break came when he the press, and converted Tamil Nadu his Icidneys began failing and he suf- played a policeman in Sntlli T,e~ltr\~nthi. into a police state. He treated IAS officers fered a stroke that impaired his speech. But his role as a good samaritan-an like dirt. Only one [AS officer had re- At the end, MGR had failed to even image that was to cling to him-came signedin thestate between 1947and his implement his first electoral promise- in Mnlniltfl/lfln (Mountain Thief) in coming to power. But as many as 20 drinking water for all. But for the 1954. There followed a rapid-fire series resigned during his tenure. Confided a common man. MGR had become a of do-gooder roles-Mnrrnn Yogi (The senior government official: "The loss of living god-the fount of all charity and Secret Godman), Nndodi Mannari (The moralein the bureaucracy has beenone muniiicence, the slayer of evil. And Wanderer King). and Enga V~uttziPillni of the worst casualties of MGR's rule." when he died. it was as if Tamil Nadu (The Son of our Housel-in which the MGR also introduced the notorious had walked on to a cinema screen and masses began identifying with him as a become part of an MGR film. larger-than-life humanist in an age of MGR's swearing-in in 1977 -S.H. VENKATRAMANI support of some 80 MLAs-party total: the AIADMK members, not more than 30 tations, baudhs, and rail-roko protests 131 MLAs-Jayalalitha has popular sup- are reported to be Congress(1) sympathi- and MGR taking the wind out ofthe~MrC's port. This is just what the situation wasin sers who may pitch in their lot with the political sails by declaring government 1972 when I\IIGli broke off from the DMK. party in case of a showdown. holidays or cancelling trains with Delhi's Karunanidhi had all the MLAs but MGR If Veerappan's 80 Ari\nMr

During the period of hisabsence, the IPKF decided to militarily tackle the 1.7~~. Unable to get in touch with MGK. the I,TTE desperately appealed to Karunani- dhi for political help. after dubbing Food Minister S. Kamachandran "a traitor". MGR's demise is therefore expected to drive the Tigers closer to the DMIC. With the IPKE facing an ordeal in Sri Lanlia, Delhi has been recently trying a mixture of the carrot and the stick with theTigers. The Centre has been trying to push them militarily to a point, to test if they are prepared to announce uncondi- tional surrender of their arms. 1 In this exercise. MGK was an impor- tant mediator and his death has placed Delhi in a quandary. As the Rajiv Gandhi Government would like to capitalise on MGR's image to the Congress(1)'s political advantage. it can't woo the IIMK to build new political bridges with the Tigers. With MGR's death, the Congress(1) has thereby lost its only powerful ally in south India capable of effectively countering the anti-Indo-Sri Lankan accord sentiments transport~ngnieli anti material for the Nedunchezhian (seated) with in Tamil Nadu. funeral. Congress(1) members: no clear leader The ~IADMKleadcrship, however, is Said the noted satirist Cho Kama- committed to continue MGR's policy on snTamy: "The AIADMIC even during pitch now and spoil our chances of the Tndo-Sri Lankan accord. Said the MCR's rule was more a fan club than a coming to power again.'' food minister: "We will continue on the party. People voted for MGK rather than That at the moment appears to be same line, balancing the aspirations of for any ideology. His death would obvi- wishful thinking. The reality is that ever SriLankan Tamils with India'sgeopoliti- ously cripple his party and the party is since 1967 when they were houndedout cal interests." All the same. the AIAUMIC destined to wither away, although there ofpower by the nm,the Congress(1) had Government still favours a dialogue may bedoubts as to the speed ofthefade- to piggyback during general elections, with the LTTC. out." on either of the two regional parties. With their Gulliver gone. the Lillipu- Both parties had powerful leaders. FE Centre also has to grapple with tiansin the~r~Db~r