Legacy R T Was As If the Heart of Tamil Nadu Had Stopped
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COVER STORY I I I B's Legacy r T was as if the heart of Tamil Nadu 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 INDIA 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.