Jayalalithaa laid to rest

Even the Tamil street vendors who make a living selling the hugely popular dosas, vadas and idlis prefered to suffer loss than work on a day their favourite leader would be laid to rest on the Chennai beach.

Seven -day mourning has been declared in the state.

In the evening, Jayalalithaa’s body was taken to the Marina Beach in Chennai to be buried next to the memorial of her mentor MG Ramachandran. The totality of her contribution to the state’s stability far outweighed what she did while suffering from vicissitudes brought on by the rough and tumble of politics in a reluctant politician. “Deepest condolences to the people of Tamil Nadu and to the family of CM Jayalalithaa”.

Her government also gave 20 kg of rice free to the poor and free bus passes and books, laptop and cycle to the students in the state.

“Not just Tamil Nadu but India has lost a courageous daughter”.

Tens of thousands of mourners filed past the coffin of the Indian politician Jayalalithaa Jayaram on Tuesday in an emotional farewell to the former movie star who enjoyed nearly god-like status in the state of Tamil Nadu. Thousands of people began to line up early on Tuesday to file past her bier and pay their respects, in advance of the schedule funeral at 4.30pm. In September 2014, she was convicted by a special court in connection to a disproportionate assets case but it did not last long as she was acquitted and she returned to become the chief minister again. “Her passion, energy and grand vision were so inspiring”. I have great pride in admitting that I had watched Hindi films of Jayalalithaa ji and several welfare programmees and schemes of hers that benefited the poor had been replicated in Delhi (when she was the Chief Minister from 1998-2013). She then gets into politics by Ramachandran’s guidelines and gets in the limelight.

Jayalalithaa Jayaraman, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister was a regional satrap with national stature.

Panneerselvam has been a lifelong loyalist of Jayalalithaa and she had earlier given him charge of the state when she had to step down over corruption charges.

She went on to clarify: “In fact, I have been turning down some excellent offers”. She herself was known for leading an extravagant lifestyle, and had twice been jailed for corruption.

Over the years she has emerged as a real hero but lived her life all alone. But the Bharatiya Janata Party won a clear majority, catapulting Modi into the nation’s top job. She returned to office as chief minister on May 23 and a month later was re-elected in a by-election.

Born as J Koamalavalli on February 24, 1948, in what is now Karnataka, the former child actor was given the nickname Jayalalitha, a blend of the names of both her grandparent’s residences.

Jayalalithaa died at the age of 68, sparking an outpouring of grief in the southern Indian state.