Jayaram Jayalalithaa, who underwent a four-month-old struggle for life in a Chennai hospital, evolved as a great phenomenon on the political landscape in our times by the sheer dint of her courage and convictions.
She rode the political landscape like a colossus, winning admiration not just in her Tamil Nadu state but also across the nation. This, even as she rarely left her state to show up at the national capital.
She mostly kept to herself and to her turf, and acted in highly dignified ways. Instead, there were times when Delhi looked to the south, to her, for guidance; and the “iron lady” in Chennai as also her AIADMK party played responsible roles in national politics, at times also acting as a saviour to avert political crises and instability.
The six-time chief minister of one of India’s largest states has been known more for her actions. She maintained a dignified distance from the general high-decibel public life even in her state, and rarely came up with comments other than when it was extremely necessary.
Even so, fact is also that she closely kept track of political developments. She chose to avoid being a rabble-rouser, and concentrated on her work every time she took over as chief minister.
The kind of reverence she enjoys in Tamil Nadu and outside the state too, despite allegations of corruption that came her way, is proof of the good work she has done for the state’s people.
The poor see her as a mother-figure, the benefactor, who cared for them and helped them out through a series of welfare schemes. There is little surprise that other states looked up to Tamil Nadu to learn from the schemes that she has successfully implemented over the years for the disadvantaged sections of the people there.
To err is human. There are those who found fault with her for the way she landed in some corruption cases, and the like, leading up to a brief jailing as well. She was after all at the head of a political party that had a massive following and elections came one after another.
Looking back, she was more sinned against than sinning, considering the series of humiliations that she had been put through. Her struggles in politics started after the demise of her patron the late chief minister MG Ramachandran, but she ably withstood odds. With the people on her side, she gained control of the party and repeatedly got elected to become the sprawling state’s leader.
Jayalalithaa earned a great name as an administrator. She was tough where toughness was needed. But, her positive contributions to the growth of Tamil Nadu — which is by far the most urbanised state in the country with as many as 300 cities and towns – are exemplary.
The wheels of governance moved on smoothly under her leadership. She had the vision to develop the land, and reach its benefits to the farthest corners of the state. The love and affection that she commanded all through these years kept growing, one of the rare instances in politics, where not many players stood the test of time.
In fact, Jayalalithaa excelled in all fields she stepped in. She had a highly rewarding celluloid career as a leading actress for many years that also got her close to MGR and to the AIADMK politics.
She also earned a name as a scholarly politician, knowledgeable and well-read. She had a sharp sense of understanding of national politics, and has maintained good relations with the leaderships of several national and regional political parties. That has helped her state in its developmental push as well. Little wonder that an entire state is in distress as word spread that her health has taken a turn for the worse.
Leaders make a mark by their good work. Jayalalithaa has earned the love and respect of the people by her painstaking efforts to improve the lot of the state’s people and ensure growth in all spheres of life in Tamil Nadu. A thankful state is in distress. The adulation that she receives today is well-deserved.
