"Amma why have you left us," a woman wailed as another next to her beat her chest in grief. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, who passed away following a cardiac arrest leaving a power vacuum in the state, was laid to rest next to her mentor and former chief minister M G Ramachandran, at the MGR memorial on Kamarajar Salai. The leader was buried as against the Hindu tradition of the Brahmin caste. Senior members of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam party said she had transcended caste for her people.
Masses of visibly distraught people streamed into the large public park inside which Jaya's body was wrapped in the national flag. The outcome was so intense, security forces struggled to control the flow of human tides. The state declared a seven-day mourning period and the Central government declared Tuesday a national holiday as mark of respect for 'Amma'. Thousands of police officers formed chains to stop the heaving crowd from surging up the steps. Men and women wept, some shedding tears, while others broke into loud wails. Several mourners fainted from the heat and dehydration. "We don't know what will happen to us now," a man said, dazed with the unfolding of events.
Pulachi Thalaivi Selvi (Revolutionary Leader), as she was called by her loyal group of followers, Jayalalithaa was no ordinary chief minister. She was more of a revolutionist, a breaker of traditions and a Man, in a rather chauvinistic society. From being a prolific filmstar to becoming a four-term and six-time Chief Minister, Jaya's career was one riddled with controversies, none of them big enough to whittle her. She was the iron lady of India and was able to withstand any type of hardships.
Last rites were performed by her long-time confidante and aide Sasikala, and her body was finally lowered into the ground next to MGR after receiving full state honours. Over 15,000 police personnel were deployed across the city and state transport buses were ordered off the roads. However, the weeping mass only grew by numbers all trying to get a last glimpse of their leader. The ceremony was thronged with VIPs including Prime Minister Narendra Modi who paid floral tributes to the deceased and was seen consoling Sasikala and the newly sworn in Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, O Panneerselvam. Also present were President Pranab Mukherjee, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and others.
Vishwa Hindu Parishad released a statement with International Secretary General Champat Rai saying the country had lost a great woman leader who fought throughout her life with different challenges and worked for the uplift of the poor. He added that she will ever be remembered as a humanist and for the services she rendered to improve the quality of the social life in her state. "Even after persistent attacks on her, she always came out clean in her political life. May God bless her soul giving place at his lotus feet and give courage to her followers and the people of Tamil Nadu." The Indian film industry, political leaders, and Tamilians all across the world, mourned her death.
Amma breathed her last at 11.30 pm on Monday. After making her last public appearance in September, Amma was hospitalised in Chennai's Apollo Hospitals following dehydration and fever. Her health was being monitored by a team of experts, including cardiologists, pulmonologist, and critical care specialists during her 75-day stay. It has been a tense few months for both the party, and Tamil Nadu. Following her recent heart arrest, Apollo Hospital had reportedly contacted Dr Richard Beale from London, and he concurred with the line of treatment by Apollo's cardiologists and pulmonologists who were familiar with her prior episodes of deterioration.
