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CHENNAI: Jayalalithaa Jayaram, the chief minister of southern India’s Tamil Nadu state and one of the country’s most popular political leaders, died after a prolonged illness on Monday night.
“It is with indescribable grief, we announce the sad demise of our esteemed honourable chief minister of Tamil Nadu ... at 11:30pm (local time) today (Dec 5),” Chennai’s Apollo Hospital said in a statement.
Jayalalithaa enjoys an almost god-like status in Tamil Nadu.
Hundreds of devotees kept a round-the-clock vigil outside the private hospital in the state capital Chennai since she was first admitted in September suffering from a fever. Their numbers swelled since her condition worsened on Sunday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered his condolences over her demise.
“I will always cherish the innumerable occasions when I had the opportunity to interact with Jayalalithaa ji. May her soul rest in peace,” Mr Modi said on Twitter.
Her political party, AIADMK, said on Twitter: “Our beloved leader, the iron lady of India...Amma, is no more.”
To millions of her followers, the chief minister was known simply as Amma (mother).
The southern state had been tense since Sunday after reports that her health had worsened and she had been put on life support.
Earlier on Monday, scuffles broke out outside the hospital as many from the thousands of her supporters who had gathered outside tried to break through the police barricades.
Jayalalithaa had earned the loyalty of many voters in the state with a series of highly populist schemes, including “Amma canteens” that provided lunch for just three rupees.
She was also one of the country’s most polarising politicians, accused of being dictatorial and was even jailed for corruption.
Several of her supporters resorted to self-harm when she was briefly jailed in 2014 on charges of corruption.
Her conviction, later overturned on appeal, sparked mass protests and even some reported suicides.
Published in Dawn, December 6th, 2016
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On DawnNews
Comments (91) Closed
Dec 06, 2016 08:13am
RIP!! She was one of the strongest lady leader in the world. Tamilnadu and India will miss her!!
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Dec 06, 2016 08:20am
We miss a great leader..RIP..with tears
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Dec 06, 2016 08:24am
Heartbreaking..may her soul rest in peace. The nation will always miss you Amma.
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Dec 06, 2016 08:24am
RIP
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Dec 06, 2016 08:26am
She must be a great leader that's why so many people in her state are in state of shock. RIP
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Dec 06, 2016 08:28am
Great tribute to democracy where one of the most popular leader served as a CM , headed the opposition , resumed a second term as CM was tried , jailed , released , won elections became CM and finally surrendered life to illness .
She has millions of followers and was responsible for one of the largest social welfare programs . 1 Rs kilo of rice , free breakfast and subsidized lunches for working class, 100 days a year employment guarantee for unemployed .
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Dec 06, 2016 08:36am
RIP. your bold decisions and poor upliftment policies will always be cherished!
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Dec 06, 2016 08:38am
She also invited all Bangalore city to her sons lavish wedding some years ago. There were also rumors that she has an endless list of shoes and dress collection. Don't want to disrespect a departed soul, but I sincerely hope she's done some good to the community and all these tears being shed by public is not for someone who was just as corrupt as the others around her.
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Dec 06, 2016 08:40am
Iron lady & one of the greatest leader of the country.
She enjoys most successful actor turned politicians.
Above all, she enjoyed the faith of masses of Tamil Nadu.
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Dec 06, 2016 08:38am
Iron lady & one of the greatest leader of the country.
She enjoys most successful actor turned politicians.
Above all, she enjoyed the faith of masses of Tamil Nadu.
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Dec 06, 2016 08:44am
RIP #Amma
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Dec 06, 2016 08:45am
Rip .she was gr8 . countries are made gr8 when they produce gr8 leaders.india has produced many gr8 leaders.her life story is inspiring.
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Dec 06, 2016 08:45am
Religious harmony exists in Tamil Nadu.
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Dec 06, 2016 08:51am
india really need leaders like her
she was symbol of women power in india
R.I.P great soul
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Dec 06, 2016 08:55am
@Kiran correction ....upliftment policy for the poor
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Dec 06, 2016 08:59am
RIP AMMA.. self made woman..have gone through all phases of life from tough to good time..really a lady who can inspire a millions what a woman can achieve with all your challenges ...you will be in memory of millions for so long ..on personal front PM Modi lost a true friend in southern part of India
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Dec 06, 2016 08:57am
RIP.The most loved woman leader of the world by her people.
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Dec 06, 2016 09:04am
RIP , JJ a towering figure and great administrator .. icon for millions great strong women excellent welfare schemes and role model so many things ...true mother amma , really great loss for all of us
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Dec 06, 2016 09:07am
The student who surpassed the Teacher (MGR)
RIP with painful tears
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Dec 06, 2016 09:15am
Its an end of and era ....
She was a super star , a super and strong leader and a super Amma ( mother ) to the millions of down trodden in her Province.
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Dec 06, 2016 09:18am
Very glamorous actress of Telugu, Tamil film industry and a great leader in Politics. One of a Great Indian Woman.
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Dec 06, 2016 09:17am
RIP Amma our beloved cm true inspiration for women in our society.true leader in every sense and inspiration for millions of women.
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Dec 06, 2016 09:19am
One of the candidate with the potential to become next PM. RIP
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Dec 06, 2016 09:24am
In a country, where common public is crazy about film stars...AMMA was one of the rare politicians (PM Modi another recent politician having a rockstar Image in India as well as world) who enjoyed same kind of popularity, fan following as the film stars....
RIP Amma...God Bless Tamil Nadu...God Bless India
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Dec 06, 2016 09:27am
RIP Amma
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Dec 06, 2016 09:34am
Simply a people's leader
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Dec 06, 2016 09:42am
Reactions over recent death of Bhumibol Adulyadej (Thailand) & Fidel Castro (Cuba) show how leaders' greatness are reciprocated with love by citizens & appreciated by world leaders. J. Jayalalitha was bold, courageous, discipline-loving and a visionary leader who never played communal politics and was above caste, creed & gender biased approaches. She started acting (rather forced to do so) at early age and death of MGR brought some more agonies in her life. She left some lessons for present leaders too. Cries of tamil people prove that Greatness has nothing to do with gender, region, political party & caste-creed affiliations.
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Dec 06, 2016 09:42am
I didnt know her at all, but flipping through Indian channels here in Dubai looks like she was a popular leader. RIP.
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Dec 06, 2016 09:42am
We love u Amma ...RIP....
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Dec 06, 2016 09:44am
She is a great women and strong lady. She drew her strength from her loneliness in her life and will to surpass her mentor.
God Bless her soul.
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Dec 06, 2016 09:46am
RIP amma!!!
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Dec 06, 2016 09:53am
RIP
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Dec 06, 2016 09:51am
She will remain in the heart of people, she has uplifted standards for any upcoming CM of Tamil Nadu. He or she was to bring the state now far ahead to meet expectation of people.We all love Amma as our Mother we are feeling like we lost our own mother.
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Dec 06, 2016 09:58am
Amma was what one can call a leader of the masses. Frank, fearless and uncompromising, combined with a dictatorial style of management best describes her personality. Her Amma canteen was a brilliant and revolutionary idea, the poor could feed there for Rs 10/day. The people of her state Tamil Nadu in the last few years have enjoyed free TV, free cycle, free laptop, free Sarees, free Dhoti. Students in government schools have been enjoying free midday meal for decades. There is no politician who can come anywhere near in terms of populism. Ministers in her government would know about their dismissal from the newspaper, no explanation needed. As powerful as any lady could ever be. She cared a damn for PM, President or anybody -- her only real opponent the Courts, making her eat humble pie by sending to jail.
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Dec 06, 2016 10:02am
For those unfamiliar with India's second richest state, of which Jayalalitha was Chief Minister:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Tamil_Nadu
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Dec 06, 2016 10:09am
She may have disagreements with different leaders but she was hugely respected for her undeterrable strong persona as good politician, she was a poor mans leader who understood their pain, a huge loss to India in the form of good politician/leader who could have taken her state to the heights of prosperity. RIP AMMA
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Dec 06, 2016 10:10am
Only man. Her cabinet as most of th ministers were yes men to her. Could literally speak to every chief minister in India in their own language. Excellent command of English too. She acted in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and even in a Hindi and English movie too. Put down LTTE terrorism after the death of Rajiv Gandhi. Got a dreaded sandlewood smuggler killed but was accused of corruption and dictorial rule too.May her soul rest in peace
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Dec 06, 2016 10:24am
RIP....She launched lot of products and services by the name of 'AMMA' to help poor people of state.
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Dec 06, 2016 10:46am
RIP our Iron Lady... You are the inspiration for the generations to come.. She must be credited for maintaining Religious harmony by not siding with any religious group. She treated them all same while practicing her own religious duties without fail. She is definitely a role model.
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Dec 06, 2016 10:47am
Thanks Dawn for giving a space for our Iron Lady...
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Dec 06, 2016 10:49am
RIP.
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Dec 06, 2016 10:49am
RIP....your pro-poor, pro-women measures gave you Amma(Mother) status!
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Dec 06, 2016 10:52am
It's a sad day for my country. We have lost a strong , powerful self made women. But the legacy she leaves behind shall not die
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Dec 06, 2016 10:53am
Exemplary leader and who won the confidence and respect of all the people irrespective of Caste,creed or religion. Other Country Leaders must full her footstep
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Dec 06, 2016 10:53am
She was a top notch film artist and great leader.What is inspiring that both fields were not in her wish list, but when situation came she excelled and ruled hearts of people. RIP Amma , you will be missed forever - an admirer from Rajasthan.
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Dec 06, 2016 11:19am
RIP
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Dec 06, 2016 11:22am
We lost Amma, the iron lady. RIP
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Dec 06, 2016 11:56am
I never heard about her before. She must be nice person to its people that why people are giving her so much respect. RIP
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Dec 06, 2016 12:05pm
Thank you! Dawn for the obituary.
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Dec 06, 2016 12:08pm
Shocked and worried for the future of our state of Tamil nadu since the vacuum created by the sudden death of Amma is impossible to fill.
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Dec 06, 2016 12:09pm
RIP Amma
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Dec 06, 2016 12:09pm
A nationalist to the core , she had total control over her cabinet , bureacrats and people. Single handedly responsible for controlling and eliminating LTTE in TN , she was very close to Rajiv Gandhi for having helped with the medical treatment of her mentor MGR in Brooklyn . Well educated , personally shy she fought her way through adveristy. Tamil Nadu can never get a leader of such stature in the next 50 years.
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Dec 06, 2016 12:18pm
RIP AMMA.
She was a leader who showed you can attain greatness without using caste and religious card.
En mass I can see thousands of women grieving in tamil nadu. From a humble background she emerged to become a very powerful leader.
Her famous welfare scheme's include AMMA lunch and AMMA Medical store .
She provided free bicycle to girl child who finishes 10th standard.
Though economist would call it bad economics and bad welfare state culture, women voters and people from below poverty line loved it.
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Dec 06, 2016 12:18pm
Thanks dawn for publishing this article.
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Dec 06, 2016 12:25pm
She is a good leader and worked hard for the welfare of the poor people of the state of tamil nadu. Amma my great leader I miss u. May your soul rest in peace. U will find rest now which u have not enjoyed.
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Dec 06, 2016 12:56pm
Amma.
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Dec 06, 2016 12:57pm
May GOD place her soul in peace. She was loving mother of their people.
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Dec 06, 2016 01:00pm
I listened to her speeches once or twice. Didn't understand but could understand that she was a lethal speaker. RIP.
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Dec 06, 2016 01:35pm
She lead a state(Tamilnadu) which was conventionally supported LTTE and her role was instrumental in the elimination of LTTE from roots.She made a chaotic state as one of the best states of India.may the soul of this Iron Lady rest in peace.World needs leaders like her,Condolences from SL.
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Dec 06, 2016 01:45pm
@Fullyfaltoo "She also invited all Bangalore city to her sons lavish wedding "... she has no own children
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Dec 06, 2016 02:04pm
rip
hER POPULIST Programme for poor made voters godmother : like Amma canteen ..for poor which used to give free lunch ,then laptop and smartphone to all poor , dresses to all poor and many other policy which targetted poor ppl
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Dec 06, 2016 02:08pm
rest in peace good lady
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Dec 06, 2016 02:36pm
She acted in only one Bollywood Hindi film, apart from many South Indian films. One of the 3 self made iron ladies of political India, along with Mamata & Mayavati. A great leader, who knew , how to win over common people and elections, despite holding huge unaccounted wealth and being dictatorial. RIP.
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Dec 06, 2016 02:36pm
She is a mass leader. U will always be remembered for bravery!!!
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Dec 06, 2016 02:55pm
Thanks to Dawn. Such a quality news paper and maintains a balance. Even news that happens at the tip of South India finds a place in Dawn.
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Dec 06, 2016 03:03pm
An ICON for us in India & esp. Tamilnadu. RIP Dear Amma. Her legacy will be long remembered by us & she will live on in our hearts forever. May she reach the Light
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Dec 06, 2016 03:20pm
A leader of national stature. Few of the women leaders who made profound impact in a task dominated by men. May her soul rest in peace.
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Dec 06, 2016 03:26pm
Jayalalitha's father died early and her mother died when Jayalalitha was just 23, at that young age she does not know anything about outside world.. she struggled in life and became most loved political leader of Tamil Nadu, she is a nationalist in heart, she had dreams not only for our state Tamil Nadu but also for entire India, she wanted India to be super power. Jayalalitha is a very brilliant student she came state first in 10th Exam, she wanted to be a normal family women but fate has brought her to limelight... Jayalalitha never had the habit of bowing down to political pressures. A Lion of Tamil Nadu, a daughter of India has passed away.
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Dec 06, 2016 03:30pm
RIP to our Chief Minister. She is one example of how a lady politician survived from male dominated South Asian culture. She faced many cases, but never disrespected judicial system of India. She always connected to the poorest of poor and under privileged people who cannot afford to live equally with rich. She is called as Mother by everyone. After she died there are no riots, no curfews, millions gathered without any problem of law and order situation. She had been chief minister for 4 times in 30 years, and every time she has been elected with full majority. People elect her often to the bad male politicians away. She was like a protecting angels of the poor and voiceless people.
I am from South of India, great to see Dawn published this news,
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Dec 06, 2016 03:40pm
@Jubeir >> 100 days a year employment guarantee for unemployed.
Sorry for the correction, this is implemented by Congress party ruling central government, and the name of the scheme is "National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005". Followed by this act, they have to recruit local villagers to employ the projects that helps build infrastructure for their local village.
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Dec 06, 2016 04:04pm
RIP
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Dec 06, 2016 04:55pm
Well the only Indian friends I have are from the south. And two are from Tamil Nadu. I will call them and give my condolence.
Sad loss.
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Dec 06, 2016 05:09pm
She, with the help of unprecedented amounts of loans, started schemes like 1 Rs Idly and 5 rs meal at canteens named after her as amma canteens, throught the length and the breadth of the Tamil Nadu state. Not just the poor, but even the middle class office going people also relished these food items. Also she gave each house tv, cycle, sewing machines etc for free. She had plans to give each woman in the state 30 grams of gold. But then she suddenly got admitted to the hospital due to illness, from where she could never return.
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Dec 06, 2016 05:43pm
Amma
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Dec 06, 2016 06:44pm
She helped the poor. R.I.P.
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Dec 06, 2016 07:36pm
@Pakistani I love Tamil people. Smarties and educated people, filled with so many beautiful historical temples. A beautiful place indeed the world call's Tamil Nadu!
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Dec 06, 2016 07:48pm
thanks a lot , covering in full amd complete manner
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Dec 06, 2016 10:39pm
She is a strong woman and bold leader. Never hesitated to do good things.
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Dec 06, 2016 10:44pm
In one of her interviews she said, career in films was her mother's choice and a career in politics was her mentor 's (MGR's) choice and given a chance to choose she wouldn't have chosen either but would have chosen something else ...
But nonetheless she excelled in both. The nation has lost a great leader. RIP Amma.
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Dec 06, 2016 10:45pm
From humble background to strong leader, she was a legend , her life is inspiring story, RIP amma
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Dec 07, 2016 12:19am
rip...
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Dec 07, 2016 03:55pm
RIP amma.., a Great Woman, A Great Leader, A Great Admistrator.... May your soul rest in peace..... with tears from Tamilnadu...
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Dec 07, 2016 08:37pm
Jayalalithaa is the daughter of my State, Karnataka. Her death is surely a great loss to Indian politics May God bestow her His Divine Grace upon the departed soul.
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Dec 07, 2016 09:02pm
@Ramdar Please do not place her with the likes of Mamta and Mayawati they can never achieve what she did Mamta and Mayawati are just dram queens
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Dec 07, 2016 09:50pm
@Arun Totally Agree
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Dec 07, 2016 10:08pm
Great woman dies..very sad
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Dec 07, 2016 11:27pm
after loosing her father at the age of 2 and mother at the age of 23 she is a self made woman and brave enough to defeat her oppositin politicians and thier evil desighns in a male dominated society by adopting populist measures to help the poor by giving freebies! T.N. is among the top 3 indstrialised states in india and power consuption in peak is 16000 m.w. and installed capacity is 29500m.w.? the state stands second in overall social status, parameters, health, education etc. next to kerala ,half its size! much credit goes to this lady!
thanks to DAWN for the article on her.
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Dec 08, 2016 12:02am
@Fullyfaltoo Very well said.
She turned her state into the biggest welfare state ever. Wefare means dependency and an inability to adjust to the real world out there where most of us have to "earn" a living.
But what I found truly extraordinary is her upbringing, forcible entry into South Indian cinema due to circumstances, her rise and fall in state politics and everything that goes with it(Fame, Glory, Corruption, Betrayal). It is an astonishing life in every sense of the word.
And she was a single orthodox, brahmin woman, never married(relationship with a married megastar), and dealing with a pack of wolves and keeping them at bay.
Any politician in the world will pale in comparison to her.
She was so many things to so many people.
Hope Bollywood makes a movie about her.
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Dec 08, 2016 12:11am
Thank you DAWN for your very kind and courteous article. May her soul RIP. Here are a few points that the state of Tamil Nadu achieved under the rule of Chief Minister Miss J Jayalalitha.
1) Tamil Nadu is the second richest state and contributor to the GDP of India.
2) Tamil Nadu is one of the most literate states of India.
3) Tamil Nadu is the largest automobile manufacturing hub in the world.
4) Tamil Nadu leads India in education with over 37 universities, 552 engineering colleges, 449 Polytechnic Colleges and 566 arts and science colleges, 34335 elementary schools, 5167 high schools, 5054 higher secondary schools.
5) Tamil Nadu is the medical mecca of Asia with over 32 Government medical collages and over 6000 hospitals
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Dec 08, 2016 04:56am
@Fullyfaltoo "She also invited all Bangalore city to her sons lavish wedding some years ago. There were also rumors that she has an endless list of shoes and dress collection"
Jayalalitha was a successful film actress for a long time and had an extensive wardrobe. We need to remember that Jayalalitha had absolutely no family. This wedding was for an adopted stepson that she deeply loved - a close aides' relative for whom she undertook wedding arrangements. When any Indian politician of the nineties had to fight elections against crooks as corrupt as the DMK with truck loads of crores of illegal monies, no one can blame any politician of being "corrupt", just pragmatic. We also need to consider that the late Jayalalitha broke off all connections with that family and got estranged with her stepson post the incident. Political expedience? Perhaps, perhaps not. As compared to the lakhs of crores in corruption by the DMK, Cngress, UPA - Jayalalitha appeared to be a veritable saint.
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Dec 08, 2016 06:36am
India is the country where the regional leaders plays a huge role in the development , here in Tamil Nadu the Dravidian policies made a difference in the so called scheduled people and people of South India differs a lot from north India in most of the aspects . She as a iron Lady stood and of men dominated political arena and reached a pinnacle. She is the real inspiration for the women's who are aspiring to achieve more. She is a fearless administrator, will do the unexpected. She changed a lot from her first tenure in 90's in recent years , she don't have any family and bring up more schemes to benefit the poor people being it Amma canteens or Amma pharmacy. It's indeed big loss to the TN :( Now after her demise even the people who criticised her ate shell shocked as they know it's hard to fill the void she have left in Tamil Nadu. Thanks for DAWN for this article .
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