A strong presence worth revering
How Jayalalithaa Jayaram, who died this week, became Amma of Tamil Nadu – a giant of Indian politics and a ‘god’ to her people
IT IS not unusual for politicians and leaders in India to get a sobriquet. From Mahatma Gandhi and Pandit Nehru to Mamata Banerjee, Mayawati and Jayalalithaa – they all go by a name different given (gifted) by the people, very different to their official names on paper.
In present times, Mayawati is called Behenji, while Mamata is Didi for her supporters; both meaning sister. It is only Jayalalithaa, who is called Amma – the mother.
Jayalalithaa’s journey to Amma began when she first bacame the chief minister in 1991.
Being a bright student, who received several medals, Jayalalithaa wanted to be a lawyer, but got “forced” into acting before turning to politics.
In her biography, Amma: Jayalalithaa’s Journey from Movie Star to Political Queen, noted journalist and writer Vaasanthi says that she was nicknamed Ammu as a child.
Jayalalithaa was only two when her father died. To sustain the family, her mother started working in films, forcing Jayalalithaa to spend her childhood in Bangalore with grandparents.
Craved
As she continued her studies in Bangalore while her mother stayed in Chennai for her work, Jayalalithaa craved to be with her own amma.
It’s thought that Jayalalithaa Jayaram was nicknamed Ammu as a child. But, while still in her teens, she was forced to take up career in films, first Kannada and then Tamil.
From films, she came to politics, for which she was groomed by MG Ramachandran.
It was in 1989, when, during a ruckus in Tamil Nadu assembly, a scuffle took place between DMK and AIADMK supporters.
Karunanidhi was the chief minister while Jayalalithaa was in the opposition. An AIADMK leader snatched budget papers from Karunanidhi’s hands, tore them and pushed the then CM, who fell on the ground.
To avenge humiliation of Karunanidhi, a DMK supporter pulled Jayalalithaa’s saree while she was leaving the state assembly.
She fell on the ground and vowed that she would not return to the assembly until it is safe for women.
This time around, she was called “Puratchi Thalaivi”, meaning the rebel leader for brand of politics.
Among the initiatives that earned her the title Amma was the The Cradle Baby Scheme in 1992 to tackle female foeticide and infanticide.
In 1991, Jayalalithaa was sworn in as the chief minister of Tamil Nadu. It is around this time that her journey from Puratchi Thalaivi to Amma really began.
At this point of time, Tamil Nadu was facing the major problem of female foeticide and infanticide. To root out the problem, Jayalalithaa launched “Thottil Kuzhandhai” or The Cradle Baby Scheme in 1992.
This proved to be a highly successful initiative, which was appreciated worldwide. Girls were saved across Tamil Nadu.
The Cradle Baby Scheme established an emotional connect between Jayalalithaa and the people of Tamil Nadu.
She was now Amma for her supporters and the people of state.
After 2011, Jayalalithaa started to build Brand Amma. She launched a series of pro-poor schemes giving a message that she was there in the Chief Minister’s office for the welfare of people like a mother. – Daily Mail her aggressive