On this day 500 years
ago, Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama, who discovered a sea route around
Africa to India, died in Cochin
• Do you know the
significance of the film of Ellis Dungan released in 1936 ?
• Do you know
where is Nawalapitiya ?
• Do you know who
won the National Award for Best Actor in 1972 ?
• Do you know who
was elected to the Madras Legislative Assembly from St Thomas Mount in 1967 ?
Do you remember or know of a song which years after its release
was screened in all the theatres of Tamilnadu in 1980s.
You need not search anywhere ! Just walk on the streets of Tramil
Nadu – people still remember him !! the song was ‘Andavane unthan pathangalil
naan kanneeral” from the film Oli Vilakku [ஒளி விளக்கு
] released in 1968.
Marudhur
Gopalan Ramachandran (1917 – 1987) popularly known as MGR, was a legendary film
actor who rose to dizzy heights of popularity becoming the Chief Minister of
Tamilnadu successively for three terms. Those visiting Chennai from rural parts
of Tamilnadu visit Marina for visiting the
samadhis of 4 CMs now .. ..
The Indo-China War
occurred in 1962. A disputed Himalayan border was the main pretext for
war, but other issues played a role. There had been a series of violent border
incidents after the 1959 Tibetan uprising, when India had granted asylum to the
Dalai Lama. India was defeated in the
war due to poor policies and lack of political will. But when the Govt sought donations after the
war, MGR rose to prominence by donating
Rs. 75,000/- [a very huge sum those days] to the war fund.
The
kind of adulation MGR enjoyed is unique and perhaps continues undiminished even after 37 years of his death. MGR had with utmost
care created a screen image that
corresponded to ‘the cultural presuppositions’ of Tamil Nadu’s subaltern
classes as manifested in the state’s folk-hero ballads. The typical MGR hero is
a low-status underdog who acquires the power to dispense justice, uses
education as a tool of struggle, and defends the honour of women. All this held
a tremendous appeal for the poor. When
he died after illness in Dec 1987, Madras
witnessed one of the largest
funeral processions. Shops remained
closed, transportation came to a halt, routine life was crippled and dozens
committed suicide. Millions filled the streets as crowds travelled from all
parts of the state for a final glimpse of the man called MGR.
That
was the story of the man who rose from abject poverty, having been born in
Kandy in 1917 as the fifth and the last
child of Sathyabama and Gopala Menon, faced extreme poverty after losing his
father before he was three. He lost two of his sisters and a brother to
poverty, something he often mentioned to identify himself with the common man.
He built an iconic image in tinseldom, the crowds followed him everywhere.
Sathi
Leelavathi, released in 1936 had MG Ramachandran in a supporting role but that
was to change the fate of the State was not known for sure. He graduated to leading roles and for the
next three decades dominatin the tinseldom as ‘Do Gooder Hero’ who could
nothing wrong and who would always care for the poor. He became a member of the Dravida Munnetra
Kazhagam (DMK) and rose rapidly through its ranks. He successfully used his popularity as a film
hero to build a large political base. In 1972, he challenged those at the helm and was promptly
expelled from DMK, came out to form his own party the Anna Dravida Munnetra
Kazhagam (ADMK).
In
1977 he became the chief minister of Tamil Nadu - the first film actor in India
to become the chief minister of a state. He remained as Chief minister till his
death in 1987. He had built a mass
following and glorious reputation for
philanthropism idolized by his followers
as Puratchi Thalaivar ( Revolutionary leader). MGR was posthumously honoured with the Bharat
Ratna, India's highest civilian award.
In
October 1984, MGR was diagnosed with kidney failure, which was further
complicated by diabetes, a mild heart attack and a massive stroke. MGR died on December 24, 1987 after his
prolonged illness. He was 70. His death sparked off a frenzy of looting and
rioting all over the state of Tamil Nadu. Shops, movie theatres, buses and
other public and private property became the target of violence let loose all
over the state. Around one million
people followed his remains, around 30 followers committed suicide and people
had their heads tonsured.
When
he fell ill, there were so many Cinema
theatres and all of them were running full houses attracting people ~ before
the start of every Cinema, the song ‘aandavane unthan pathangalil’ from the film ‘Oli Vilakku’ - was screened as a prelude, more of the
people of Tamilnadu praying to God for saving the life of CM MG Ramachandran,
who though hailed from ‘rationalist party’ never spoke against God and at some
point of time reportedly was a devotee of Kollur Mookambigai too…
After
days of treatment in Apollo [when
Greames Road reportedly was not allowed for commoners ~ huge crowds thronged
the Road to get nearer MGR, anxious of his health], on the night of 5th Nov
1984, MGR left for New York. It is another sad story that the then PM Indira
Gandhi had visited MGR at hospital on 16/10/84.
Mrs Gandhi promised all help in treating him, including an aircraft to
take him to hospital if needed. The sad
part was Mrs Indira could not see MGR recover as she was cruelly assassinated
on 31st Oct 1984, a fortnight after the
meeting. The planning and logistics
involved in moving MGR was exceptional ~ again remember that air traffic was a
microscopic % of what it is today !
Mrs
Gandhi’s offer for aircraft was accepted by the TN Cabinet; a team of American
doctors flew in by PM’s Indian Air Foce aircraft and stepped into Apollo
Hospital on Oct 17; Air India
exclusively made available one Boeing aircraft and kept it at Meenambakkam and by express orders the
crew were staying on the craft itself, ready to fly any moment. The leader of the Medical experts from
America Dr Eli Friedman reportedly told that MGR was not fit for travel and will
have to be observed for 10 days; the Boeing returned to Bombay ~ before it went, a team of Doctors
had an on board inspection suggesting the facilities that were required.
On
Oct 19, came anxious moments as MGR lapsed into low levels of consciousness
because of a tennis ball sized swelling in the brain. Around this time, Dr Kanno, a Neurosurgeon
from Japan was on his way from Tokyo.
They were brought to Madras in a chartered 350 seater aircraft – during the journey, MGR was served with a
special liquid diet; at London blood analysis was done; the results were
obtained whilst airborne through radio from control tower at Heathrow airport.
After all this, the flight safely landed at New York and was taken to Brooklyn
Hospital by Dr Sreepada Rao.
That he returned back to Madras, won the elections in and ruled the
State for some more time, eventually died on Dec 24, 1987 is history. There are thousands of his followers who
adore, admire and remember him still ~ 37
years after his death, today too, one
could see people on roads placing his
picture and offering their obeisance on his death anniversary.
On
January 12, 1967, M.G. Ramachandran had to be rushed to hospital with bullet injuries, shot
by MR Radha. Radha was sentenced to
seven years’ rigorous imprisonment. After appealing and failing in High Court, Radha
rushed to Supreme Court too. Though the
Court rejected the appeal, it reduced his sentence on humanitarian grounds.
Radha was 57 years old then and got his sentence reduced. In Apr 1971, the DMK government released M.R.
Radha one month ahead of the scheduled date. In all, Radha served four years
and three months in jail.
Months after his death, there were many who believed that he was still alive – theory was
MGR American wrist watch (he wore the
watch on right hand) would stop once he is dead, but the sound of its ticking
could be heard in his Samadhi. (the theme gets told in movie Vada Chennai too
!) MGR still lives in the hearts of people is a testament to his
popularity and goodness.
Regards
– S. Sampathkumar.
24th
Dec 2024
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