MGR to Karunanidhi, how supporters have matured in handling deaths
08 Aug. 2018 16:14
India Today
Author
FOLLOW
Karunanidhi's death reminded one of the violence that followed the death of another former chief minister MG Ramachandran.
HIGHLIGHTS
CM J Jayalalithaa died on December 5, 2016
MG Ramachandran died on December 24, 1987
Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi died on August 8, 2018
Even before the death of DMK supremo and former Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi yesterday (August 8), there were fears of violence and unrest throughout the state.
Karunanidhi's death reminded one of the violence that followed the death of another former chief minister MG Ramachandran.
This was the reason why the Tamil Nadu government took measures to maintain law and order in the aftermath of Karunanidhi's death.
However, the people of Tamil Nadu seem to have matured over the years.
The situation was by and large peaceful when former CM J Jayalalithaa died on December 5, 2016, and it has remained calm after Karunanidhi's death.
Though MG Ramachandran died on December 24, 1987, of cardiac arrest, he had been suffering from kidney-related ailments for about three years. He was diagnosed with kidney failure in October 1984.
He was rushed to the US for treatment for a kidney transplant. He returned to Chennai on February 4, 1985.
However, at least 13 diehard fans of the matinee idol immolated themselves out of their love for him. Some cut themselves with razor-blades in a mass hysteria during this period.
On a daily basis, hundreds of telegrams were sent to MGR, with people praying for him or offering their kidneys to him.
In some cases, MGR's fans issued threats of dire consequences if the doctors did not rescue their "God". One telegram told the Apollo doctors that the sender would not eat till they told him that MGR was safe. Another, from a doctor, offered his brain to the chief minister, said an India Today report.
The situation was worse when MGR died on December 24, 1987. The heart of state had stopped. Normal life was paralysed for two days.
The violence that followed left 29 people dead and 47 police personnel badly bruised. Moreover, 30 followers committed suicide. Several fans had their heads tonsured.
"Shops were closed, essential supplies were cut off, vehicular transport ground to a halt and passengers were stranded at railway stations and the airport. (The then) vice president SD Sharma was stuck at the airport for three hours," said another India Today archive report.
As the news of MGR's death spread, Chennai (then called Madras) succumbed to grief and anarchy. His supporters pelted stones, burnt buses, uprooted road dividers, looted shops and set them on fire.
They even attempted to damage statues of MGR's arch political foe Karunanidhi.
AIADMK supporters made several comments in a state of despondency. They said, "Why should Madras survive when MGR has gone?... The world will never see another leader like MGR... With MGR dead, what is the use of us living?"
Jayalalithaa passed away on December 5, 2016, at the age of 68.
With memories of violence after MGR's death not having faded, there were apprehensions of similar incidents when Jayalalithaa died on December 5, 2016, after remaining in hospital for 75 days.
The police and administration made elaborate arrangements to meet any such eventualities.
Though there was no violence, AIADMK claimed that 77 people died of grief and shock after having to come to know of Jayalalithaa's illness and death.
However, a central intelligence estimate has put the toll at 30 besides four suicide attempts.
There was some chaos outside Apollo Hospital where Jayalalithaa was hospitalised when premature reports emerged that she had died and the AIADMK flag was flown at half-mast in the party headquarters in the evening of December 5.
Some barricades were smashed. However, the situation was brought under control after news came that Jayalalithaa was still alive.
Jayalalithaa breathed her last at 11.30 pm.
As against apprehensions, her death was accepted by her supporters and Tamil Nadu and Chennai remained by and large peaceful.
M KARUNANIDHI
Even though Jayalalithaa's death did not witness violence on a scale comparable to that of her mentor MGR, the Tamil Nadu police left no stone unturned to ensure peace in the state.
Yesterday, even before Karunanidhi died, the state shut down early.
As a precautionary measure, educational institutions and private companies were shut. The children and employees were asked to leave their premises before closing hours.
In Chennai, local bus services were suspended soon after his death.
Shopping malls, cinema theatres and liquor shops voluntarily closed down.
However, a few miscreants did pelt stones and damaged the windshield of a passenger bus.
Two self-immolation attempts were reported in Karur and Thiruvarur districts were reported. Stones were pelted at two buses in Madurai.
Business establishments, including companies, theatres and liquor shops, are closed today (August 8) also as a precautionary measure.
But Tamil Nadu has certainly changed in 31 years. From the large-scale violence after the death of MGR in 1987 to reports of deaths due to shock, after Jayalalithaa passed away to not a single death, reported after Karunanidhi's demise, the people of Tamil Nadu have matured and come a long way.
08 Aug. 2018 16:14
India Today
Author
FOLLOW
Karunanidhi's death reminded one of the violence that followed the death of another former chief minister MG Ramachandran.
HIGHLIGHTS
CM J Jayalalithaa died on December 5, 2016
MG Ramachandran died on December 24, 1987
Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi died on August 8, 2018
Even before the death of DMK supremo and former Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi yesterday (August 8), there were fears of violence and unrest throughout the state.
Karunanidhi's death reminded one of the violence that followed the death of another former chief minister MG Ramachandran.
This was the reason why the Tamil Nadu government took measures to maintain law and order in the aftermath of Karunanidhi's death.
However, the people of Tamil Nadu seem to have matured over the years.
The situation was by and large peaceful when former CM J Jayalalithaa died on December 5, 2016, and it has remained calm after Karunanidhi's death.
Though MG Ramachandran died on December 24, 1987, of cardiac arrest, he had been suffering from kidney-related ailments for about three years. He was diagnosed with kidney failure in October 1984.
He was rushed to the US for treatment for a kidney transplant. He returned to Chennai on February 4, 1985.
However, at least 13 diehard fans of the matinee idol immolated themselves out of their love for him. Some cut themselves with razor-blades in a mass hysteria during this period.
On a daily basis, hundreds of telegrams were sent to MGR, with people praying for him or offering their kidneys to him.
In some cases, MGR's fans issued threats of dire consequences if the doctors did not rescue their "God". One telegram told the Apollo doctors that the sender would not eat till they told him that MGR was safe. Another, from a doctor, offered his brain to the chief minister, said an India Today report.
The situation was worse when MGR died on December 24, 1987. The heart of state had stopped. Normal life was paralysed for two days.
The violence that followed left 29 people dead and 47 police personnel badly bruised. Moreover, 30 followers committed suicide. Several fans had their heads tonsured.
"Shops were closed, essential supplies were cut off, vehicular transport ground to a halt and passengers were stranded at railway stations and the airport. (The then) vice president SD Sharma was stuck at the airport for three hours," said another India Today archive report.
As the news of MGR's death spread, Chennai (then called Madras) succumbed to grief and anarchy. His supporters pelted stones, burnt buses, uprooted road dividers, looted shops and set them on fire.
They even attempted to damage statues of MGR's arch political foe Karunanidhi.
AIADMK supporters made several comments in a state of despondency. They said, "Why should Madras survive when MGR has gone?... The world will never see another leader like MGR... With MGR dead, what is the use of us living?"
Jayalalithaa passed away on December 5, 2016, at the age of 68.
With memories of violence after MGR's death not having faded, there were apprehensions of similar incidents when Jayalalithaa died on December 5, 2016, after remaining in hospital for 75 days.
The police and administration made elaborate arrangements to meet any such eventualities.
Though there was no violence, AIADMK claimed that 77 people died of grief and shock after having to come to know of Jayalalithaa's illness and death.
However, a central intelligence estimate has put the toll at 30 besides four suicide attempts.
There was some chaos outside Apollo Hospital where Jayalalithaa was hospitalised when premature reports emerged that she had died and the AIADMK flag was flown at half-mast in the party headquarters in the evening of December 5.
Some barricades were smashed. However, the situation was brought under control after news came that Jayalalithaa was still alive.
Jayalalithaa breathed her last at 11.30 pm.
As against apprehensions, her death was accepted by her supporters and Tamil Nadu and Chennai remained by and large peaceful.
M KARUNANIDHI
Even though Jayalalithaa's death did not witness violence on a scale comparable to that of her mentor MGR, the Tamil Nadu police left no stone unturned to ensure peace in the state.
Yesterday, even before Karunanidhi died, the state shut down early.
As a precautionary measure, educational institutions and private companies were shut. The children and employees were asked to leave their premises before closing hours.
In Chennai, local bus services were suspended soon after his death.
Shopping malls, cinema theatres and liquor shops voluntarily closed down.
However, a few miscreants did pelt stones and damaged the windshield of a passenger bus.
Two self-immolation attempts were reported in Karur and Thiruvarur districts were reported. Stones were pelted at two buses in Madurai.
Business establishments, including companies, theatres and liquor shops, are closed today (August 8) also as a precautionary measure.
But Tamil Nadu has certainly changed in 31 years. From the large-scale violence after the death of MGR in 1987 to reports of deaths due to shock, after Jayalalithaa passed away to not a single death, reported after Karunanidhi's demise, the people of Tamil Nadu have matured and come a long way.
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