Jayalalitha---The Caped Wonder-Woman

cool profile. should have given more info on how she actually rose to such heights as it would make for an interesting read (unlike the rise of generals in pakistan who wake up one morning and take over the country). Sankaracharya. who`s he?

Re: # 1

Interesting but true article.
Jayalalitha is the Paki equivalent of Benazir, in the corruption scenario. Only more corrupt that her, some would say. She already has bought real estate in Europe and America. In that sense Bhuttos disciple?

Revathy:

...In Tamil Nadu, poverty, illiteracy and a passion for cinematic heroes and heroines gave Jayalalitha and others of her breed, potent leverage to catapult her to power...


I think you`re most probably a Tamil Brahmin brought up outside TN, with a skewed understanding of TN and Dravidian politics.. First of all, You should check your facts before writing an artice.. Tamilnadu tops or in one of the top 4 states in many Human Development Indicators like literacy/Health/Fertility rates/ FDI etc.. So it does not matter if we really elect cinematic heroes or have a great passion for cinema heroines.. As long as it works I like many others don`t see a problem with it. Afterall in a democracy anyone can become a ruler.. Why not cine-heroes??. It was the much ridiculed actor MGR, who revolutionised/popularised the ``mid-day meals`` scheme (providing free food to the government school kids, because he himself knew how hard it is for a kid to attend a school with an hungry stomach) that the ``Supreme court`` recently mandated every state to follow. And MGR introduced this when there was a huge budget deficit (20-25 years ago). You can all see the effects of that scheme, poor parents sent their kids to school thinking they`d atleast get one good meal. Those kids would have otherwise been out of school.. .

...In the State Assembly when she speaks, Dravidian men who might normally spit on a woman or give her the backs of their hands, listen in complete, respectful silence. ...

FYI, this is ridiculous and offensive. You have to state the facts where you have seen dravidian men in the assembly spitting on a woman.

I believe you are angry with Jayalalitha, because she made this Sankaracharya dude look like a fool. As far as the general Tamilian is concerned, It is a usual murder case and accounted for some entertainment.. I am fine if you want to your anger at jayalalitha. But I don`t know why it requires a barrage of innuendos against Tamils/Dravidians

Re: # 3

Would nt you agree that Jayalalitha is more corrupt than MGR or any of her predecessors?

Or are you just resigned to the fact that politicians, wily or villainous, are corrupt to the hilt, with a bottomless appetite?

Either way, it needs a forum like this, outside of Tamil Nadus borders for a `democratic` debate like this to happen. Look at the fate of opposition leaders in the state. Not to mention the pathetic state of dissent within the state. Can you imagine allegations like these - though in common public knowledge in any leading Indian newspaper?

The internet has its advantages in being able to talk without fear.

Re: # 4

I`m not an advocate for Jayalalitha. just took offence to the `generalizations` attributed to Tamils/Dravidians..

Either way, it needs a forum like this, outside of Tamil Nadus borders for a `democratic` debate like this to happen. Look at the fate of opposition leaders in the state. Not to mention the pathetic state of dissent within the state. Can you imagine allegations like these - though in common public knowledge in any leading Indian newspaper?

The internet has its advantages in being able to talk without fear.

I think you have a wrong notion too. The main opposition parties are not repressed in TN and it never was.. Jaya jailed Vaiko, Karunanidhi on some flimsy charges and that`s about it.. The number one satellite network in TN is owned by the opposition DMK, and a lot of local newspapers/press are against the govt. too.. And they carry all kinds of charges against Jaya/ADMK.

You are not seeing allegations in national newspapers because there was no major scandal in this regime.. It is not because scandals are not happening. but I believe Jaya`s become smarter like karunanidhi.. :-))

There is a lot of dissent in the state.. I think you are talking about the Sankaracharya arrest, in that case the opposition DMK is with the govt.. and that`s the reason for lack of dissent.

Shakaracharya is a pontiff of one of the hindu monastries..but he has miniscule following, perhaps only among a specific caste in tamilnadu. hindus at large are blissfully unaware of his existance.

that jaya is corrupt is no big deal..every local politician has ammased large amounts of wealth..(except narendra modi). most local politicians essentially operate as mafia dons..you make deals with them and the police are their enforcers.

Delighted that Dr. JJ has attracted so much intelligent comment!
Mr. Masanamuthu, profuse apologies if you were offended by my remarks. You were spot on.. I am, by definition a TamBrahm woman who lives outside Tamil Nadu, but have spent my college years there and have visited for long periods of time to be able to observe what life is like there.
The thing is I have a horror of being labelled Brahmin or even Tamil, and I find it hard to comprehend how one`s entire being, identity can be bound by the parameters of caste. So by making a statement like that about Dravidian men, I guess I was carried away, and again, I apologise.
If the Sankaracharya was in any way guilty of conspiracy leading to murder, I hope he will be put away for a long time. Religion entering politics will be the death-knell of whatever advances this country has made. And power and money can be abused by anyone even a so-called `seer`. In another forum, I had made the point that calling someone a seer just because he headed a religious institution does not automatically mean he is a holy man.
Holiness is not conferred by some lazy journalist sitting at a desk or by right-wing parties from the Centre.
The anti-Brahmin movement begun in the thirties was in response to terrible doings by people who appropriated the power of learning and thereby excluded millions from any rights to education and employment. But any movement becomes corrupted over time. In Tamil Nadu, as in other states where politics is caste-based, there is no third voice. Everyone needs to be represented. More anon.

Delighted that Dr. JJ has attracted so much intelligent comment!
Mr. Masanamuthu, profuse apologies if you were offended by my remarks. You were spot on.. I am, by definition a TamBrahm woman who lives outside Tamil Nadu, but have spent my college years there and have visited for long periods of time to be able to observe what life is like there.
The thing is I have a horror of being labelled Brahmin or even Tamil, and I find it hard to comprehend how one`s entire being, identity can be bound by the parameters of caste. So by making a statement like that about Dravidian men, I guess I was carried away, and again, I apologise.
If the Sankaracharya was in any way guilty of conspiracy leading to murder, I hope he will be put away for a long time. Religion entering politics will be the death-knell of whatever advances this country has made. And power and money can be abused by anyone even a so-called `seer`. In another forum, I had made the point that calling someone a seer just because he headed a religious institution does not automatically mean he is a holy man.
Holiness is not conferred by some lazy journalist sitting at a desk or by right-wing parties from the Centre.
The anti-Brahmin movement begun in the thirties was in response to terrible doings by people who appropriated the power of learning and thereby excluded millions from any rights to education and employment. But any movement becomes corrupted over time. In Tamil Nadu, as in other states where politics is caste-based, there is no third voice. Everyone needs to be represented. More anon.

Re: # 8

Revathy, The very fact that you have thought it necessary to write an article like this exposes the fear or demonisation of Jayalalitha. She has gained notoriety of frightening proportions because she has made the state a `democratic` monarchy, and made Tamil Nadu politics stink of corruption, and in general I feel, has dragged TN politics down with her. An unfortunate thing to happen in a state with otherwise well mannered people, unlike in Bihar, for eg. She openly asks for huge sums as commissions and spends them buying real estate and even public property so brazenly in public knowledge.

The other reason is of course her use of the police and intelligence machinery in the state to brutally oppress anyone who dares to question her - even if they were in her own party.

Its a good piece to read and contains a lot of truth. For entirely different reasons though, it would nt get printed in any leading national newspaper, and thats for sure!

Re: # 5

One cannot nail whats wrong, can you?

I agree the opposition does have a huge stake in the media, but there is nothing Jayalalitha can do about it, unless it is utterly illegal and facing the wrath of the courts. And I am definitely sure that she has already tried brow beating them behind the scenes, or even tried to buy them off.

It is gossip that she has earned 1000 s of crores. It has offered 500 crores to entice on of the opposition parties to switch sides.

I asked about the lack of dissent because - why does nt the opposition bring out the massive corrupt practices out into public forums? They should know, having their `own` officers in the state. My reasoning is : It is too afraid to do so - look at what happens to people who question this government. They can potentially face a lot of harrassment. Incometax, courts, etc and even acid - though that is unlikely to happen again, given the media got its act together and publicised it the last time. And the opposition itself has its old skeletons. That is why it is ineffective - another reason for the lack of real dissent.

The most amazing thing about Tamilnadu is that it continues to progress (economy,education) inspite of Jayalalitha and Karunanidhi .Tamilnadu ranks no:1 in India in terms of economic freedom. Awareness among the public is quite high and they have got their priorities right .

#11

``Tamilnadu ranks no:1 in India in terms of economic freedom. ``

What s your source for that? Can one have a corruption index for corruption among Chief Ministers?

Revathy:

If Jaylalitha should be compared to anyone, it is Indira Gandhi; except that she is smarter than Indira and has brought more benefits to Tamil Nadu than Indira did to India.

Jaylalitha is everything that you say that she is. To her sins, you could have also added how he sidelined Janaki Devi and assumed the role of MGR`s ``real`` wife. I have no doubt that Shankracharya has been framed, he may be no seer but he is unlikely to be a murderer either. I say so because of the length to which she went to deny him bail despite courts not agreeing with her.

Despite all her shortcomings, I would prefer her to most other Indian politicians, most of whom are corrupt but not as smart as she is. She has delivered economic and social progress, although TN seems to continue to make progress regardless of who is in charge. I was most impressed with the way she took on the civil servants who throuout India think of themselves as sarkar-mai-baap instead of being the servants of their paymasters, the general public.

I would prefer to see her at the hem of affairs in India in preference to any of the other regional satraps, such as Laloo, Mulayam and Mayawati.

Re: # 13

If you think JJ will make a good PM, you have not genuinely understand the levels of corruption we are talking about here - inspite of the already corrupt central government. She could sell the country for a commission - and no, I am not joking.

As for the Sankara, it has always been ammas stance that in power, she uses the police force with full effect - but for genuine purposes - using them for trumped up charges only with the opposition. This use of the police gives it some sort of moral power when it is misused.

This `iron lady` statecraft also keeps people under ` check` - something akin to what happens in police states like Saudi Arabia. Thats the thin dividing line from a total dictatorship.

Re: # 12

Maybe vengat referred to this..



Composite ranks for economic freedom of states 2005
State
2005 Rank
2004 Rank
2005 Index
2004 Index

Tamil Nadu
1
5
0.515
0.371

Gujarat
2
1
0.450
0.404

Kerala
3
3
0.447
0.374

Andhra Pradesh
4
2
0.381
0.377

Madhya Pradesh
5
9
0.374
0.332

Haryana
6
8
0.366
0.348

Jharkhand
7
16
0.354
0.294

Uttar Pradesh
8
13
0.347
0.303

Karnataka
9
12
0.337
0.309

Maharashtra
10
6
0.335
0.365


State 2005 Rank 2004 Rank 2005 Index 2004 Index
West Bengal 11 14 0.335 0.299
Rajasthan 12 7 0.335 0.348
Himachal Pradesh 13 15 0.317 0.296
Jammu & Kashmir 14 10 0.311 0.328
Orissa 15 11 0.295 0.316
Punjab 16 17 0.290 0.292
Chhattisgarh 17 4 0.266 0.373
Bihar 18 19 0.240 0.265
Uttaranchal 19 18 0.224 0.276
Assam 20 20 0.218 0.222

But in all such instances, when additional variables are suggested, we find that objective


And still I don`t know why you think Jaya is suppressing dissent. Opposition parties` public meetings/rallies/protests are allowed. The reason why you don`t see much on national papers is because, the opposition party is in the ruling coalition in the centre and all of them are making money.. :-))

Revathy:

It is a general assumption (North Indian??) that Tamils are fools who worship actors/actoresses and build temples for them, and you are no exception to that.. Of course, politicians are not what we want them to be. They make for good entertainment.. But they are pretty focussed on development and as long as it serves the purpose (even though just to a lesser extent), what`s the big deal.. People keep changing governments if it doesn`t work and it`s a good sign.

The backward caste movement has kicked the brahmins out and monopolised the power, but now the most backward castes and dalits are asserting their power and want their legitimate share..

masanamuthu is right on. There is a general assumption, evidenced in various snide remarks, that `Tamils are fools who worship actors/actoresses and build temples for them.` One suspects this easy belief may be similar to the foolishness of those who believe that Hindus actually worship stones and cows.

Fact of the matter is that most Tamilians one meets, be they brahmins or nonbrahmins, would in matters of intelligence put most other Indians to shame. They also take their politics quite passionately and, on average, their civic duties seriously.

That`s not a bad thing at all. And if Jayalalitha has been able to tap into that passion, that`s the brightest feather in her cap.

IMO, Jayalalitha is a politician who should be evaluated by the same standards that are applied to other politicians. But to link her rise to some `dravid thing` is untenable and unnecessary.