Venkat Raman
Auckland, December 6, 2016
Tamil-speaking people, especially those of Tamil Nadu origin have been mourning the death of Jayalalithaa Jayaram, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.
A number of persons have called our offices to convey their condolences and express the hope that the people of Tamil Nadu would reconcile to harsh realities of life and maintain peace and calm.
Jayalalithaa passed away at the Apollo Hospitals at about 1130 pm Indian Standard Time on Monday, December 5, 2016. She suffered cardiac arrest a day earlier. While initial medical bulletins indicated that she was recovering, she finally succumbed. The end came as a shock to millions of people.
Ilango Krishnamoorthy, Managing Director of Mercury Printz and President, The Hindu Temple Society of New Zealand (which owns and manages Thiru Subramaniyar Aalayam in the South Auckland suburb of Mangere), said that Jayalalithaa showed exemplary courage and fortitude in her roles as a politician, Chief Minister and Leader of the Opposition.
“From the time she became the General Secretary of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) following the death of her mentor and leader M G Ramachandran, she has been at the knife-edge of politics. She did a lot for the people of Tamil Nadu and would not done a lot more, had not death taken her away from us,” he said.
Sheba Soundararajan, Secretary of Muthamil Sangam Inc based in Auckland sent us the following message in Tamil:
“தமிழக முதல்வர் மாண்புமிகு ஜெயலலிதா அவர்களின் மறைவுக்கு ஆக்கலந்து முத்தமிழ்ச் சங்கத்தின் ஆழ்ந்த அனுதாபங்கள். 05 /Dec/16 மறைந்த அவரது ஆன்ம சாந்தியடைய வேண்டுகின்றோம்
128 திரைப்படங்கிலில் வெற்றி நடை போட்ட பிறகு, மக்களின் ஆதரவோடு 6 முறை தமிழக முதல்வராக இருந்திருக்கின்றார். அஞ்சா நெஞ்சம் படைத்த தமிழ் தலைவராக வாழ்ந்த இவருக்கு ஆக்கலந்து முத்தமிழ்ச் சங்கத்தின் அஞ்சலிகள்.”
This Reporter has known Jayalalithaa since his and her formative years in Bangalore and has interviewed her on a few occasions. Indian Newslink will carry a special tribute from him in its December 15, 2016 issue.
*
Photo Caption:
Jayalalithaa Jayaram
