J. Jayalalithaa, the chief minister of Tamil Nadu and one of India's most powerful and popular politicians, died in a Chennai hospital on Monday night, nearly three months after she was admitted there. She was 68. Jayalalithaa, who was hospitalised on September 22 with complaints of fever and dehydration, suffered a cardiac arrest on Sunday. On Monday, she continued to be very critical and the end came at 11.30pm. Born on February 24, 1948, in a family that served King Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar of Mysore, she was named Komalavalli at birth. When she entered Tamil cinema, she was another struggling actress. But luck - and the legendary MGR's blessings - were on her side. Once she was recognized as a cine star, Jayalalithaa plunged into politics - with just one benefactor in the whole of Tamil Nadu. And after MGR died, she emerged out of his shadows to consolidate herself in a male domain and became the first woman chief minister of Tamil Nadu, that too a Brahmin woman at the helm of a Dravidian party! Charges of corruption and nepotism have constantly pursued her. She has been accused of being intolerant of criticism. And though many credit her with administrative acumen, the quality was missing when unprecedented floods ravaged Chennai. A once shy girl, who complained about the "looks" men gave her when she went to film studios, eventually saw male politicians fall at her feet!
Here is the timeline of the important events in Jayalalithaa's life:
February 24, 1948 Jayalalitha was born in Melukote town in Mysuru as Komalavalli to Vedavalli and Jayaraman on 24 February 1948. She hails from a Tamil Iyengar family. 1961 Starts her film career as a child artist. 'Epistle' was the first movie she started shooting for. 1964 Debuts as lead actress in a Kannada film called 'Chinnada Gombe' at the age of 15. 1965 Debuts as lead actress in Tamil with 'Vennira Aadai' . She also acts opposite MG Ramachandran (MGR), former Tamil Nadu chief minister. A relationship blossoms between the two stretching for two decades. 1967 Jayalalithaa performed a dance for charity at the historic Crawford Hall in Mysore University. The tickets were priced at Rs 10, 25 and 50. 1964 to 1966 Between 1964 to 1966 she did around 35 shows of drama named Malathy and later discontinued as she became very busy in films. 1970 Won the special award from Filmfare for Best Actress as the Filmfare Award for Best Actress - Tamil was announced only from the year 1972 and Won Tamil Nadu Cinema Fan Award for Best Actress. 1974 Her 100th film. Received the title Nadippuku Ilakkium Vahuthuvar, Won Tamil Nadu Cinema Fan Award for Best Actress. 1980 Nadhiyai Thedi Vandha Kadal was the last Tamil film to release with Jayalalithaa in the lead role. 1982 Jayalalithaa becomes an AIADMK party member. 1983 Appointed as AIADMK party's propoganda secretary and campaigns in the Thiruchendur by-election. 1989 On March 24 1989, Karunanidhi was due to present the first budget of his government. The session turnd into a fight between the members. Jayalalitha sari was pulled in Assembly and she vowed that she would re-enter the assembly as CM. A weeping Jayalalithaa showing the media the spot on her head where DMK members allegedly hit her in the TN Assembly: PTI 1987 MGR died on December 1987 after his prolonged illness. Soon after the death of MGR, Jayalalitha proclaimed herself his political heir. She is the second female chief minister of Tamil Nadu after Janaki Ramachandran. June 24, 1991 Jayalalithaa sworn in Chief Minister after she leads AIADMK to a huge win in assembly elections. May, 1996 Amidst charges of corruption during its rule, AIADMK loses in the assembly elections. DMK returns to power. July 11, 1996 Then Janata Party leader Subramanian Swamy files private complaint in a court accusing Jayalalithaa of amassing wealth worth Rs 66.65 crore disproportionate to her known sources of income during 1991 to 1996. Dec 7, 1996 Jayalalitha arrested. Charges of corruption, including accumulation of disproportionate assets, follows. April, 1997 DMK government sets up three special courts to try 47 corruption cases against Jayalalithaa, her former cabinet colleagues and others. 1997 Prosecution launched against Jayalalithaa, her close friend Sasikala and two others in a Chennai Court in DA case. Image credit: Hindustan Times June 4, 1997 Charge-sheeted in DA case. 1999 Discharged in coal import deal case by special court; Upheld by Madras High Court. February 2, 2000 Special court convicts her in Pleasant Stay Hotel case related to permission granted for construction by allegedly flouting rules. Trial progresses in DA case. August 2000 By August 2000, as many as 250 out of 260 prosecution witnesses examined. October, 2000: A special court in Chennai convicts Jayalalithaa in TANSI land deal case. May 14, 2001 Jayalalithaa leads AIADMK to landslide win in assembly elections; sworn in Chief Minister though she was disqualified to contest elections. September 21, 2001 Jayalalithaa unseated as CM after Supreme Court quashes her appointment as she was disqualified to contest polls due to TANSI case conviction. December 4, 2001 Madras High Court acquits Jayalalithaa in the TANSI case and Pleasant Stay Hotel case. Feb 21, 2002 Jayalalithaa elected to Assembly in a bypoll from Andipatti constituency. March 2, 2002 Jayalalithaa sworn in as Chief Minister. In the DA case, three public prosecutors resign as also senior counsel. Several prosecution witnesses resile from their earlier depositions. November 18, 2003 On a petition by DMK, Supreme Court transfers the trial in DA case to Bengaluru. November 24, 2003 Supereme Court upholds Jayalalithaa's acquittal in TANSI case. January 23, 2004 Acquitted by a special court in the Rs 28.28 crore SPIC disinvestment case. February 19, 2005 Karnataka government appoints B V Acharya, a former advocate general, as Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) to conduct the prosecution in DA case. May 11, 2006 AIADMK loses in assembly elections, DMK returns to power. May 16, 2011 Jayalalithaa leads AIADMK to victory in assembly polls; sworn in Chief Minister October/November 2011: Jayalalithaa deposes in Bengaluru Special Court in DA case and answers 1,339 questions by judge. August 12, 2012 Acharya discharged from the case after he expresses his inability to continue as SPP and resigns. February 2, 2013 Karnataka Government appoints G Bhavani Singh as SPP. August 28, 2014 Special Court reserves judgement. September 27, 2014 Supporters of J. Jayalalithaa shout slogans during a protest against her court verdict, in Chennai on Sept. 27, 2014. - Reuters Jayalalithaa unseated as Chief Minister after she attracts disqualification as an MLA due to the conviction. October 18, 2014 AIADMK supporters celebrate the Supreme Court's decision to grant bail to their party leader. PTI Jayalalithaa granted bail by Supreme Court, released from Bengaluru jail after spending 21 days. Jan 19, 2015 High Court rejects prayer by Anbazhagan seeking discontinuation of Bhavani Singh as SPP. Jan 24, 2015 BJP leader Subramanian Swamy files application before the High Court seeking permission to implead himself in Jayalalithaa's appeal. Feb 11, 2015 DMK general secretary K. Anbazhagan. Image credit: The Hindu High Court dismisses appeal by Anbazhagan against rejection of his plea for discontinuation of Bhavani Singh as SPP. Mar 11, 2015 Swamy prays to the court to dismiss Jayalalithaa's appeal and to confirm her conviction. Mar 11, 2015 Karnataka High Court reserves order on the appeals filed by Jayalalithaa and three others. April 27, 2015 The Supreme Court annuls Tamil Nadu Government's appointment of Bhavani Singh as SPP. April 28, 2015 B V Acharya re-appointed as SPP. Files written submission in High Court; seeks dismissal of appeals by Jayalalithaa and others. May 11, 2015 Karnataka High Court acquits Jayalaithaa. May 22, 2015 Jayalalithaa elected leader of AIADMK legislature party. May 23, 2015 Sworn in Chief Minister for fifth time.
(With inputs taken from IANS, PTI, Hindustan Times, The Hindu)
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