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An in-depth conversation with yogi, mystic, visionary, and founder of the Isha Foundation, Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev. Having made it his mission to help others achieve inner well-being and to reach their full potential, Sadhguru has a truly unique perspective on how each of us can find fulfillment, meaning, and spiritual well-being in the modern world.
श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता - यथार्थ गीता
द्वैत, द्रोण और भीष्म का अध्यात्म-
कथं भीष्ममहं संख्ये द्रोणं च मधुसूदन।
इषुभिः प्रतियोत्स्यामि पूजार्हावरिसूदन।।अध्याय 2, श्लोक 4 ।।
श्रीकृष्णकालीन मर्हिष वेदव्यास से पूर्व कोई भी शास्त्र पुस्तक के रूप में उपलब्ध नहीं था। श्रुतज्ञान की इस परम्परा को तोड़ते हुए उन्होंने चार वेद, ब्रह्मसूत्र, महाभारत, भागवत एवं गीता-जैसे ग्रन्थों में पूर्वसंचित भौतिक एवं आध्यात्मिक ज्ञानराशि को संकलित कर अन्त में स्वयं ही निर्णय दिया कि–
गीता सुगीता कर्तव्या किमन्यै: शास्त्रसंग्रहै:।
या स्वयं पद्मनाभस्य मुखपद्माद्विनि:सृता।। (म.भा., भीष्मपर्व अ० ४३/१)
गीता भली प्रकार मनन करके हृदय में धारण करने योग्य है, जो पद्मनाभ भगवान के श्रीमुख से नि:सृत वाणी है; फिर अन्य शास्त्रों के संग्रह की क्या आवश्यकता? मानव-सृष्टि के आदि में भगवान् श्रीकृष्ण के श्रीमुख से नि:सृत अविनाशी योग अर्थात् श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता, जिसकी विस्तृत व्याख्या वेद और उपनिषद् हैं, विस्मृति आ जाने पर उसी आदिशास्त्र को भगवान श्रीकृष्ण ने अर्जुन के प्रति पुन: प्रकाशित किया, जिसकी यथावत् व्याख्या ‘यथार्थ गीता’ है।
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Plenary: A holistic and landscape view on change.
events.globallandscapesforum.org/agenda/bonn-2017/day-1/p...
Global Landscapes Forum, Bonn, Germany.
Photo by Pilar Valbuena/GLF
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MGR - M.G.RAMACHANDRAN - Puratchithalaivar - PonmanaSelvan - Great Actor - Director - Producer - Late CM of Tamil Nadu,Founder of AIADMK Party - Drawing - Paint
M. G. Ramachandran
Marudhur Gopalan Ramachandran (Tamil: ம. கோ. இராமச்சந்திரன், Malayalam : മരത്തൂർ ഗോപാല രാമചന്ദ്രൻ,- 17 January 1917 – 24 December 1987), popularly known by his initials MGR, was an Indian film actor, director, producer, and politician who also served as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu successively for three terms.[2]
In his youth, MGR and his elder brother, M. G. Chakrapani became members of a drama troupe to support their family. Influenced by Gandhian ideals, MGR joined the Indian National Congress. After a few years of acting in plays, he made his film debut in the 1936 film Sathi Leelavathi in a supporting role. In the late 1940s he graduated to leading roles and for the next three decades dominated the Tamil film industry.[3] 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 left the DMK 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.
Contents [hide]
1 Early life and background
2 Acting career
3 Political career
3.1 Criticism and controversies
3.1.1 Bharat Ratna
3.2 Member of Legislative Assembly
3.3 Chief minister
4 Awards
5 Philanthropy
6 Illness and death
7 Filmography
7.1 As actor
7.2 As producer and director
8 Gallery
9 References
10 External links
Early life and background[edit]
MGR was born in Nawalapitiya near Kandy, Sri Lanka,[4] to Melakkath Gopala Menon aPalakkad Nair and Maruthur Satyabhama[5]. Melakkath Gopala Menon was staying in Vadavannur, in Palakkad District, Kerala before he was excommunicated in 1903, regarding an allegation that dealt with an illicit relationship with a widowed woman;[6] he left his family and married Maruthur Satyabhama.[7]
In his early days, MGR was a devout Hindu and a devotee of Murugan, as is the common practice for Hindus in Sri Lanka.[8] Later, when he joined the DMK, a pro-rationalist party, he followed the rationalist ideology, though not appearing very aggressively atheistic. In later days after he founded his own party following his expulsion from the DMK, he seems to have shown some leaning towards religious faith. He had asked his followers to pray for the success of his AIADMK party.[9]
His followers prayed for him when it was determined that he had a kidney illness.[10] After his demise, his wife opened up a temple in his name.
After his father's death, he joined a drama company called "Madurai Original Boys company". Later, he entered the world of cinema, becoming an actor, director, producer, and editor. MGR married Bargavi also known as Thangamani who died early due to illness. He later married Sathanandavathhi who died soon due to tuberculosis[11]. M.G.R. married V. N. Janaki a former Tamil film actress[12]. Janaki divorced her husband, Ganapati Bhatt, to marry MGR.
Acting career[edit]
M. G. Ramachandran filmed with Kamal Haasan
He made his film debut in 1936, in the film Sathi Leelavathi,[13] directed by Ellis Dungan, an American-born film director.[14] Generally starring in romance or action films, MGR got his big breakthrough in the 1947 film Manthiri Kumari, written by M. Karunanidhi. Soon he rose to superstardom in the 1954 blockbuster Malaikallan. He acted as hero in the Tamil film industry's first ever colour movie, the 1955 blockbuster Alibabavum 40 Thirudargalum. He rose to become the heart throb of millions of Indians with movies such as Anbe Vaa,Aayirathil Oruvan, Mahadevi, Panam Padaithavan, Ulagam Sutrum Vaalibhan, Adimai Penn, etc. He won the National Film Award for Best Actor for the film Rickshawkaran in 1972. His film Nadodi Mannan, released in 1958, was a Tamil version of the interpretation of thePrisoner of Zenda, produced and directed by himself and released in 1956, ran to full houses. He began to act in many movies that appealed to the direct sentiments of the common man and the rich as well. His 1973 blockbuster Ulagam Sutrum Vaalibhan broke previous box office records. It was one of the few movies filmed abroad in those days. It was shot in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong and Japan. The DMK unsuccessfully tried to curtail that movie. His acting career ended in 1984 with his last film, Ullagam Suthi Paru, which he acted when he was diagnosed with kidney failure.[15]
Political career[edit]
MGR and SSR in election campaign for DMK at THENI in 1962
MGR was a member of the Congress Party till 1953, and he used to wear khādī. In 1953 MGR joined the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) attracted by founder C.N.Annadurai. He became a vocal Tamil and Dravidian nationalist and prominent member of the DMK ("Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam" aka Dravidian Progressive Federation). He added glamour to the Dravidian movement which was sweeping Tamil Nadu. MGR became a member of the state Legislative Council in 1962. He was first elected to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly in 1967. After the death of his mentor, Annadurai, MGR became the treasurer of DMK in 1969 after Kalaingar Karunanithi became the chief minister.
M.R. Radha and MGR had worked in 25 films together. On 12 January 1967 M.R. Radha with a producer visited MGR to talk about a future project. During the conversation M.R. Radha stood up and shot MGR in his left ear twice and then pretended to shoot himself. MGR drove to the hospital by himself and spoke to the doctor with his own voice for the last time. After the operation his voice changed. Since he had been shot in his ear MGR lost hearing in his left ear and had ringing in the ear problems but never complained until he had kidney problems in the early 1983. When Sinnappa Devar paid his first visit to see MGR at the hospital after the shooting incident he paid an advance for the next MGR's movie. So after getting released from the hospital and finishing Arasakattalai MGR acted in Devar's movie Vivasaayee against doctors' advice. When finishing the movie Kaavalkaaran MGR's speaking parts were reduced. This was the only movie MGR spoke with old and new voices between scenes: When MGR was acting in Kaavalkaran in 1967 opposite J. Jayalalithaathe shooting happened.
Petralthaan Pillaya was the last movie of MGR-MR Radha together. Shooting ended just few days before MGR was shot at. The bullet was permanently lodged in his neck and his voice damaged. Within hours of the shooting, some 50,000 fans had gathered at the hospital where MGR had been taken. People cried in the streets. For six weeks, he lay in the hospital as fans awaited each report of his health. He was visited by a steady stream of commoners and luminaries of film industry, polity and bureaucracy. From his hospital bed, he conducted his campaign for Madras Legislative Assembly. He won twice the number of votes polled by his Congress rival and the largest vote polled by any candidate for the Assembly.[16] the
MGR at a function in January (1968)
In 1972, DMK leader Karunanithi started to project his first son M.K. Muthu in a big way in film and politics. Understanding the tactics played by Karunanithi to corner him, MGR started to claim that corruption had grown in the party after the demise of Annadurai and in a public meeting asked for the financial details of the party to be publicised, which enraged the leadership of DMK. Consequently, MGR was expelled from the party as per Karunanithi's plan. He forcefully floated a new party named Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (ADMK), later renamed All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), the only powerful opponent of the DMK. He mobilised between 1972 and 1977 to spread and preach his party ambition with films like Netru Indru Naalai (1974), Idhayakani (1975), Indru Pol Endrum Vazhga (1977), etc.
He became Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on 30 June 1977, remaining in office till his death in 1987. In 1979, members of his party Satyavani Muthu and Aravinda Bala Pajanor became the first non-Congress politicians from Tamil Nadu to be ministers in the Union Cabinet. The AIADMK won every state assembly election as long as MGR was alive. Although Anna Durai and Karunanidhi had acted in stage plays in trivial roles, in their younger days, before becoming chief minister, MGR was the first popular film actor to be a Chief Minister in India. Though the Congress won by a small margin of votes with the DMK in the 1980 parliamentary elections, the AIADMK under MGR won the state elections the same year. This made the Congress to ally with the AIADMK in the 1984 elections. MGR ended his acting career in 1977.
Once he became Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, he placed great emphasis on social development, especially education. One of his most successful policies was the conversion of the "Midday Meal Scheme" introduced by the popular Congress Chief Minister and kingmaker K Kamaraj, which already was encouraging underprivileged children to attend school, into "MGR's Nutritious Meal Scheme" in the government-run and -aided schools in Tamil Nadu by adding saththurundai — a nutritious sugary flour dumpling. This scheme was at a cost of Rs.100 crore and was imposed in 1982. A little more than 120,000 children of the state were benefited. He also introduced Women's Special buses. He introduced a liquor ban in the state and preservation of old temples and historical monuments, ultimately increasing the state's tourist income. He set up a free school for the cinema technicians children in Kodambakkam called MGR Primary & Higher Secondary School which provided free mid-day meals in the 1950s. He led the ADMK to victory in the 1984 assembly elections despite not taking part in the campaigning. At that time he was undergoing medical treatment in America and his images were broadcast in Tamil Nadu through cinema halls. This was an effective campaign tactic and ADMK won the elections claiming around 56% of assembly seats, indicating the depth of his popular support. He won his seat in a double landslide victory in 1984. He still holds the record of being the chief minister with the highest consistent longevity of more than a decade.
Karunanidhi claimed on 1 April 2009 and again on 13 May 2012 that MGR was ready for the merger of his party with the DMK in 1979, with Biju Patnaik acting as the mediator. The plan failed, because Panruti Ramachandran, who was close to MGR acted as a spoiler and MGR changed his mind.[17][18]
Criticism and controversies[edit]
Even after his death, MGR proved to be very popular in the state and his rule has been cited by many of his contemporaries as best in the country.[19] However, his rule is not without criticism, most of them coming from analysts outside of Tamil Nadu. Economic data under his rule showed that annual growth and per capita income was lower than national average and the state went from being second among 25 industrialized states in development after Kamaraj's rule to tenth. This decline according to critics have been due to shift of government resources from power and irrigation to social and agriculture sector according to Madras Institute of Development Studies reported in 1988. In addition, the emphasis on "welfare schemes" such as free electricity to farmers, mid-day meal schemes, etc. has been seen by many as taking money away from infrastructure development that could have benefited the poor. In addition, the liquor tax imposed during his rule was considered to contribute to a regressive tax mostly affecting the poor.
Other criticisms have been on MGR's centralized decision-making which many blame led to inefficiency and corruption to take hold of his administration. Some examples stated by the critics include Goondas act in 1982 and other acts that limited political criticism in the media which led to a "police state" during his administration. While these criticisms have been in the minority, supporters of MGR counter that most of these problems were a result of the party members serving MGR rather than the leader himself. While he is not considered a divisive figure in the state, critics and supporters alike agree that his charisma and popularity trumped policy decisions that led to his eventual success during his tenure as chief minister.[20]
Bharat Ratna[edit]
After his death in 1988, he became the third Chief Minister from the state of Tamil Nadu to receive the Bharat Ratna. The timing of the award was controversial, due to the fact that it was given so quickly after his death and he was elected as Chief Minister only 11 years before the award. Many opponents, mostly outside Tamil Nadu, criticized the current ruling party INC, under Rajiv Gandhi to have influenced the selection committee to give the award in order to help win the upcoming 1989 Lok Sabha election. The ruling party forming a coalition with Jayalalithaa, successor to MGR at that time were able to sweep Tamil Nadu winning 38 out of 39 seats, INC were however unable to win nationally.[21]
Member of Legislative Assembly[edit]
YearElected/ReelectedPlaceParty
1967ElectedSt. Thomas MountDMK
1971Re-electedSt. Thomas MountDMK
1977ElectedAruppukottai (State Assembly Constituency)AruppukottaiADMK
1980ElectedMadurai WestADMK
1984ElectedAndipattiADMK
Chief minister[edit]
From YearTo YearElection
19771980Tamil Nadu state assembly election, 1977
19801984Tamil Nadu state assembly election, 1980
19841987Tamil Nadu state assembly election, 1984
Awards[edit]
Filmfare Best Actor Award for Enga Veettu Pillai[22]
Filmfare Best Film Award for Adimai Penn[23]
National Film Award for Best Actor for the film Rickshawkaran in 1971.
Honorary doctorate received from University of Madras and The World University (Arizona).
Bharat Ratna was conferred by the Government of India (posthumously) in 1988 for his reformation activities and support from Tamil Nadu.
Philanthropy[edit]
He personally offered relief in disasters and calamities like fire, flood, drought, and cyclones. He was the first donor during the war withChina in 1962, donating Rs. 75,000 to the war fund. He was the founder and editor of Thai weekly magazine and Anna daily newspaper in Tamil. He was the owner of Sathya Studios and Emgeeyar Pictures (willed to charity) which produced many of the films he acted in. He had gifted a golden sword weighing half a Kilogram to Mookambika temple in Kollur, Udupi district.[24]
Illness and death[edit]
MGR's tomb and memorial at Marina beach, Chennai
M G R Memorial house T Nagar
In October 1984, MGR was diagnosed with kidney failure, which was further complicated by diabetes, a mild heart attack and a massive stroke. He was rushed to the Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, United States for treatment, undergoing a kidney transplant. He returned to Chennai on 4 February 1985. He was sworn in as chief minister of Tamil Nadu for the third consecutive term on 10 February 1985. The next 2 years and 10 months were spent in frequent trips to the United States for treatment.
MGR never fully recovered from his illness and died on 24 December 1987 at 3:30 am in Chennai Apollo Hospital after his prolonged illness. He was almost 71. His death sparked off a frenzy of looting and rioting all over the state. Shops, movie theatres, buses and other public and private property became the target of violence let loose. The police had to resort issuing shoot-at-sight orders. Tamilians from Bangalore rushed to Madras in trains to see the mortal remains of MGR. Government had announced free train facility for this visit. The violence during the funeral alone left 29 people dead and 47 police personnel badly wounded.[25][26]
This state of affairs continued for almost a month across Tamil Nadu. Around one million[27]people followed his remains, around 30 followers committed suicide and people had their heads tonsured. After his death, his political party, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, split between his wife Janaki Ramachandran and J. Jayalalithaa; they merged in 1988.
In 1989 Dr. M. G. R. Home and Higher Secondary School for the Speech and Hearing Impaired was established in the erstwhile residence MGR Gardens, Ramapuram, in accordance with his will dated 17 January 1986. His official residence at 27, Arcot Street, T.Nagar is now MGR Memorial House and is open for public viewing. His film studio, Sathya Studios, has been converted into a women's college.
Filmography[edit]
As actor[edit]
Main article: M. G. Ramachandran filmography
As producer and director[edit]
1958 Nadodi Mannan, Producer and Director
1969 Adimai Penn, Producer
1973 Ulagam Sutrum Valiban, Director
1977 Madhuraiyai Meetta Sundharapandiyan, Director
@Sadhguru: Without logical thinking, you couldn’t survive on this planet. But at the same time, too much logic is suicide. Let us say you wake up tomorrow morning and start thinking a hundred percent logically. Do not think about the sunrise, the birds in the sky, your child’s face, the flowers blooming in your garden. Just think logically. Now, you have to get up, go to the toilet, brush your teeth, eat, work, eat, work, eat, sleep. Again, tomorrow morning the same thing. For the next thirty, forty, or fifty years, you have to do the same thing. If you think a hundred percent logically, there is no reason for you to be alive!
One day in New York City, a man was walking home, late from work. Suddenly he had a romantic idea. He went to the florist, bought a huge bunch of red roses, went home, and knocked on the door. His wife opened the door.
She looked at him and started hollering. “Today has been a terrible day. The faucet has been leaking, the basement is flooded, the children had a food fight, and I had to clean the whole place, the dog has been sick, my mother is not well, and you have the cheek to come home drunk!”
So if you think a hundred percent logically, there is really no possibility of life! Moments of extreme logic are moments of suicide. Only if you know when logic should be used and when it’s necessary to go beyond it, will your life be beautiful.
#InnerEngineeringBook Page 166
#SadhguruQuotes
श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता - यथार्थ गीता
स्थितप्रज्ञ के लक्षण-
श्री भगवानुवाच:
प्रजहाति यदा कामान् सर्वान् पार्थ मनोगतान्।
आत्मन्येवात्मना तुष्टः स्थितप्रज्ञस्तदोच्यते।।२/५५।।
दुःखेष्वनुद्विग्नमनाः सुखेषु विगतस्पृहः।
वीतरागभयक्रोधः स्थितधीर्मुनिरुच्यते।।२/५६।।
श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता - यथार्थ गीता
अध्याय 2, श्लोक 57
स्थितप्रज्ञ पुरुष सभी परिस्थितियों सम रहता है?
यः सर्वत्रानभिस्नेहस्तत्तत्प्राप्य शुभाशुभम्।
नाभिनन्दति न द्वेष्टि तस्य प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठिता।। 2 / 57 ।।
Plenary: Ask Me Anything: Sadhguru.
events.globallandscapesforum.org/agenda/bonn-2017/day-1/p...
Global Landscapes Forum, Bonn, Germany.
Photo by Pilar Valbuena/GLF
More information on the Global Landscapes Forum, please visit globallandscapesforum.org
If you use one of our photos, please credit it accordingly and let us know. You can reach us through our Flickr account or at: cifor-mediainfo@cgiar.org
Plenary: A holistic and landscape view on change.
events.globallandscapesforum.org/agenda/bonn-2017/day-1/p...
Global Landscapes Forum, Bonn, Germany.
Photo by Pilar Valbuena/GLF
More information on the Global Landscapes Forum, please visit globallandscapesforum.org
If you use one of our photos, please credit it accordingly and let us know. You can reach us through our Flickr account or at: cifor-mediainfo@cgiar.org
श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता - यथार्थ गीता:
अनुरागी शिष्य अर्जुन-
अव्यक्तोऽयमचिन्त्योऽयमविकार्योऽयमुच्यते।
तस्मादेवं विदित्वैनं नानुशोचितुमर्हसि:।।अध्याय 2,श्लोक 25।।
Plenary: Ask Me Anything: Sadhguru.
events.globallandscapesforum.org/agenda/bonn-2017/day-1/p...
Global Landscapes Forum, Bonn, Germany.
Photo by Pilar Valbuena/GLF
More information on the Global Landscapes Forum, please visit globallandscapesforum.org
If you use one of our photos, please credit it accordingly and let us know. You can reach us through our Flickr account or at: cifor-mediainfo@cgiar.org
Plenary: A holistic and landscape view on change.
events.globallandscapesforum.org/agenda/bonn-2017/day-1/p...
Global Landscapes Forum, Bonn, Germany.
Photo by Pilar Valbuena/GLF
More information on the Global Landscapes Forum, please visit globallandscapesforum.org
If you use one of our photos, please credit it accordingly and let us know. You can reach us through our Flickr account or at: cifor-mediainfo@cgiar.org
Read & Listen to Award Winning Edition of Srimad Bhagavad Gita - Yatharth Geeta. Available for free download in 29 Languages.
Jaggi Vasudev also known as Sadhguru, is an Indian yogi and mystic. He founded the Isha Foundation, a non-profit organisation which offers yoga programs around the world, including India, United States, England, Lebanon, Singapore, Canada, Malaysia, Uganda and Australia. The Foundation is also involved in various social and community development activities, which have resulted in the Foundation being granted special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.[1]
Contents [hide]
1 Early life
2 Spiritual experience
3 Dhyanalinga
4 Isha Foundation
4.1 Social initiatives
5 Yoga programs
6 Participation in global and economic forums
7 Publications
7.1 English
7.2 Tamil
7.3 Hindi
7.4 Kannada
7.5 Telugu
8 References
9 Further reading
10 External links
Early life[edit]
Born into a Kannada family[2] in Mysore, Karnataka on 3 September 1957 to Susheela and Dr. Vasudev, Jagadish was the youngest of the Vasudev's four children – two boys and two girls. A travelling fortune-teller, who was asked to predict the child's future, predicted that the infant would have a fortunate life and named the infant Jagadish which means lord of the universe. Sadhguru's father was an ophthalmologist with the Indian Railways and as a result, the family moved frequently. At a young age, Jagadish, or Jaggi as he came to be known, developed an interest in nature and would frequently make trips into nearby forests which would sometimes last up to three days at a time. At the age of 11, Jaggi came in contact with Malladihalli Sri Raghavendra Swamiji who taught him a set of simple yoga asanas, the practice of which he regularly maintained.[3] Sadhguru states that "without a single day's break, this simple yoga that was taught to him kept happening and led to a much deeper experience later."[4]:39
After finishing his schooling, he graduated from the University of Mysore with a bachelor's degree in English Literature, standing second in his class.[5] During his college years, he developed an interest in travel and motorcycles. A frequent haunt of his and his friends was the Chamundi Hill near Mysore, where they often had get-togethers and nocturnal drives. He also travelled to various places in the country on his motorcycle. When he reached the Indo-Nepal border, he was stopped from entering Nepal because he did not possess a passport. This experience made him resolve "to earn some quick money," and just ride off somewhere where people couldn't stop him. This led him to open several successful businesses after graduation, including a poultry farm, a brickworks and a construction business.[5]
Spiritual experience[edit]
At the age of twenty-five on 23 September 1981, he rode up Chamundi Hill and sat on a rock, when he had a spiritual experience. Sadhguru describes his experience, "Till that moment in my life I always thought this is me and that's somebody else and something else. But for the first time I did not know which is me and which is not me. Suddenly, what was me was just all over the place. The very rock on which I was sitting, the air that I breathe, the very atmosphere around me, I had just exploded into everything. That sounds like utter insanity. This, I thought it lasted for ten to fifteen minutes but when I came back to my normal consciousness, I was about four-and-a-half-hours I was sitting there, fully conscious, eyes open, but time had just flipped."[6]:04:04 Six weeks after this experience, he left his business to his friend and travelled extensively in an effort to gain insight into his 'mystical' experience. After a year of meditation and travel, Sadhguru decided to teach yoga to share his inner experience.[7]
In 1983, he conducted his first yoga class with seven participants in Mysore. Over time, he began conducting yoga classes across Karnataka and Hyderabad travelling from class to class on his motorcycle. He lived of the proceeds of his poultry farm rental and refused payment for the classes. A usual practice of his was to donate the collections received from participants to a local charity on the last day of the class.[7] These initial programs were the basic format on which the Isha Yoga classes were later built on.
In 1989, he conducted his first class in Coimbatore, near which the Isha Yoga Center would later be established. The classes were known as Sahaja Sthiti Yoga and involved asanas, pranayama kriyas and meditation. In 1993, Sadhguru decided to set up an ashram to support the growing number of spiritual aspirants. After examining with various sites around Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Goa, he decided on a thirteen acre site situated at the foothills of the Velliangiri Mountains, thirty kilometres from Coimbatore. In 1994, the site was bought and the Isha Yoga Center was set up.[4]
Dhyanalinga[edit]
Main article: Dhyanalinga
The Dhyanalinga within the temple dome.
In 1994, Sadhguru conducted the first program in the ashram premises, during which he discussed the Dhyanalinga. The Dhyanalinga is a yogic temple and a space for meditation, the consecration of which, Sadhguru had stated was his life's mission entrusted to him by his Guru.[7] In 1996, the stone edifice of the linga was ordered and arrived at the ashram. After three years of work, the Dhyanalinga was completed on 23 June 1999[8] and opened to the public on 23 November.[9]
The Dhyanalinga yogic temple offers a meditative space that does not ascribe to any particular faith or belief system.[10] A 76-foot dome, constructed using only bricks and stabilised mud mortar without steel or concrete,[11] covers the sanctum sanctorum. The lingam is 13 feet, 9 inches in height and made of high density black granite. The Sarva Dharma Sthamba, located at the front entrance, functions as an icon of singularity, with the sculptural reliefs and symbols of Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Jainism, Taoism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Buddhism, and Shinto inscribed as a universal welcome.[12]
Isha Foundation[edit]
Main article: Isha Foundation
Saplings being readied for transportation at a PGH nursery.
Sadhguru established Isha Foundation, a non-religious, non-profit organisation entirely run by volunteers. The Isha Yoga Center near Coimbatore was founded in 1992, and hosts a series of programs to heighten self-awareness through yoga. The foundation works in tandem with international bodies like the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.[1]
Social initiatives[edit]
He also founded Project GreenHands (PGH), a grassroots ecological initiative which was awarded the highest Indian environmental award, the Indira Gandhi Paryavaran Puraskar, by the Government of India in June 2010.[13] PGH aims to increase the green cover in Tamil Nadu by 10% and has successfully overseen the planting of more than 17 million trees by over 2 million volunteers. In an interview to the National Geographic Green magazine, Sadhguru explained the impetus which led him to establish Project GreenHands: "In the year 1998, certain experts […] made a prediction, by 2025, 60% of Tamil Nadu will be a desert. […] I decided to drive across Tamil Nadu and see for myself if this is true. […] I realized they were completely wrong because it wouldn’t go to 2025, it would happen much faster according to me. […] So from ‘98 to 2003, 2004, I went about planting trees in people’s minds. And since 2004, we are transplanting those trees back to the ground."[14]
Action for Rural Rejuvenation (ARR), is an initiative under Isha Foundation, that is aimed towards improving the overall health and quality of life of the rural poor. ARR was established by Sadhguru in 2003 and seeks to benefit 70 million people in 54,000 villages across South India. As of 2010, ARR has reached over 4,200 villages and a population of over 7 million people.[15][16] He has also been involved with agricultural and farmers' associations to work towards resolving issues faced by Indian farmers.[17]
Isha Vidhya, is Isha Foundation's educational initiative, which aims to raise the level of education and literacy in rural India. There are seven schools in operation which educate around 3000 students.[18] The foundation has also "adopted" 26 government schools to reach out to students from financially constrained backgrounds, and aims to adopt up to 3000 schools.[19][20]
Yoga programs[edit]
Sadhguru conducting the Inner Engineering Program at the Bombay Stock Exchange, Mumbai.
After the establishment of the ashram, Sadhguru began conducting regular yoga programs at the Isha Yoga Center, including a course for the Indian Hockey team in 1996.[21][22] In 1997, he began conducting classes in the United States[23][24] and in 1998, he began conducting yoga classes for life-term prisoners in Tamil Nadu prisons.[25] From 2011, he began conducting programs with large-scale participation of up to 10,000 and 15,000 participants at once. These large-scale programs have been attended by over 75,000 people in total.[26][27]
The programs offered by Sadhguru are offered under the umbrella of Isha Yoga. The word Isha means the formless divine.[28] Isha Yoga's flagship program is 'Inner Engineering' where individuals are initiated into meditation and pranayam and the Shambhavi Mahamudra.[29] He is also conducting yoga classes for the corporate leadership to introduce them to what he calls "inclusive economics," which he says introduces a sense of compassion and inclusiveness into today's economic scenario.[30][31]
Sadhguru also regularly conducts Mahasathsangs in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka that include discourses, meditations and question and answer sessions with the audience. These Mahasathsangs are also used as platforms to encourage tree-planting activities.[32] He also takes spiritual aspirants on annual yatras to Mount Kailash and the Himalayas. The Kailash Yatra led by Sadhguru is among the largest groups to make the trip to Kailash, with 514 pilgrims attending the journey in 2010.[33][34]
Sadhguru also organises all-night Mahashivarathri celebrations every year at the Isha Yoga Center, which in 2013, were attended by an estimated 600,000 to 800,000 people approximately.[35][36][37] The night includes music, dance and guided meditation sessions. In 2013, performers included Carnatic singer Aruna Sairam, dancer Anita Ratnam and the band, The Raghu Dixit Project.[37]
In March 2005, construction of the Isha Institute of Inner-sciences (III) in McMinnville, Tennessee, USA was begun and was completed 6 months later. Sadhguru had decided to established III as a center for spiritual growth in the Western Hemisphere. On 7 November 2008, Sadhguru consecrated the Mahima Hall, a 39,000 square foot, free-standing meditation hall at the III.[38] On 30 January 2010, Sadhguru consecrated the Linga Bhairavi, a representation of the feminine aspects of the divine at the Isha Yoga Center.[4]
Participation in global and economic forums[edit]
KV Kamath, who was present at the Isha Insight program.
Sadhguru has spoken at the United Nations Millennium World Peace Summit in 2000,[39] the World Economic Forum in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009.[40] On 24 June 2013, he conducted a multi-religious session titled, "Interfaith Deliberations on the Universality of Religions" at the Isha Yoga Center, which was attended by representatives of various religions, and coincided with the fourteenth anniversary celebrations of the Dhyanalinga.[41][42]
In 2012, he was voted among the hundred most powerful Indians for his contribution in the field of environmental protection and for encouraging public participation in ecological issues.[43] He was also a participant in the 2006 documentary film ONE: The Movie. He has also been involved in one-on-one interactions as part of the "In Conversations With the Mystic" program with Anupam Kher, Jasti Chelameswar, Dilip Cherian, Muzaffar Ali and Tarun Tahiliani.[44][45]
In 2012, he initiated the Isha Insight program, which focuses on helping small and medium businesses scale up their business activities. The program was conducted by Ram Charan, with KV Kamath Grandhi Mallikarjuna Rao Shankar Annaswamy, Vellayan Subbiah and Pramod Chaudhari also active in the program.[46] In an interview with Forbes magazine, Sadhguru, speaking about the motivation behind setting up the program, said, "While speaking at economic summits and to leaders in India and outside, I have noticed that the most serious issue people have is a lack of insight into what they are doing, or what they could do. That’s how we ended up creating this programme called Insight."[47]
Publications[edit]
The large #Adiyogi #bust at the #Isha Yoga Center in #Chikbellapur, #Karnataka #India, is made of steel. This 112-foot-tall sculpture was built from around 500 tonnes of steel and was designed by #Sadhguru #Jaggi #Vasudev , holds the #Guinness World Record for the "Largest Bust Sculpture" in the world.
From left to right: Etienne H. Deffarges, Vice-Chairman, Accretive Health, USA,
Malvinder M. Singh, Executive Chairman, Fortis Healthcare, India; Young Global Leader Alumnus,
Norbert Sandip Patel, President, Aetna International, Aetna, USA,
Sadhguru J. Vasudev, Founder, Isha Foundation, India and
Sheila Sri Prakash, Chief Architect and Founder, Shilpa Architects Planners Designers, India; Global Agenda Council on the Role of the Arts in Society
at the World Economic Forum on India 2012. Copyright World Economic Forum / Photo by Benedikt von Loebell
Actor VIJAY SETHUPATHI - Pizza,Soothu Kavvum,Pannaiyarum Padminiyum,Sundarapandian,Rammi, etc Tamil New Talented Multifaceted Actor - Drawing - Painting - Pen Drawing - Illustration - Artwork by Oviyar Anikartick,Chennai,Tamil Nadu,India
Vijay Sethupathi is an Indian film actor, who appears in Tamil films. Following a stint as an accountant, he began considering an acting career. He was working as a background actor and playing minor supporting roles for over five years,[2] before playing his first lead role in Seenu Ramasamy's Thenmerku Paruvakaatru (2010).[3] He went on to star in Pizza (2012), Naduvula Konjam Pakkatha Kaanom (2012), which earned critical success and turned Vijay Sethupathi into a popular name in Tamil cinema.[4]
Early life
Vijay Sethupathi was born in Rajapalayam in Virudhunagar district and moved to Chennai when he was in Class six.[5] He did his schooling in MGR Higher Secondary School in Kodambakkam.[5] According to Sethupathy, he was a "below-average student right from school" and was neither interested in sports nor extra-curricular activities. [1][6] He graduated with a B.Com degree from DB Jain College in Thoraipakam,[6] following which he worked for three years as an accountant in Dubai, U.A.E.[7] Unhappy with his job, he returned to India in 2003.[7][8] He recalls that once Balu Mahendra remarked that he had a "very photogenic face",[7] and motivated him to pursue an acting career.[9]
Career
2006–2011
He subsequently joined the Chennai-based theatre group Koothu-P-Pattarai as an accountant and actor where he observed actors from close quarters.[10][11] He made his beginnings as a background actor, particularly playing the role of the lead character's friend in a few films.[1] Besides he acted in television series, including the well-known series Penn that began in March 2006,[12] as well as several short films as part of the television show Nalaya Iyakunar for Kalaignar TV.[8] He worked with Karthik Subbaraj on many short films, who later cast him in his first feature film,[1] subsequently yield him the Best Actor award for one his films at the Norway Tamil Film Festival short film competition.[13][14]
Sethupathi accompanied a group of actors who went to director Selvaraghavan's studio to audition for his gangster film Pudhupettai (2006) and was selected to play Dhanush's friend in the film.[8] Following Pudhupettai, he was associated with a Tamil-Kannada bilingual film called Akhaada. While he was selected to play the lead in the Tamil version, the director offered him the antagonistic role in its Kannada version. However, the film did not see a theatrical release.[8] After making an appearance in Prabu Solomon's Lee (2007),[15] he was cast by director Suseenthiran in minor supporting roles in his first two projects, Vennila Kabadi Kuzhu (2009) and Naan Mahaan Alla (2010). Sethupathi would later credit Suseenthiran with having had an "important role in helping him realise his dreams".[10] Suseenthiran, furthermore, recommended Sethupathi to director Seenu Ramasamy and Sethupathi landed his first lead role in Ramasamy's drama film Thenmerku Paruvakaatru (2011), in which he portrayed a shepherd.[16] Although initial reviews were mixed,[17][18][19] the film went on to win three National Film Awards including the prize for the Best Tamil Feature Film of that year.[20]
2012-recent
2012 marked a turning point in Vijay Sethupathi's career;[2][21] all his three releases were critical and commercial successes, resulting in a rise in his popularity.[4][22] He was first seen in a negative role in Sundarapandian which featured M. Sasikumar in the lead role,[23] and then essayed the lead roles in the directorial debuts of Karthik Subbaraj and Balaji Tharaneetharan, the thriller film Pizza and the comedy entertainer Naduvula Konjam Pakkatha Kaanom, respectively. He enacted the role of Michael, a delivery boy in the former and a young man named Prem who sustains short-term memory loss two days before his marriage in the latter, with his performance in both films being praised by critics.[24][25] Malini Mannath from The New Indian Express in her review of Pizza wrote: "Sethupathy, a delight to watch, carries the entire film on his shoulders. His voice perfectly modulated, he proves his versatility and acumen to handle any role. Michael’s nightmarish experience, and his fear and horror when he’s trapped in the mansion, is perfectly conveyed by the actor".[26] With regard to Naduvula Konjam Pakkatha Kaanom, The Times of India reviewer M. Suganth cited that Sethupathy "continues his superb show from Pizza conveying Prem's peculiar condition with vacant stares and amusing pauses between his lines", further noting: "That he never makes the character's repetitive dialogues irritating is a proof of his terrific timing".[27] According to a survey published by BBC Tamil, Pizza and Naduvula Konjam Pakkatha Kaanom claimed the first two spots in a Best Films list,[28] and both films competed at the 2013 Norway Tamil Film Festival,[29] while Sethupathi won two awards, one for each film, at the Edison Awards and the Big FM Tamil Entertainment Awards.[30][31] By the end of the year, Indiaglitz.com named Sethupathi as one of 2012's best Tamil actors, [32] and called him "the rising star of Kollywood". [32] whilst film critic Baradwaj Rangan stated that Sethupathi had become "[...] sort of [an] indie-film star, the first ever in Tamil cinema".[33]
In 2013, he was first seen in the crime comedy Soodhu Kavvum that saw him essaying the role of a forty-year old kidnapper. The film opened to extremely positive reviews and has become a huge success at the box office. Malini Mannath from The New Indian Express in her review wrote: "Engaging screenplay, deft narration, well-etched characters and twists and humour generated at unexpected moments, make Soodhu Kavvum a wacky jolly fun ride. It’s laudable that the actor doesn’t hesitate to take a role that has him essaying a 40-year-old man, greying and with a paunch".[34] The Times of India reviewer N. Venkateswaran cited that "Soodhu Kavvum marks a hat-trick of successes for Vijay Sethupathy after the thriller 'Pizza' and the situational comedy 'Naduvula Konjam Pakkatha Kaanom'. His knack of choosing good roles and working with new directors brimming with ideas will stand him in good stead, as also the work he puts in to portray each character. He put on weight and grew a beard to play Das, and the look fits him to a 'T'".[35] His next release was Idharkuthane Aasaipattai Balakumara, directed by Gokul. It was met with positive reviews by critics and Vijay Sethupathi's performance was praised.
Sethupathi's upcoming films include Rummy and Pannaiyarum Padminiyum, both being directed by debutants.[36] While Pannaiyarum Padminiyum, based on its same-titled short film, revolves around an old man and his vintage car Premier Padmini, with Sethupathi starring as its chauffeur.[37] He will also be seen in S. P. Jananathan's Purampokku, which will feature him and Arya in the lead roles. Shooting for the film will start in November 2013.[38] Other films he has signed up are Sangudevan, directed by Sudhakar where he plays a lorry driver, Idam Porul Eval directed by Seenu Ramasamy, Vanmam directed by Jayakrishna, Vasanthakumaran directed by Anand Kumaresan and Mellisai directed by Ranjit jeyakodi.[5]
Personal life
Vijay Sethupathi has three siblings, one elder sister, one younger brother and one younger sister.[5] He returned from Dubai in 2003 to marry his girlfriend, whom he had met and dated online.[5] He has two children, one son (Surya) and one daughter (Shreeja).[39]
Filmography
Year Film Role Notes
2004 M. Kumaran S/O Mahalakshmi Uncredited extra[40]
2006 Pudhupettai
2007 Lee
2009 Vennila Kabadi Kuzhu
2010 Naan Mahaan Alla Ganesh
2010 Bale Pandiya
2010 Thenmerku Paruvakaatru Murugan
2011 Varnam Muthu
2012 Sundarapandian Jegan
2012 Pizza Michael Karthikeyan SIIMA Award for Best Actor
BIG FM Most Entertaining Actor of the Year
Nominated—Filmfare Award for Best Actor
2012 Naduvula Konjam Pakkatha Kaanom Prem Kumar Edison Award for Best Male Rising Star
Vijay Special Jury Award
2013 Soodhu Kavvum Das
2013 Idharkuthane Aasaipattai Balakumara Kumaravel ("Sumar Moonji" Kumar)
2014 Rummy Joseph January 24 release
2014 Pannaiyarum Padminiyum Murugesan February 7 release
2014 Purampokku Filming
2014 Vasantha Kumaran Pre-production[41]
2014 Idam Porul Eval Pre-production[5]
2015 Mellisai Pre-production [5]
2015 Vanmam Radha Pre-production[5][42]
2015 Aaranju Mittai Pre-Production
Short features
Neer[6][43]
Thuru[6][43]
Petti Case[6][43]
Raavanam[6][43]
Kadhal Sutru[6][43]
Kaatru
Wind[6][43]
The Angel[44]
Kadhalithu Paar[45]
Maa Thavam[46]
Selvi.J.JAYALALITHA - Puratchi Thalaivi - PonmanaSelvi - CM of Tamil Nadu,Leader of AIADMK - - Drawing - Painting - Pen Drawing - Pencil Sketches - Illustration - Artwork by Oviyar Anikartick,Chennai,Tamil Nadu,India
Jayalalithaa Jayaram - CM of Tamil Nadu,India
Jayalalithaa Jayaram (born 24 February 1948), commonly referred to as Jayalalithaa, is an Indian politician who has been the chief minister of Tamil Nadu, a state in southern India, since 2011. Previously she served as chief minister from 1991 to 1996, briefly in 2001, and from 2002 to 2006. She was a popular film star in Indian cinema before her entry into politics, having appeared as the lead heroine in over 140 films which includes films in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and worked in one Hindi film. She is the incumbent general secretary of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK). She is called 'Amma' ('Mother') and sometimes 'Puratchi Thalaivi' ('Revolutionary Leader') by her followers.[1]
Although there have been claims that Jayalalithaa was introduced to politics by M. G. Ramachandran, she has denied this. She was a member of the Rajya Sabha elected from Tamil Nadu during 1984–89. Soon after the death of Ramachandran, Jayalalithaa proclaimed herself as his political heir. She is the second elected female chief minister of Tamil Nadu.
Contents [hide]
1 Early life and education
2 Film career
2.1 Early career
2.2 Later career
3 Political career
3.1 Early political career
3.2 Leader of the Opposition, 1989
3.3 First term as Chief Minister, 1991
3.4 Loss of power, 1996
3.5 Second term as Chief Minister, 2001
3.6 Third term as Chief Minister, 2011
4 Legislative career
4.1 Elections contested
5 Honours
6 Notes
7 References
8 External links
Early life and education[edit]
Jayalalithaa was born on 24 February 1948, at Melukote, in Pandavapura taluk of Mandyadistrict, Mysore State (now Karnataka). Her grandfather was in the service of the thenMysore kingdom as a surgeon, and the prefix 'Jaya' ('the victorious') was added to the names of various family members to reflect their association with MaharajaJayachamarajendra Wodeyar of Mysore.[1] Her mother called her Komalavalli.[2]
Jayalalithaa's father died when she was two years old.[1] Her mother then moved toBangalore, where her parents lived, with Jayalalithaa. Her mother eventually began to work as an actress in Tamil cinema, based in Chennai, having taken the screen name of Sandhya.[1] While in Bangalore, Jayalalithaa attended Bishop Cotton Girls' School.[3] She completed her childhood education at Sacred Heart Matriculation School (popularly known as Church Park Presentation Convent or Presentation Church Park Convent) in Chennai.[4]She excelled at school and was offered a government scholarship to pursue further education.[3] She appears not to have accepted the admission offered to her at Stella Maris College, Chennai.[1]
She is fluent in several languages, including English, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu.[5]
Film career[edit]
See also: Jayalalitha filmography
Early career[edit]
Her mother persuaded her to work in films when Jayalalithaa was 15 years old and was still in school, taking assurances from producers that shooting would take place only during summer vacations and that she would not miss her classes. Jayalalithaa acted in an English language film, Epistle, released in 1961. She made her debut as the lead actress in Kannada films while still in school, age 15, in Chinnada Gombe (1964).[1] Jayalalithaa's debut in Tamil cinema was a role in Vennira Aadai (1965), directed by C. V. Sridhar. The following year, she made her debut in Telugu cinema with Manushulu Mamathalu. She was the first heroine to appear in skirts in Tamil films.[6] She acted in one Hindi film called Izzat, with Dharmendra as her male costar in 1968.[7]
Later career[edit]
In 1972, Jayalalithaa acted in Pattikada Pattanama opposite Sivaji Ganesan, which went onto win the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil in 1973. It fetched her a Filmfare Award for Best Actress. Her performance in Suryakanthi and Chandradhoyamwere critically acclaimed and the former won her another Filmfare Award for Best Actress in 1973. The same year she acted in the Telugu Sri Krishna Satya and won her third Filmfare Award for Best Actress.[8] Her other films with Sivaji Ganesan include Galatta Kalyanam and Deiva Magan. Deiva Magan holds the distinction of being the first Tamil film to be submitted by India for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.[9] She continued pairing up with younger actors such as Ravichandran and Jaishankar in a number of films such as Vairam, Baghdad Perazhagi.[10][11] Later Tamil films in which she acted included Kandan Karunai.[12] Her last film was Nadhiyai Thedi Vandha Kadal which was released in 1980.[7] During the 1960s and 1970s, she starred opposite M. G. Ramachandran in a number of successful films, including Aayirathil Oruvan, Kavalkaran, Adimai Penn, Engal Thangam, Kudiyirundha Koyil, Ragasiya Police 115 and Nam Naadu.[7][13]
Political career[edit]
Early political career[edit]
Although there have been claims that Ramachandran, who had been chief minister for the state since 1977, was instrumental in introducing Jayalalithaa to politics, she has denied it.[1][14] In 1982, she joined the AIADMK, which was founded by Ramachandran.[15]Her maiden public speech Pennin Perumai (the Pride of Women) was delivered at the political conference of the AIADMK that year.[16][17] In 1983, she became propaganda secretary for the party and was selected as AIADMK candidate in the by-election for the Tiruchendur Assembly constituency.[15]
Ramachandran wanted her to be a member of the Rajya Sabha because of her fluency in English.[18] Jayalalithaa was nominated and elected to that body as a Member of Parliament in 1984 and retained her seat until 1989.[19] She was successful in her role as Propaganda Secretary and this caused resentment among high-ranking members of the party. Those members engineered a rift between her and Ramachandran, among the alleged consequences of which was that Ramachandran stopped Jayalalithaa writing about her personal life in a Tamil magazine. Despite these machinations, she remained admired by the rank and file of the party.[1]
In 1984, when Ramachandran was incapacitated due to a stroke, Jayalalithaa was said to have attempted to take over the position of chief minister or the party on the pretext that his health would prevent him from the proper execution of his duties.[20] She successfully lead the campaign in the 1984 general elections, in which the ADMK allied with the Congress.[19]
Ramachandran died in 1987 and following this the AIADMK split into two factions, with one section supporting his widow, Janaki Ramachandran, and the other favouring Jayalalithaa. Janaki was selected as the Chief minister on 7 January 1988 with the support of 96 members and she won the confidence motion in the house, following irregularities by the speaker P.H. Pandian, who dismissed six members to ease her victory. However, the Indian Central Government under the late Rajiv Gandhi used Article 356 of the Constitution of India to dismiss the Janaki led government and impose President's rule on the State.[1][21][22]
Jayalalithaa fought the subsequent 1989 elections on the basis of being MGR's political heir.[23][24]
Leader of the Opposition, 1989[edit]
She was elected to the Tamil Nadu legislative assembly in 1989 as a representative of the Bodinayakkanur (State Assembly Constituency). This election saw the Jayalalithaa-led faction of the AIADMK win 27 seats and Jayalalithaa became the first woman to be elected Leader of the Opposition. In February 1989, the two factions of ADMK merged and they unanimously accepted Jayalalitha as their leader and the "Two leaves" symbol of the party was restored.[19] On 25 March 1989, quoted as one of the worst incidents to have happened in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, there was heavy violence inside the house among the ruling DMK party members and the opposition. There were allegedly rude remarks made by Karunanidhi, the chief minister, on Jayalilatha. The heated conversation lead to some of the ADMK members tearing the budget report to be read by the ruling party. Mikes were broken and shoes were thrown at Jayalalitha. At the peak of the situation, when Jayalalitha was about to leave the house, Durai Murugan, a DMK minister, was seen pulling her saree. She took a vow that she would not attend the house until the conditions are fit for women to attend, which is seen as a section of media as "not until until I enter the house as a Chief Minister". Though some sections of media term it as a theatrics launched by Jayalalitha, it got a lot of media coverage and sympathy from the public.[25][26][27] During the 1989 general elections, the ADMK allied with the Congress party and had a significant victory. The ADMK, under her leadership, won the by-elections in Marungapuri, Madurai East and Peranamallur assembly constituencies.[19]
First term as Chief Minister, 1991[edit]
In 1991, following the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi just days before the elections, her alliance with the Indian National Congressenabled her to ride the wave of sympathy that gave the coalition victory.[28][29] The ADMK alliance with the Congress won 225 out of the 234 seats contested and won all 40 constituencies in the centre.[19] Re-elected to the assembly, she became the first elected female chief minister and the youngest ever chief minister of Tamil Nadu, serving the full tenure from 24 June 1991 to 12 May 1996.[19][22] In 1992, her government introduced the "Cradle Baby Scheme". At that time the ratio of male to female in some parts of Tamil Nadu was skewed by the practice of female infanticide and the abortion of female foetuses. The government established centres in some areas, these being equipped to receive and place into adoption unwanted female babies. The scheme was extended in 2011.[30] Her party had 26 elected members to the assembly. Her government was the first to introduce police stations operated solely by women. She introduced 30 per cent quota for women in all police jobs and established as many as 57 all-women police stations. There were other all-women establishments like libraries, stores, banks and co-operative elections.[31]
Loss of power, 1996[edit]
The Jayalalithaa-led AIADMK lost power in the 1996 elections, when it won 4 of the 168 seats that they contested.[32] Jayalalithaa was herself defeated by the DMK candidate in Bargur Constituency.[33] The outcome has been attributed to an anti-incumbency sentimentand several allegations of corruption and malfeasance against her and her ministers.[29][32] The wedding event of her foster son Sudhakaran, who married a granddaughter of the Tamil film actor Shivaji Ganesan, was held on 7 September 1995 at Chennai and was viewed on large screens by over 150,000 people. The event holds two Guinness World Records: one is for the most guests at a wedding and the other is for being the largest wedding banquet.[1][34][35] Subsequently, in November 2011, Jayalalithaa told a special court than the entire Rs. 6 Crore expenses associated with the wedding were paid by the family of the bride.[36]
Second term as Chief Minister, 2001[edit]
Jayalalithaa was barred from standing as a candidate in the 2001 elections because she had been found guilty of criminal offences, including allegedly obtaining property belonging to a state-operated agency called TANSI. Although she appealed to the Supreme Court, having been sentenced to five years' imprisonment, the matter had not been resolved at the time of the elections.[37] Despite this, the AIADMK won a majority and she was installed as Chief Minister as a non-elected member of the state assembly on 14 May 2001.[22]
Her appointment was legally voided in September 2001 when the Supreme Court ruled that she could not hold it whilst convicted of criminal acts.[37] O. Panneerselvam, a minister in her party, was subsequently installed as the Chief Minister. However, his government was purported to have been puppeted and micro-managed by Jayalalithaa.[22][38]
Subsequently, in March 2002, Jayalalithaa assumed the position of Chief Minister once more, having been acquitted of some charges by the Madras High Court.[39] This cleared the way for her to contest a mid-term poll to the Andipatti constituency, after the sitting MLA for the seat, gave up his membership, which she won by a handsome margin.[40] India's first company of female police commandos was set up in Tamil Nadu in 2003. They underwent the same training as their male counterparts, covering the handling of weapons, detection and disposal of bombs, driving, horseriding, and adventure sports.[41]
Jayalaithaa and US SecretaryHillary Clinton
Third term as Chief Minister, 2011[edit]
In April 2011 the AIADMK was part of a 13-party alliance that won the 14th state assembly elections. Jayalalithaa was sworn in as the chief minister of Tamil Nadu for the third time on 16 May 2011, having been elected unanimously as the leader of the AIADMK party subsequent to those elections.[42] On 19 December 2011, Jayalalithaa expelled her long-time close aide Sasikala Natarajan and 13 others from the AIADMK. Most of the party members welcomed her decision,[43]and on 2 February 2012, Tehelka magazine claimed that Natarajan and some of her relatives were conspiring to kill her by poisoning her food over a period of time.[44] The matter was resolved by 31 March, when Natarajan was reinstated as a party member after issuing a written apology.[45]
Legislative career[edit]
Elections contested[edit]
YearConstituencyResultVote percentageOpposition CandidateOpposition PartyOpposition vote percentage
1989BodinayakkanurWon54.51MuthumanokaranDMK27.27[46]
1991Bargur,KangayamWon69.3T. RajendarTMK29.34[33]
1996BargurLost43.54E. G. SugavanamDMK50.71[33]
2001Andipatti,
Krishnagiri,
Bhuvanagiri,
PudukkottaiNomination rejected[47]
2002AndipattiWon58.22Vaigai SekarDMK27.64[40]
2006AndipattiWon55.04SeemanDMK36.29[48]
2011SrirangamWon58.99N AnandDMK35.55[49][50]
Honours[edit]
Jayalalithaa has received several honorary doctorates and other honours since that awarded to her in 1991 by the University of Madras.[51][52][53] In 1972 she was awarded the Kalaimamani by the Government of Tamil Nadu.[51]
PRABHAKARAN - LTTE PRABHAKARAN - PURATCHI THALAPATHI - Drawing - Painting - Pen Drawing - Pencil Sketches - Illustration - Artwork by Oviyar Anikartick,Chennai,Tamil Nadu,India
Native name வேலுப்பிள்ளை பிரபாகரன்-VELUPILLAI PRABHAKARAN
Born November 26, 1954
Velvettithurai, Dominion of Ceylon[1][1][2][3]
Died May 19, 2009 (aged 54)
Nanthikadal lagoon, Mullaitivu, Sri Lanka 9°18′40.46″N 80°46′19.48″E
Other names Karikalan
Occupation Founder & Leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) movement in Sri Lanka.
Spouse(s) Mathivathani Erambu (–2009) †
Children Charles Anthony(1989–2009) †[4]
Duwarak(1986–2009) † [5]
Balachandran(1997–2009) †[6]
Parents Father: Veraswami Thiruwengadam Velupillai (–2010)
Mother: Velupillai Parvathi Pillai (-2011)[7]
Thiruvenkadam Velupillai Prabhakaran (Tamil: வேலுப்பிள்ளை பிரபாகரன்; November 26, 1954 – May 18, 2009) was the founder and leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (the LTTE or the Tamil Tigers), a militant organization that sought to create an independent Tamil state in the north and east of Sri Lanka. For over 25 years, the LTTE waged a violent secessionist campaign in Sri Lanka that led to it being designated a terrorist organization by 32 countries. Prabhakaran was wanted by Interpol for terrorism, murder, organized crime and terrorism conspiracy. He also had arrest warrants against him in Sri Lanka and India.
Founded in 1976, the LTTE rocketed to prominence in 1983 after they ambushed a patrol of the Sri Lanka Army outside Jaffna, resulting in the deaths of 13 soldiers. This ambush, along with the subsequent rioting which resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Tamil civilians, is generally considered the start of the Sri Lankan Civil War. After years of fighting, including the unsuccessful intervention of the Indian Army, the conflict was halted after international mediation in 2001. By then, the Tamil Tigers controlled large swaths of land in the north and east of the country, running virtually a mini-state with Prabhakran serving as its unquestioned leader. Peace talks eventually broke down, and the Sri Lanka Army launched a military campaign to defeat the Tamil Tigers in 2006. Prabhakaran was killed in fighting with the Army on May 18, 2009. It was alleged that his 12-year old son was executed a short time later.[8] His death brought an immediate end to the Civil War.
Early life
Prabhakaran’s father Veluppillai was born in Valvettithurai, Jaffna. Velupillai Prabhakaran was born in the northern coastal town of Velvettithurai on November 26, 1954, to Thiruvenkadam Velupillai and Vallipuram Parvathy.[9][10] Thiruvenkadam Velupillai was the District land Officer in the Ceylon Government[11] Angered by what he saw as discrimination against Tamil people by successive Sri Lankan governments, he joined the student group TIP during the standardization debates. In 1972 Prabhakaran founded the Tamil New Tigers (TNT)[12] which was a successor to many earlier organizations that protested against the post-colonial political direction of the country, in which the minority Sri Lankan Tamils were pitted against the majority Sinhalese people.[13][14]
In 1975, after becoming heavily involved in the Tamil movement, he carried out the first major political murder by a Tamil group, assassinating the mayor of Jaffna, Alfred Duraiappah, by shooting him at point-blank range when he was about to enter the Hindu temple at Ponnaalai. The assassination was in response to the 1974 Tamil conference incident, for which the Tamil radicals had blamed Duraiappah,[15] because he backed the then ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party.[16]
Tamil Tigers
Founding of the LTTE
In the early 1970s, United Front government of Sirimavo Bandaranaike introduced the Policy of standardization to rectify the low numbers of Sinhalese being accepted into university in Sri Lanka. A student named Satiyaseelan formed Tamil Manavar Peravai (Tamil Students League) to counter this biased move. This group comprised Tamil youth who advocated the rights of students to have fair enrollment. Inspired by the failed 1971 insurrection of Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, it was the first Tamil insurgent group of its kind. It consisted of around 40 Tamil youth, including Ponnuthurai Sivakumaran (later, the leader of the Sivakumaran group), K. Pathmanaba (one of the founder members of EROS) and Velupillai Prabhakaran, an 18 years old youth from single caste oriented Valvettithurai (VVT). In 1972, Prabhakaran teamed up with Chetti Thanabalasingam, Jaffna to form the Tamil New Tigers (TNT), with Thanabalasingham as its leader. After he was killed, Prabhakaran took over. At the same time, Nadarajah Thangathurai and Selvarajah Yogachandran (better known by his nom de guerre Kuttimani) were also involved in discussions about an insurgency. They would later (in 1979) create a separate organization named Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization (TELO) to campaign for the establishment of an independent Tamil Eelam. These groups, along with another prominent figure of the armed struggle, Ponnuthurai Sivakumaran, were involved in several hit-and-run operations against pro-government Tamil politicians, Sri Lanka Police and civil administration during early 1970s. These attacks included throwing bombs at the residence and the car of SLFP Jaffna Mayor, Alfred Duraiyappah, placing a bomb at a carnival held in the stadium of Jaffna city (now "Duraiyappah stadium") and Neervely bank robbery. 1974 Tamil conference incident also sparked the anger of these militant groups. Both Sivakumaran and Prabhakaran attempted to assassinate Duraiyappah in revenge for the incident. Sivakumaran committed suicide on 5 June 1974 to evade capture by Police. But on 27 July 1975, Prabhakaran was able to assassinate Duraiyappah, who was branded as a "traitor" by TULF and the insurgents alike. Prabhakaran himself shot and killed the Mayor when he was visiting the Krishnan temple at Ponnalai
On May 5, 1976, the TNT was renamed the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), commonly known as the Tamil Tigers.[17][not in citation given]
Religion was not a major factor in his philosophy or ideology, indeed the ideology of the Tamil Tigers emerged from Marxist-Leninist thought, and was explicitly secular. Its leadership professed opposition to religion.[18][19][20] Their focus was on a single-minded approach toward the attainment of an independent Tamil Eelam.
Prabhakaran's first and only major press conference was held in Killinochchi on April 10, 2002.[21] It was reported that more than 200 journalists from the local and foreign media attended this event and they had to go through a 10-hour security screening before the event in which Anton Balasingham introduced the LTTE leader as the "President and Prime minister of Tamil Eelam."
A number of questions were asked about LTTE's commitment towards the erstwhile peace process and Prabhakaran and Dr. Anton Balasingham jointly answered the questions.
Repeated questions of his involvement in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination were only answered in a sober note by both Balasingham and Prabhakaran. They called it a "tragic incident" ("Thunbiyal Chambavam", as quoted in Tamil) they requested the press "not to dig into an incident that happened 10 years ago."
During the interview he stated that the right condition has not risen to give up the demand of Tamil Eelam. He further mentioned that "There are three fundamentals. That is Tamil homeland, Tamil nationality and Tamil right to self-determination. These are the fundamental demands of the Tamil people. Once these demands are accepted or a political solution is put forward by recognising these three fundamentals and our people are satisfied with the solutions we will consider giving up the demand for Eelam." He further added that Tamil Eelam was not only the demand of the LTTE but also the demand of the Tamil people.[21]
Prabhakaran also answered a number of questions in which he reaffirmed their commitment towards peace process, quoted "We are sincerely committed to the peace process. It is because we are sincerely committed to peace that we continued a four month cessation of hostilities" was also firm in de-proscription of the LTTE by Sri Lanka and India, "We want the government of India to lift the ban on the LTTE. We will raise the issue at the appropriate time."
Prabhakaran also insisted firmly that only de-proscription would bring forth an amenable solution to the ongoing peace process mediated by Norway: "We have informed the government, we have told the Norwegians that de-proscription is a necessary condition for the commencements of talks."[22][23]
Philosophy and ideology
Prabhakaran was fascinated by Napoleon and Alexander the Great. He was also highly influenced by prominent Indian nationalists Subhas Chandra Bose and Bhagat Singh who fought the British Empire.[24] Prabhakaran never developed a systematic philosophy, but did declare that his goal was 'Revolutionary socialism and the creation of an egalitarian society'. He joined the Tamil nationalist movement in his youth and quickly established himself as a strong-willed militant leader by founding the LTTE. His rare interviews, his annual Tamil Eelam Heroes Day speeches and the policies and actions of the LTTE can be taken as indicators of Prabhakaran’s philosophy and ideology. The following are important areas when considering the philosophy and ideology of Prabhakaran.
Sri Lankan Tamil nationalism
Prabhakaran’s source of inspiration and direction was Sri Lankan Tamil nationalism. His stated and ultimate ideal was to get Tamil Eelam recognised as a nation as per the U.N. Charter that guarantees the right of a people to political independence.[25] The LTTE also proposed the formation of an Interim Self Governing Authority during Peace Negotiations in 2003. Former Tamil guerrilla and politician Dharmalingam Sithadthan has remarked that Prabhakaran's "dedication to the cause of the Tamil Eelam was unquestionable, he was the only man in Sri Lanka who could decide if there should be war or peace."[26] Prabhakaran was also called "Karikalan" for his bravery and his administration (in reference to Karikala Chola, a famous Chola king who ruled in Sangam Age.)
Militarism of the LTTE
Prabhakaran explicitly stated that an armed struggle is the only way to resist asymmetric warfare, in which one side, that of the Sri Lankan government, is armed and the other comparatively unarmed. He argued that he chose military means only after observing that non–violent means have been ineffectual and obsolete, especially after the Thileepan incident. Thileepan, a colonel rank officer adopted Gandhian means to protest against the IPKF killings by staging a fast unto death from September 15, 1987, and by abstaining from food or water till 26 September, when he died in front of thousands of Tamils who had come there to fast along with him. This further strengthened Prabhakaran's resolve that peaceful protests would either be ignored or crushed but never heard.[citation needed]
Tactically, Prabhakaran perfected the recruitment and use of suicide bomber units. His fighters usually took no prisoners and were notorious for assaults that often left every single enemy soldier dead.[26] Interpol described him as someone who was "very alert, known to use disguise and capable of handling sophisticated weaponry and explosives."[26]
Modus operandi
Sri Lankan Army Commander General Sarath Fonseka alleged that he had fled Sri Lanka to a foreign country subsequent to the run of Sri Lankan military victories in 2009.[27] Malaysia's police force was put on alert on reports that he had either fled there or to Thailand.[28]
Death
When the Sri Lankan military rapidly advanced into the last LTTE held territory in the final days of 2008–2009 SLA Northern offensive, Prabhakaran and his top leadership retreated into Vellamullivaikkal, Mullaitivu. Fierce fighting occurred between LTTE and Sri Lanka Army during these last few days. At around 3:00 a.m. on 18 May 2009, Prabhakaran's son Charles Anthony tried to break the defenses of the Army, but was unsuccessful. He died along with around 100 other LTTE cadres. Troops found 12 million rupees in his possession.[29] By the noon of that day, reports emerged that Prabhakaran was killed by a rocket attack while trying to flee the conflict zone in a captured ambulance and his body was badly burned.[30] But this rumor was proven false in a short while. Skirmishes occurred also in the evening of 18 May around eastern bank of Nandikadal lagoon. A team of LTTE cadres consisting of 30 most loyal bodyguards of Prabhakaran and Prabhakaran himself tried to sneak through the mangrove islands of Nandikadal to its west bank. It has been alleged that one bodyguard had a can of gasoline with him to burn the Tiger leader’s body if ever he was killed or committed suicide. This was to prevent the enemy seizing his body.[31] Clearing and mop-up operations were carried by troops under Colonel G. V. Ravipriya from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. that evening. But they did not encounter this last group of LTTE fighters that day. At 7:30 a.m. next morning, mop-up operations started again. This time, they were confronted by the fighters, led by Prabhakaran himself. Fighting went on till 9.30 a.m. May 19, 2009. The firing stopped as all LTTE fighters died in the battle. Troops started collecting bodies again. This time, Sergeant Muthu Banda, attached to Sri Lanka Army Task Force VIII, reported to its commander, Colonel G.V. Ravipriya that a body similar to Velupillai Prabhakaran has been found. After the body which was floating among the mangroves was brought ashore, Colonel Ravipriya positively identified the body as the leader of the LTTE.[29] A dog tag marked 001, 2 pistols, a T56 rifle with telescope, a satellite phone and a canister filled with diabetic medicine were found along with the body.
At 12:15 p.m. Army commander Sarath Fonseka officially announced Prabhakaran's death through the television. At around 1:00 p.m. his body was shown in Swarnavahini for the first time.[32] Prabakaran's identity was confirmed by Karuna Amman, his former confidant, and through DNA testing against his son's genetic material who had been killed earlier by the Sri Lanka Military.[33] Circumstantial evidence suggested that his death was caused by massive head trauma, perhaps due to a shot at close range. There are also allegations that he was executed, a claim vehemently denied by Sri Lankan authorities.[34] A week later, the new Tamil Tiger leader Selvarasa Pathmanathan, admitted that Prabhakaran was dead.[35][36]
Criminal indictments
Velupillai Prabhakaran has been wanted by Interpol and many other organizations since 1991 for terrorism, murder, organized crime and terrorism conspiracy.[37] He has been issued an arrest warrant[38] by the Madras High Court in India for plotting the assassination of former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in May, 1991 and in 2002 Judge Ambepitiya issued an open warrant to arrest him in connection with the 1996 Central Bank Bombing.[original research?][39] The judge found him guilty on 51 counts and sentenced him to years in prison.
Personal life
The Asian Tribune has reported that Prabhakaran was married to Mathivathani Erambu on October 1, 1984.[17] and she, along with their mother, their daughter (Duvaraga) and two sons, Charles Anthony and Balachandran were not in Sri Lanka.[17] However, Sri Lanka military sources stated that they had recovered the corpse of Charles Anthony.[not in citation given][40] A senior Sri Lankan minister later informed that the Sri Lanka Army had also found the bodies of Prabhakaran's younger son Balachandran, wife Mathivathani, and his daughter Duvaraga.[not in citation given][41] However, the military spokesman Udaya Nanayakkara later stated that there was no information about the whereabouts of the remaining members of the Prabhakaran's family. “We have not found their bodies and have no information about them,” he said.[42] Yet, it is thought that the entire Prabhakaran's family actually has been wiped out; the bodies of Madhivadhany, Duvaraga and Balachandran reportedly were found in a bushy patch about 600 meters away from where Prabhakaran’s body was found.[43] It is now believed that his 12 year old son was executed.[44]
Velupillai Prabhakaran's parents, Thiruvenkadam Velupillai and Parvathi, both in their 70s, were found in the Menik Farm camp for displaced people near the town of Vavuniya. The Sri Lankan military and the government gave public assurances that they would not be interrogated, harmed or ill treated.[45]