I've been up since 4.45am Paris time watching Indian television online from the moment Jayalalitha and her coterie left their home in Chennai before Rahu Kaalam. I had 4 cups of filter coffee (a true Tambrahm) discussed with Tamil friends on Skype (they understand Amma Puranam), followed trolls on Twitter and awaited justice like others. A tweet even said Jayatv was playing the movie "Viduthalai". Would the day pan out in her favor?
I was discussing with a friend that Karnataka is her home ground and losing in your home pitch is a humiliation. Let's not forget that she decimated every party in the recent Lok Sabha Election, hardly 4 months ago.
After two hours of wait, I felt that the Bangalore special court should have used smoke signals like the Papal Community to communicate with the anxious public. At one time, I even thought may be the Judge is having her BMI measured to ensure if it is proportionate to her wealth. But that is not what disproportionate asset case is about.
If she was convicted, the future of Tamil Nadu seemed dark (like power cuts), given the current ruling party is a one woman show and the opposition is tongue tied in the assembly. The last time a national party like Congress ruled Tamil Nadu was 50 years ago and ever since the throne of corruption was occupied by the two Dravidian parties. Despite not speaking Hindi, the DMK ministers perpetrated the 2G scam. DMK didn't even contest the recent Mayoral and Municipality elections, which shows how confident they were about their win or humiliation.
While awaiting the verdict one of my friend messaged me on Whatsapp saying that she must be forgiven by the court. But then I asked him why do we forgive a person who denies her wrongdoings? Logically, doesn't forgiveness come after confession and realization?
Jayalalitha is a complex individual made of courage, insubordination, dishonesty, and arrogance. When the Government employees picketed lines in Chennai, she boldly invoked ESMA and sent many of them home. When the courts asked her to appear she got an exemption disregarding judiciary. Moreover, she used her power to tamper evidences and delay justice before the SC finally got involved and moved the DA case to Karnataka. And she also walked out when the interviewer on the Hard Talk show on BBC grilled her on her cases. Given her volatile temper, insubordination, and how ministers prostrated and worshipped her, isn't confession too much to expect from Amma?
Finally, like the contrived Bollywood climax, she complains of chest pain and brings the famous Paneer Pugaielai (tobacco) back after the verdict. Urrgh!
When I went back to check the social media trolls, none except Mr. Swamy from BJP expressed their emotion on Twitter, a platform that is popular among the ruling party at the centre. A few who shared, went with a boiler plate text that said we respect judiciary. Some BJP supporters tweeted that Jaya's verdict eclipsed Modi's US trip and his UNGA speech. I'm sure Jaya didn't want to steal Modi's thunder. There were also no tweets from Rajapakse, her bitter enemy.
Today is also Purattasi Saturday, a special day for Perumal and specially Varadaraja Perumal. Btw, let's recall how she heckled Kanchi Seers a few years ago acussing them of a murder at the same temple and arresting them in a pre-dawn raid in Mehboob Nagar in Andhra Pradesh. And now it is all coming back. Even before the Amma Cement dried up, her wall of fame came down with shame.
Though the world remembers her opulent walk during foster son's wedding, today the world didn't get to see her repentive (a good assumption?) walk into the jail. Jail time is not bad, it gives her an opportunity to reflect, realize and ruminate. Isn't that the philosophy of life? I hope she doesn't turn more bitter and spiteful. Haven't we witnessed her revengeful past?
Given the length of jail time, I don't think there is much left in her political career. She rose like a Phoenix bird every time she came down, but this time the rise is questionable. She will be 71 when she comes out of jail and at 77, she will be allowed to contest elections again. By then Amma products and schemes would have expired, and her cut outs vanished. Tamilians known for their short memory would have forgotten her good and bad deeds and would have voted for another Cinema star for a Chief Minister.
Let me end my ramble with some food for thought. My friend said that in astrology we say Chevvai Dosham (Mars dosham), but in JJ's case it is Sahavasa (friendship) Dosham. Friendships can either elevate you like the one between Arjuna and Krishna or pave way for your downfall like the one between Karna and Duriyodhana. So, beware of your friends circle.
Hope the severity of this verdict will put fear into the erring political class and will be dawn of new era in Tamil Nadu (an end to freebies and corruption). Those involved in Coalgate, 2G, Commonwealth, Saradha, etc.must get ready for their turn. Karma is a bitch and sooner or later it catches up with you.
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