M.G.R. and Amma Memorial

History

M.G.R. Memorial

The memorial was built in the memory of the former chief minister of Tamil Nadu M. G. Ramachandran, the first actor to become the chief minister in the Republic of India, and that too by winning three consecutive legislative assembly elections and continuing to be in the position until his death. Considered one of the greatest political leaders and actors of the state, his followers idolise him as "Puratchi Thalaivar" (Revolutionary Leader). He was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award of the Republic of India.

On 24 December 1987, after his prolonged illness, he suffered cardiac arrest at 1:00 a.m. and was declared dead at 3:30 a.m. in his M.G.R. Thottam residence in Ramapuram, Chennai. He was 70 years old, just a month away from his 71st birthday on 17 January 1988. His death sparked a frenzy of looting and rioting all over the state. Shops, cinemas, buses, and other public and private property became the targets of violence. The police had to resort to issuing shoot-at-sight orders. Schools and colleges immediately announced holidays until the situation was under control. Violence during the funeral alone left 129 people dead and 47 police personnel badly wounded. Young and married women allegedly shaved their heads bald and dressed like widows. Men whipped themselves until they bled to death. There were some extreme instances where people burnt themselves to death and burnt villages down.

His body was kept in state at Rajaji Hall for the public to pay their tribute for two days, from 8:40 a.m. on 24 December until 1:00 p.m. the next day. On 25 December 1987, the funeral procession began at 1:25 p.m., and his remains were buried at the northern end of Marina Beach, proximate to his mentor and the former chief minister of Tamil Nadu C. N. Annadurai's memorial, named the Anna Memorial. He was laid to rest in his iconic attire, complete with his white fur cap, dark glasses, and his famous Seiko watch on his right wrist.

Amma Memorial

The memorial was built in the memory of the former chief minister of Tamil Nadu J. Jayalalithaa, the second actress to become the chief minister in the Republic of India after M.G.R.'s wife, V. N. Janaki Ramachandran. Jayalalithaa served as the general secretary of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam from 1988 to 2016 and has the second-longest tenure of chief ministership in Tamil Nadu, having served multiple terms and continuing to hold the position until her death. Considered one of the greatest political leaders and actresses of the state, her followers idolise her as "Puratchi Thalaivi" (Revolutionary Leader). She was the first and only woman to serve as the leader of the opposition in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly.

On 22 September 2016, Jayalalithaa was admitted to Apollo Hospitals in Chennai as she was suffering from an infection and acute dehydration. On 12 October 2016, she was also said to be suffering from a severe pulmonary infection and septicaemia, which were cured. On 4 December 2016, she was re-admitted to the intensive care unit after suffering a cardiac arrest around 4:45 p.m. The hospital released a press statement stating that her condition was "very critical" and that she was on life support. On 5 December 2016, the hospital announced her death around 11:30 p.m., and she became the first female chief minister to die in office in the Republic of India. She was 68 years old, just two months away from her 69th birthday on 24 February 2017.

Her body was kept in state at her residence, Veda Nilayam in Poes Garden, Chennai, until the wee hours of 6 December 2016 and later at Rajaji Hall for the public to pay their tribute. Her last rites were performed on the evening of 6 December 2016, and her remains were buried at the northern end of Marina Beach in a sandalwood casket engraved with "Puratchi Thalaivi Selvi J Jayalalithaa", adjacent to the grave of her mentor and the former chief minister of Tamil Nadu M. G. Ramachandran's memorial, named the M.G.R. Memorial.