Holding onto faith

For staunch supporters of Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa who is fondly called Amma, Monday was a day of extreme anxiety. For Sheela Sundar, visiting Apollo Hospitals became part of her daily routine ever since the Chief Minister was admitted for treatment. In fact, it is one of the top priorities for Sheela and her 

friends, who are loyal Jayalalithaa supporters. For them the mourning will continue for many days to come. 

“I have vowed that I would walk to Tirupathi barefoot if Amma becomes alright. I also fasted for a week for her speedy recovery,” says 61-year-old Sheela Sundar, a resident of Pudupet. “I came to the hospital when Amma was admitted in September. I stayed on the roadside for almost a week. In the evenings, I would find refuge in a nearby park along with other supporters,” she says. 

Ever since Jayalalithaa’s health started deteriorating, hundreds of supporters have thronged the Apollo Hospitals premises. A few of them have been camping outside the hospital for several days hoping for a miracle. “K Chellamal, a resident of Chetpet, says, “Once we got news that her condition was getting better, we started going back to our houses during the night and would visit again in the morning. The current turn of events has been shocking. We will pray all day to ensure that she is well.” 

For many Jayalalithaa has been a source of inspiration. A Pushpa, another supporter says, “Because of her my daughter has a laptop, I have a television at my home and we have access to inexpensive food and other basic amenities. She is no less than a God to us.”

After the news of Amma’s cardiac arrest, these women refused to budge from outside the hospital and are seen wailing at any unpleasant update that was released by the hospital authority. N Manjunathan, a resident of Tambaram and a coolie by professions was seen walking up and down the road holding a poster of Chief Minister Jayalalithaa. “She has been an inspiration. I got to meet her during one of her rallies with my wife. I was suffering from several health complications. My wife told her about my health problems. The Chief Minister assured my wife that everything will be okay and thanks to her intervention, I can now lead a normal life,” he says.