The MGR phenomenon

Covering the campaign trail of MGR was an electrifying experience for journalists. Until the early 1980s, the Election Commission had not restricted the campaign timings for political parties. I remember seeing people willingly wait till midnight and even until early morning, to hear their leader Puratchi Thalaivar MGR. Even at 3 am, the crowd would not have dispersed, until MGR finished his speech. They had so much love for him, which earned him the title of man of the masses. 

MGR always begin his speech addressing his cadre as Rathathin rathamana en arumai udan pirappugale, (Blood of my blood, my beloved brethren) which always received thunderous applause from the crowd. He would go on to list the reasons for which they should vote for two leaves, the AIADMK’s poll symbol. Before reaching the dais, he would have sought all information on the needs of the particular constituency and would strike a personal chord, with the promise that their aspirations would be fulfilled if the AIAMDK nominee was elected. It was not a mere podium speech, and he never forgot the promise. After polls, he would personally monitor and see that his promises were kept. 

He was always available to journalists like me. Once I asked him why he first addressed the cadre as Rathathin rathama na en arumai udan pirappugale. Without any hesitation he replied, “When I was shot by MR Radha, numerous people donated blood for me. I do not know them personally. I am sure at least one in the crowd donated blood for me. This is my way of thanking them, “ he said. 

He could connect with the masses instantly. While travelling by car, if he saw workers on the field, he would ask the driver to stop the car, get down and enquire about their welfare. This way, he established a personal touch with the people. After all, no one would ever forget his personal gesture of meeting them at their work places. 

He never missed an opportunity to meet people and ask them for feedback on his government’s actions and would change them if there was any opposition. When he introduced the economic criteria for reservation, the move was opposed and he not only withdrew the decision, but also hiked it to 69 per cent from the existing 50 per cent, which holds good even today. 

Even while replying to queries raised by his political opponent and DMK patriarch, M Karunanidhi, he would never call him by his name, instead referred to him as Kalaignar. In those days, the state witnessed personal rapport between leaders, which has not been seen after his sudden death in 1987. 

Though the crowds would be waiting for him at the campaign spot, he made his convoy make impromptu stops if he saw a even a small crowd on the way. He would start addressing them and then proceed to the meeting. He was tireless. People would wait to see MGR even at midnight along his route, in every district he visited.

He made it a point to visit all the 234 constituencies, during his poll campaign and address at least one meeting in each constituency. In those days, there was no practice of bringing people to the public meetings as is being done now. People came to the meetings to hear their leader on their own. 

Known for his hospitality, MGR demand that all those accompanying him during the campaign should have dinner with him, even it was past midnight. During 1980 assembly election, I was in the convoy and a local AIADMK functionary arranged for dinner. I am strict vegetarian and when the food was served almost all the items were non vegetarian. On seeing my declining the food, MGR told the functionary that he would not eat and wait till vegetarian food was brought for me. That man ran from pillar to post to fetch hot idlies and chilli powder for me. Only then did MGR have his dinner. As a young journalist, I was surprised to see the courtesy extended to me by such a great leader.

His ability to strike a personal chord with people was matchless. He would know at least a dozen people in every district. He never hesitated to meet the waiting people and listen to their problems. He would not entertain personal problems,but would personally help them financially, true to his reputation as being a vallal (philanthropist). 

He would not reach the dais if some body was there already delivering a speech. He would wait for the speaker to finish, then climb the dais, simultaneously waving his two fingers, reminding people of the two leaves symbol, which is also the victory sign. 

He was very courteous towards the media and would ensure all arrangements were in place for their comfort during the campaigns. Once, he was addressing a public meeting at Udhagamandalam on a cold evening. On seeing the media shivering in the weather, he directed the local functionary to arrange for woollen clothing for the media. 

During the campaign for the assembly polls, we were accommodated at the Annamalai University guesthouse at Chidambaram for overnight stay. One of the reporters rang up his office at 6 am to deliver the news. On hearing the noise, MGR came out of his room and asked the reporter why he had not gone to sleep. When the reporter said work was worship for him, MGR gently pointed out that health was more important. He told the reporter his office would take news even at 11 am and therefore advised him to sleep at once. It was this personal touch that endeared him to all. 

He never hesitated to reward the talented. Once, at a government function in Salem, he was enthralled by the music performed by a troupe from State Transport Corporation. After the show, he asked his secretary to fetch money from his car and rewarded the troupe, much to their delight. 

There are reports that he never met journalists at the Secretariat. True, he would not meet them at the state headquarters. Instead, he visited the party headquarters in the evenings, where he spoke freely to the media. If he had some personal prejudices, he would not talk to the concerned reporter. Once, there was a party’s general council meetings at Satya Studios. He refused to talk to the media until they had their dinner. 

During one interaction with the media, he remarked that he had solid proof on the rice scandal, then under probe by Sarkaria Commission. When a journalist asked him for more details, MGR replied that he would not disclose it even off the record as the reporter was close to Karunanidhi and would convey the same to him. 

During the 1982 Presidential polls, he was called by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi for consultation on the nominee for the polls. It was well past midnight when he returned from New Delhi. My office had asked me to get a reaction from him. When I called his house, MGR himself picked up the phone and told me that Indira Gandhi preferred a backward class, goldsmith community man from Punjab. It was obvious that she was referring to the then Home Minister Zail Singh. When the entire country was waiting for Indira Gandhi’s decision, I had the satisfaction of breaking the news. 

It was around 3 am on December 24 1987. I got a call that MGR was no more. When I made a phone call, a sobbing personal secretary to MGR, the late Paramasivam confirmed the news. It was the saddest day in my life. 

Will we ever get such a mass leader once more in our life time?