Jayalalitha, also known as J. Jayalalithaa, was a prominent Indian politician who served as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for six terms. She was born on February 24, 1948 in Melukote, Mysore, India, and passed away on December 5, 2016 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
Jayalalitha was born into a Tamil Brahmin family, and her father, Jayaram, was a lawyer. She received her early education at the Bishop Cotton Girls' School in Bangalore, and later pursued a degree in English literature at the Presentation Convent Church Park in Chennai.
Jayalalitha's foray into the entertainment industry began with her debut as a lead actress in the Tamil film "Vennira Aadai" in 1965. She quickly rose to fame and became one of the most popular actresses in the Tamil film industry. In addition to acting, Jayalalitha also dabbled in singing and dancing, and performed in numerous stage shows and concerts.
Despite her success in the entertainment industry, Jayalalitha was also interested in politics and social issues. In 1982, she joined the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) party, which was founded by M. G. Ramachandran (MGR), a former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and one of Jayalalitha's mentors.
After MGR's death in 1987, Jayalalitha was appointed as the propaganda secretary of the AIADMK. In 1989, she was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) in the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian Parliament. In 1991, she became the first woman to be elected as the Leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly.
In 1991, Jayalalitha was also elected as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, becoming the second woman in India to hold the position. During her tenure, she implemented various social welfare schemes, including a free meal program for school children, a free power supply scheme for farmers, and a subsidised food scheme for the poor. She also established a number of hospitals and educational institutions, and implemented infrastructure development projects.
Jayalalitha was re-elected as Chief Minister in 2001, and served in the position until 2006. She was again elected as Chief Minister in 2011, and served until 2016. In her final term, Jayalalitha faced several legal challenges, including corruption charges, and was briefly imprisoned. She passed away in December 2016 due to cardiac arrest.
Despite her controversial tenure, Jayalalitha remains a popular figure in Tamil Nadu, and is remembered for her efforts to improve the lives of the poor and marginalized communities.