Vaikom Narayani Janaki (30 November 1923[1] – 19 May 1996), also known as Janaki Ramachandran,[3] was an Indian politician, actress and activist who briefly served as the chief minister of Tamil Nadu for 23 days after the death of her husband M. G. Ramachandran, former chief minister of Tamil Nadu. She was the first woman to become the chief minister of Tamil Nadu. She was also the first actress to become the chief minister in the history of India.
V. N. Janaki Ramachandran | |
|---|---|
 Janaki in 1959 | |
| 4th Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu | |
| In office 7 January 1988 – 30 January 1988 | |
| Governor | Sundar Lal Khurana |
| Preceded by | M. G. Ramachandran[a] |
| Succeeded by | President's rule |
| Constituency | Did not contest |
| President of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | |
| In office 2 January 1988 – 7 February 1989 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Vaikom Narayani Janaki 30 November 1923[1] Vaikom, Travancore Kingdom, British India (present-day Kerala, India) |
| Died | 19 May 1996 (aged 72)[1] Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India[citation needed] |
| Cause of death | Cardiac arrest[2] |
| Resting place | M.G.R. and Amma Memorial |
| Political party | All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam |
| Spouse |
|
| Children | 1 |
| Parents |
|
| Relatives | Papanasam Sivan |
| Residence(s) | M. G. R. Thottam Ramapuram, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Profession |
|
Background
editJanaki was born in the town of Vaikom in Kottayam district of Travancore.[4] Her mother, Narayani Amma was a Malayali Nair from Travancore Kingdom.[3] Her father, Rajagopal Iyer, was a Malayalam speaking Tamil Brahmin, brother of the musician and composer Papanasam Sivan.[5]
In 1939, aged 17, Janaki married actor Ganapathy Bhat (1915–1972).[6] Janaki and Ganapati Bhat had a son named Surendran.[7]
Film career
editJanaki's early films were Manmatha Vijayam (1939)[4] and Savithri(1941). Chandralekha in 1948 brought her popularity.[5]
Janaki acted with Ramachandran in films like Raja Mukthi and Mohini. She continued acting, with films like Velaikaari and Marudhanaattu Ilavarasi in the 1950s but had stopped by 1960. Following the death of Ramachandran's second wife, she moved in with him.[4] They legally married in 1962. Ramachandran, who was childless in his three marriages, is said to have taken an affectionate interest in the well-being of Surendran, her son from her first marriage.[8]
Political career
editJanaki was not politically active during Ramachandran's life with only a handful of public appearances in AIADMK's early days.[3] Ramachandran groomed other young leaders of his party for political responsibility, including the actress Jayalalithaa, with whom he was said to share a great professional rapport.[citation needed]
When Ramachandran suffered a paralytic stroke in 1984, she became the intermediary between him and the party. Due to his death in 1987, Janaki was asked by party members to take his place.[3]
Chief Minister, 1988
editIn deference to their wishes, she became Chief minister in January 1988. Her government lasted only 24 days, the shortest in the history of Tamil Nadu.[9]
Her ministry went for a sensitive vote of confidence of the Eighth Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly in January 1988. This was because AIADMK coalition with 194 MLAs had split into 3 factions, with one group of 30 MLAs supporting Jayalalitha and another group of 101 MLAs supporting Janaki. The Congress party, under the directive of its national chief and then PM Rajiv Gandhi, had decided to vote neutral. The opposition demanded secret ballot in the assembly, on the day of vote. But the speaker, who supported Janaki, rejected this. He had already disqualified the 30 MLAs of Jayalalitha faction and 15 MLAs of DMK the previous day. He had also decreed that the support of MLAs physically present in the assembly at the time of vote was sufficient. So instead of proving majority in 234 with just 101, Janaki had to prove majority in 198. When the speaker called for vote, DMK and AIADMK MLAs clashed in assembly and many were injured including the speaker. On speaker's request, the CM called police into the house. The speaker announced unilaterally that the cabinet had won motion of confidence.[10]
The central government under Rajiv Gandhi used Article 356 of the Constitution of India to dismiss her government in February. Her party was subsequently defeated in the next elections that were held in 1989. She quit politics after the unification of the two factions of the AIADMK.[11] Janaki is one of the few chief ministers to have not won any legislative elections.[1]
Death
editShe died of a cardiac arrest[2] on 19 May 1996. She was buried beside her residence at MGR Thottam in Raamapuram, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
Legacy
editVN Janaki gifted her property in V.P. Raman Salai in honour of her husband to the AIADMK. It subsequently became the headquarters of the party in 1986.[12] She was the founder chairman of The Satya Educational & Charitable Society managing many free educational institutions in Chennai. She gave property worth many million of dollars for the establishment of educational and charitable institutions in Tamil Nadu. She was also instrumental in setting up the Janaki Ramachandran Educational & Charitable Trust.[13]
Filmography
editThis is a partial filmography. You can expand it.
1930s
edit| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1939 | Manmatha Vijayam | As dancer |
1940s
edit| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1940 | Krishnan Thoothu | As dancer | |
| 1940 | Mummanigal | As dancer | |
| 1941 | Kacha Devayani | As dancer | |
| 1941 | Savithiri | As dancer | |
| 1942 | Ananthasayanam | Sarasa | |
| 1942 | Gangavathar | Heavenly maiden | |
| 1943 | Devakanya | Chitraleka | |
| 1944 | Bharthruhari | Pingala's companion | |
| 1945 | Maanasamrakshanam | ||
| 1946 | Sakata Yogam | As lead actress | |
| 1947 | Pankajavalli | ||
| 1947 | Chitra Bagavali | ||
| 1947 | Thiyagi | ||
| 1947 | 1000 Thalaivangi Apoorva Chinthamani | Apoorva Chinthamani | |
| 1948 | Chandralekha | a gypsy girl | |
| 1948 | Raja Mukthi | Queen Mrinalini | |
| 1948 | Mohini | Mohini | |
| 1949 | Velaikaari | Sarasa |
1950s
edit| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | Marudhanaattu Ilavarasi | Princess Rani | |
| 1950 | Laila Majnu | Zarina | |
| 1950 | Chandrika | Malayalam | |
| 1951 | Devaki | Devaki | |
| 1953 | Naam | Meena |
See also
editNotes
edit- ^ V. R. Nedunchezhiyan served as acting chief minister in the interim for 13 days.
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Janaki Ramachandran, the first woman chief minister of Tamil Nadu who ruled for 24 days". ThePrint. 19 May 2020. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
- ^ a b "Not just Jayalalithaa: Find out how many TN CMs Karunanidhi outlived". Asianet News Network Pvt Ltd. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
- ^ a b c d "Leading lady". S.H. Venkatramani. 31 January 1988. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
- ^ a b c "The 'leading' lady". Vincent DSouza. 10 January 1988. Retrieved 2 June 2018.
- ^ a b Guy, Randor (30 July 2016). "Thyagi (1947)". The Hindu. Retrieved 2 June 2018.
- ^ ಮರೆಯಬಾರದ ಹಾಸ್ಯನಟ ಗಣಪತಿ ಭಟ್.. | Cinema Swarasyagalu Part 51 | Hariharapura Manjunath | Total Kannada. Total Kannada. 12 August 2021. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
- ^ Subramani, A (4 July 2012). "M G Ramachandran autobiography copyright belongs to Janaki son, rules HC". The Times of India. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
- ^ "Janaki's son alone has copyright to MGR's autobiography: court". The Hindu. 4 July 2012. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
- ^ "Jayalalithaa : A political career with sharp rises and steep falls". The Hindu. 6 December 2016. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
- ^ TAMIL NADU LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY (EIGHTH ASSEMBLY) REVIEW 1985–88 (PDF), Chennai: Secratriat of Legislative Assembly Secretariat, 1988
- ^ "Jayalalitha Childhood Photos: MGR : Unbelievable Facts PART1". Retrieved 5 January 2020.
- ^ "MGR Memorial House". Archived from the original on 16 July 2016. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
- ^ "Janaki Donations". Archived from the original on 26 September 2009. Retrieved 14 August 2013.
External links
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