Burial raises eyebrows

As Sasikala and Jayalalithaa’s nephew Deepak went around placing pieces of sandalwood in the coffin bearing her mortal remains, eyebrows were raised as it became clear the departed leader would be buried.

In the past, several Dravidian movement leaders like Periyar and MGR – Jayalalithaa’s mentor – have been buried so that the leaders could be remembered by the followers through their memorials. 

The Dravidian movement or the self-respect movement is anti-brahmin in nature and is severly opposed to the varna system and caste-based oppression. The leaders of this movement are atheists. 

But Jayalalithaa never hid her piety and adoration for deities at Guruvayoor and Chamundi Hills, and neither did she shy away from sporting a small namam, the caste mark of iyengars.

A senior AIADMK leader told DH Jayalalithaa was beyond caste and religion. “Burial was the choice as we want to raise a big memorial for our Amma,” he said.