Lok Sabha polls 2014: MG Ramachandran has pride of place in AIADMK manifesto

CHENNAI: Hyperbole seems to be the norm when it comes to discourse in the public space in Tamil Nadu. For instance, Rajnikanth can move faster than the speed of bullets or twitch a toe and send cars spinning out of his way. The place and its politics lend themselves to some degree of exaggeration. Extreme emotional responses are commonplace, sometimes tragically so. Party cadres, distraught over reverses suffered by their leaders, have been known to commit suicide.

On the other hand, devotion can take the form of building temples to stars and leaders, both living and dead. That devotion seems to be the predominant theme of the introduction to the AIADMK manifesto released a few weeks ago, which pays homage to the party’s late founder, former chief minister and matinee idol MG Ramachandran.

“The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam pays its grateful and deep obeisance to Puratchi Thalaivar MGR, a leader non-pareil of the Tamil people, a great soul whose memory reigns eternal long after his demise, eighth in the line of great immortal and munificent leaders, who resides to this day in the hearts of the poor, the very embodiment of humanism, a shining diamond amongst humans, the apotheoses of golden hearted generosity, the Apple of Perarignar Anna’s eye, the great man who founded the people’s movement entitled the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam in order to save Tamil Nadu from the clutches of a decadent and corrupt regime, and places this Election Manifesto before the people of Tamil Nadu.”