Reporter’s Diary: Karunanidhi’s Hospitalisation vs Jayalalithaa’s

Working as a reporter during the hospitalisation of the two leaders have been a study in contrast.

Jayalalithaa and Karunanidhi are the tallest leaders of their times.

(Photo: Edited by the Quint)

Tamil Nadu politics is peculiar. Here, cinema and politics are joined at the hip. 

Karunanidhi and Jayalalithaa.

DMK and AIADMK.

It’s been only about these two giants for the last few decades. The demise of Jayalalithaa and the illness of Karunanidhi have sent shockwaves across the state.

Working as a reporter during the episodes of their hospitalisation has been very challenging and distinctly different.

Too busy to read? You can listen to the story right here.

No Details vs An Open Book (Kinda)

The two leaders had different styles of interacting with the press.

Jayalalithaa never held press conferences and instructed all her MLAs, ministers (except Fisheries Minister Jayakumar, who spoke when national channels cornered him), corporation office staff and even the police, to keep their lips zipped.

But press releases were dropped in our mailboxes the minute an Assembly session ended or a policy was initiated. This was sometimes followed by a call from PIB (Press Information Bureau).

Because the boss lady refused to speak to us, news channels were forced to wade through the ‘off-camera information’ from a select few friendly ministers and self-proclaimed ‘AIADMK spokespersons.’ These spokespersons ended up asking reporters for information before speaking in a debate.

As for the DMK, whether they were in power or not, Karunanidhi (until 2 years back when he took ill), Working President MK Stalin, MP Kanimozhi, MLA Duraimurugan, MP TKS Elangovan and two spokespersons would always answer media’s questions.

A Study in Contrast

26 July 2018. 7pm.

A medical bulletin which read there was a slight decline in Karunanidhi’s health and that he was being treated at home.

28 July 2018. 2 am.

Karunanidhi was rushed to the hospital after he contracted a fever due to a urinary tract infection.

From the moment the first press release was out, a beeline of ministers and cinema personalities have been coming to enquire about Karunanidhi’s health. Every time the family members or close DMK members would leave and return to the house or hospital, they would pause to give the media a quick health update.

Reporters have been on their toes updating medical bulletins and bytes of politicians after their visits to the hospital.

Behind the lenses is a large group of reporters, camerapersons, technicians sleeping on the roads, surviving on one meal a day, burdened with heavy live units on their backs, giving you updates every instant.(Photo Courtesy: Singaravelan)

There are also hundreds of Karunanidhi followers waiting outside the Kauvery Hospital gates since Day 1. The constant updates really helped calm them down.

Prayers, some silent, and many loud, echo outside Kauvery Hospital.(Photo Courtesy: Smitha TK/ The Quint)

Rewind.

22 September 2016. 10:40pm.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa was admitted to Apollo Hospitals, Chennai, with fever and dehydration. The hospital stated that she was “stable and under observation.”

First medical bulletin released after Jayalalithaa was admitted in hospital on 22 September.(Photo: The Quint)

The health bulletins were carefully worded with minimal information, not revealing the exact cause and progress of her ailment.

Everyday, my head office would come up with interesting story angles to work on. Do a walkthrough in the hospital right outside the leader’s chamber, they would suggest. Perhaps a beautifully written story on how she interacts with nurses and ward boys? Or a quick conversation with her consulting doctors, if not the chief doctor.

I would feel frustrated.

For 3 months from 22 September 2016, Apollo Hospital in Greams Road became the most frequented hub for journalists in Chennai.(Photo: Smitha TK/ The Quint)

When the likes of Venkaiah Naidu, Vidyasagar Rao and Rahul Gandhi couldn’t get an entry pass into even the corridor where her room was, what was a journalist with a bulky camera and a microphone going to do?

(Photo: Smitha TK/ The Quint)When MGR came visiting.

Despite this, every friend, uncle and neighbour seemed to have an ‘insider’ in the hospital updating them on her health status.

And all of a sudden, Sasikala’s family members, whom Jayalalithaa very openly kept distance from, began taking over the mantle.

And three months later, when she was declared dead, there were so many loose ends.

And to strengthen all those doubts, the overnight swearing-in ceremony of O Pannerselvam, Sasikala being appointed as AIADMK general secretary though she didn’t meet the qualifications, unanimous vote to make her the chief minister, Panneerselvam’s iconic “reveal” that he was coerced by Sasikala and MLAs being sneaked away to a no-access resort.

Come rain, sun or sweltering heat, journalists would wait for days outside the Apollo gates clueless of what was going on.(Photo Courtesy: Abinesh)

A Sneak Peek of the Leader

Speak to old-timers who witnessed the hospitalisation of MGR and they will tell you that there was a sense of déjà vu when the scenes of Jaya at Apollo unfolded.

On a Friday night in October 1984, an era of secrecy was ushered in, where information surrounding MGR’s health was kept tightly guarded. 

But what gave thousands of people relief and probably even made him win the elections in 1984 was a photograph of MGR in hospital.

MGR at hospital with wife Janaki.(Photo Courtesy: Twitter/ smbijili)

In contrast, the pleas by the public for a photograph of their Amma (as Jayalalithaa was fondly called), fell on deaf ears.

Several politicians came to Apollo Hospital but no one was allowed to see Jayalalithaa.

Months after Jayalalithaa’s death, on the eve of Assembly elections in her constituency RK Nagar, a supporter of Sasikala’s nephew TTV Dhinakaran leaked a video of Jayalalithaa in the hospital. Many journalists believe this was a clear attempt to tap into the emotional quotient of people. And TTV Dhinakaran did win that election by a landslide majority.

A video shows a frail-looking Jayalalithaa, laying on a hospital bed, presumably watching TV, was released by Dhinakaran supporter MLA P Vetrivel, who gave up his seat in RK Nagar for Jayalalithaa’s comeback.  (Photo Courtesy: The Quint)

Let’s come back to Karunanidhi.

Every politician or actor who visited the hospital spoke to the press and clarified if they directly met the DMK chief or only spoke to the family members. Minutes after their video bytes, a picture of the person with Stalin and others would be tweeted.

Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, Governor Banwarilal Purohit and Congress President Rahul Gandhi were allowed to see him in the ICU.

And to dispel all rumours, not one, but two pictures of Kalaignar have been released so far.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi visited Karunanidhi at Kauvery Hospital.

Vice President Venkaiah Naidu visited Karunanidhi at Kauvery Hospital.

Speak to The Press

With Karunanaidhi in hospital, and missing from active politics for nearly two years now, and Jayalalithaa no more, the political fabric in Tamil Nadu has begun to change.

Will politicians now begin to understand how necessary is the power of the pen and paper for a fair and good democracy?

Cliched as it may be, we will have to wait and watch.