Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa refused to be described as a 'Mysurean' when office-bearers of the century-old Mahila Samaja in Mysuru tried to contact her in Chennai. Sulochana, secretary of the samaja, said they got a letter from the office of the former Tamil Nadu chief minister that she was not a 'Mysurean.' However, people of Mysuru and Mandya take pride in the fact that Jayalalithaa — Amma to people in Tamil Nadu — was born in Melkote and spent her early days in Mysuru. She was a devotee of Chamundeshwari and visited the Chamundi Hills on special occasions. Her last visit was on February 24, 2011 — her 63rd birthday.
Jayalalithaa was born on February 24, 1948, at Melkote in Pandavapura taluk of Mandya district to Dr Jayaram and Vedavalli, who was better known by her screen name Sandhya. Sandhya's father Rangasamy Iyengar moved to Mysuru from Srirangam in Tamil Nadu and had one son and three daughters — Ambujavalli, Vedavalli and Padmavalli, according to a source.
Jayalalitha was initially given her grandmother's name Komalavalli. It is said that 'Jaya' in her name is derived from the name of the then maharaja of Mysore Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar, as her father Dr Jayaram was close to him. It is also reported that her name is derived from the names of two houses, where she lived in Mysuru — 'Jaya Vilas' and 'Lalitha Vilas.' However, old-time Mysureans recall that her grandfather Dr N Rangachar's residence was 'Red House', No 940, on Post Office Road, Lakshmipuram. Now, it has changed several hands, and houses Lakshmipuram Sports Club with a label 'Swarna Vilas'.
Even though Sandhya shifted to Bengaluru in 1950 and then to Chennai in 1951, it is learnt that Jayalalithaa remained under the care of her aunt Padmavalli and maternal grandparents from 1950 to 1958 in Mysuru. Some old Mysureans claim that Jayalalithaa studied at Lakshmipuram School, but there is no evidence of this. Her stepbrother N J Vasudevan, born to the first wife of Dr Jayaram, L K Jayammal, lives at Srirangarajapuram village in T Narsipur taluk of Mysuru district.
Sulochana refers to an inscription on a tablet on the Mahila Samaja building that states that Dr N Rangachar of LM and Sons donated Rs 1,000 for the construction of the building, the work on which started on December 8, 1930, and which was inaugurated on March 23, 1932. "Jayalalithaa's mother, known as Vedamma then, has also served as the secretary of the samaja for a couple of years," she said.
Jayalalithaa was born on February 24, 1948, at Melkote in Pandavapura taluk of Mandya district to Dr Jayaram and Vedavalli, who was better known by her screen name Sandhya. Sandhya's father Rangasamy Iyengar moved to Mysuru from Srirangam in Tamil Nadu and had one son and three daughters — Ambujavalli, Vedavalli and Padmavalli, according to a source.
Jayalalitha was initially given her grandmother's name Komalavalli. It is said that 'Jaya' in her name is derived from the name of the then maharaja of Mysore Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar, as her father Dr Jayaram was close to him. It is also reported that her name is derived from the names of two houses, where she lived in Mysuru — 'Jaya Vilas' and 'Lalitha Vilas.' However, old-time Mysureans recall that her grandfather Dr N Rangachar's residence was 'Red House', No 940, on Post Office Road, Lakshmipuram. Now, it has changed several hands, and houses Lakshmipuram Sports Club with a label 'Swarna Vilas'.
Even though Sandhya shifted to Bengaluru in 1950 and then to Chennai in 1951, it is learnt that Jayalalithaa remained under the care of her aunt Padmavalli and maternal grandparents from 1950 to 1958 in Mysuru. Some old Mysureans claim that Jayalalithaa studied at Lakshmipuram School, but there is no evidence of this. Her stepbrother N J Vasudevan, born to the first wife of Dr Jayaram, L K Jayammal, lives at Srirangarajapuram village in T Narsipur taluk of Mysuru district.
Sulochana refers to an inscription on a tablet on the Mahila Samaja building that states that Dr N Rangachar of LM and Sons donated Rs 1,000 for the construction of the building, the work on which started on December 8, 1930, and which was inaugurated on March 23, 1932. "Jayalalithaa's mother, known as Vedamma then, has also served as the secretary of the samaja for a couple of years," she said.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa refused to be described as a 'Mysurean’ when office-bearers of the century-old Mahila Samaja in Mysuru tried to contact her in Chennai. Sulochana, secretary of the samaja, said they got a letter from the office of the former Tamil Nadu chief minister that she was not a 'Mysurean.’ However, people of Mysuru and Mandya take pride in the fact that Jayalalithaa — Amma to people in Tamil Nadu — was born in Melkote and spent her early days in Mysuru. She was a devotee of Chamundeshwari and visited the Chamundi Hills on special occasions. Her last visit was on February 24, 2011 — her 63rd birthday.
Jayalalithaa was born on February 24, 1948, at Melkote in Pandavapura taluk of Mandya district to Dr Jayaram and Vedavalli, who was better known by her screen name Sandhya. Sandhya’s father Rangasamy Iyengar moved to Mysuru from Srirangam in Tamil Nadu and had one son and three daughters — Ambujavalli, Vedavalli and Padmavalli, according to a source.
Jayalalitha was initially given her grandmother’s name Komalavalli. It is said that 'Jaya’ in her name is derived from the name of the then maharaja of Mysore Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar, as her father Dr Jayaram was close to him. It is also reported that her name is derived from the names of two houses, where she lived in Mysuru — 'Jaya Vilas’ and 'Lalitha Vilas.’ However, old-time Mysureans recall that her grandfather Dr N Rangachar’s residence was 'Red House’, No 940, on Post Office Road, Lakshmipuram. Now, it has changed several hands, and houses Lakshmipuram Sports Club with a label 'Swarna Vilas’.
Even though Sandhya shifted to Bengaluru in 1950 and then to Chennai in 1951, it is learnt that Jayalalithaa remained under the care of her aunt Padmavalli and maternal grandparents from 1950 to 1958 in Mysuru. Some old Mysureans claim that Jayalalithaa studied at Lakshmipuram School, but there is no evidence of this. Her stepbrother N J Vasudevan, born to the first wife of Dr Jayaram, L K Jayammal, lives at Srirangarajapuram village in T Narsipur taluk of Mysuru district.
Sulochana refers to an inscription on a tablet on the Mahila Samaja building that states that Dr N Rangachar of LM and Sons donated Rs 1,000 for the construction of the building, the work on which started on December 8, 1930, and which was inaugurated on March 23, 1932. "Jayalalithaa’s mother, known as Vedamma then, has also served as the secretary of the samaja for a couple of years,” she said.
Jayalalithaa was born on February 24, 1948, at Melkote in Pandavapura taluk of Mandya district to Dr Jayaram and Vedavalli, who was better known by her screen name Sandhya. Sandhya’s father Rangasamy Iyengar moved to Mysuru from Srirangam in Tamil Nadu and had one son and three daughters — Ambujavalli, Vedavalli and Padmavalli, according to a source.
Jayalalitha was initially given her grandmother’s name Komalavalli. It is said that 'Jaya’ in her name is derived from the name of the then maharaja of Mysore Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar, as her father Dr Jayaram was close to him. It is also reported that her name is derived from the names of two houses, where she lived in Mysuru — 'Jaya Vilas’ and 'Lalitha Vilas.’ However, old-time Mysureans recall that her grandfather Dr N Rangachar’s residence was 'Red House’, No 940, on Post Office Road, Lakshmipuram. Now, it has changed several hands, and houses Lakshmipuram Sports Club with a label 'Swarna Vilas’.
Even though Sandhya shifted to Bengaluru in 1950 and then to Chennai in 1951, it is learnt that Jayalalithaa remained under the care of her aunt Padmavalli and maternal grandparents from 1950 to 1958 in Mysuru. Some old Mysureans claim that Jayalalithaa studied at Lakshmipuram School, but there is no evidence of this. Her stepbrother N J Vasudevan, born to the first wife of Dr Jayaram, L K Jayammal, lives at Srirangarajapuram village in T Narsipur taluk of Mysuru district.
Sulochana refers to an inscription on a tablet on the Mahila Samaja building that states that Dr N Rangachar of LM and Sons donated Rs 1,000 for the construction of the building, the work on which started on December 8, 1930, and which was inaugurated on March 23, 1932. "Jayalalithaa’s mother, known as Vedamma then, has also served as the secretary of the samaja for a couple of years,” she said.