M.G.R. and Amma Memorial
M.G.R. and Amma Memorial, officially Bharat Ratna Puratchi Thalaivar Dr. M.G.R. and Puratchi Thalaivi Amma Selvi J. Jayalalithaa Memorial, is a memorial complex dedicated to the former chief ministers of Tamil Nadu M. G. Ramachandran (M.G.R.) and J. Jayalalithaa (Amma), where a black marble platform was raised on the spot of M.G.R.'s cremation on 25 December 1987, and on the spot of Jayalalithaa's on 6 December 2016. Both cemeteries consist of an eternal flame and a portrait of them at one end. A stone footpath leads to the lotus-shaped wall enclosure that houses the M.G.R. Memorial, with the sword pillar topped with a spherical-shaped dome light, and a stone footpath leads to the phoenix-shaped wall enclosure that houses the memorial of M.G.R.'s protégé and the former chief minister of Tamil Nadu J. Jayalalithaa.[1] The memorial complex is located on Kamarajar Promenade, adjacent to the Anna Memorial on the Marina Beach in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.[2]
M.G.R. and Amma Memorial
M.G.R. and Amma Ninaividam
M.G.R. and Amma Square
Tomb and Museum
Lotus-shaped (M.G.R.) and Phoenix-shaped (Amma)
Kamarajar Promenade, Marina beach
India
25 December 1987 and
6 December 2016
Construction and Renovation[edit]
The memorial complex spreads over 8.25 acres and has the highest number of visitors along the seafront. The M.G.R. memorial started its construction work in 1988 and was inaugurated by M. G. Ramachandran's wife and the former chief minister of Tamil Nadu V. N. Janaki Ramachandran in May 1990.[3] In 1992, the memorial complex was remodeled and laid with marble by the Government of Tamil Nadu led by then chief minister J. Jayalalithaa. Between 1996 and 1998, the mausoleum was again renovated at a cost of about ₹2.75 crore. When the Indian Ocean tsunami struck the seafront in December 2004, the memorial was damaged. Repair works cost approximately ₹1.33 crore.[4]
In 2012, the memorial was again renovated at a cost of ₹4.3 crore, including ₹3.4 crore for remodeling the facade and the surrounding wall.[5] This renovation included a new entrance with the Two Leaves, the electoral symbol of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, and Pegasus, the horse from Greek mythology; landscaping of the open area around the memorial using Korean grass; and the planting of exotic, decorative plants such as palmyra alpha, date palm, spider lily, and adenium. Also included were a granite pathway shaped like a guitar, stainless steel handles around the memorial, a fountain in the middle, a waterfall at the rear, decorative lamps, and an overhead tower with lights both at the entrance and on the arch.[6] Two 18-meter-wide pergolas were also constructed, in addition to ramps for the physically challenged.
The erection of the two leaves insignia at the fascade of the entrance as an arch was opposed by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.[7] A public interest petition was filed in the Madras High Court in October 2012 against the erection of that insignia,[8] but it was dismissed by the court.[9][10]
In 2016, when M.G.R.'s protégé and the former chief minister of Tamil Nadu J. Jayalalithaa, died, she was buried behind her mentor in the memorial complex. A new memorial was built for her at a cost of ₹50 crore.[11] The memorial is planned to be built in the shape of a phoenix, covering the cemetery of Jayalalithaa. On 7 May 2018, the foundation stone was laid for the construction of the memorial by the then chief minister of Tamil Nadu Edappadi K. Palaniswami, in the presence of prominent members of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. The memorial is named Amma Memorial, as Jayalalithaa is fondly called Amma by her followers and party cadres.
On 27 January 2021, the memorial and the museum of J. Jayalalithaa, named Amma Memorial and Amma Museum, respectively, were inaugurated by the then chief minister of Tamil Nadu Edappadi K. Palaniswami, in the memorial complex.[12][13]
Entrance[edit]
The facade of the memorial complex was a tall entry arch with a concrete replica of the Two Leaves, the electoral symbol of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, founded by the former chief minister of Tamil Nadu M. G. Ramachandran. The facade was also given a Grecian touch with the erection of a 12-foot-high bronze sculpture of Pegasus, the winged horse of Greek mythology. The 3.75-ton sculpture, by architect R. Ravindran, a sthapathi from Mamallapuram, is set on a 4.5-meter-high pedestal.[14]
Two 15.9-meter-high columns serving as the entrance were built with reinforced concrete. The elevated structure of the two leaves is supported by a 6-meter-high beam serving as the stem. The leaf structure, with a span of 10.2 meters for each leaf, is a meter higher than the towering columns. The leaves have a slight resemblance to a honeycomb and are visible from both the front and the rear.[15]
Bronze Pegasus at the entrance to the memorial
Main corridor of the memorial
Lotus-shaped wall houses the M.G.R. Memorial
A panoramic view of the M.G.R. Memorial
An eternal flame near the cemetery of M.G.R.
Dr. M.G.R. Museum inside the memorial complex
Photo gallery inside the Dr. M.G.R. Museum
Amma Memorial on the day of cremation
Phoenix-shaped wall houses the Amma Memorial
Amma Museum inside the memorial complex
