V. N. Janaki
Vaikom Narayani Janaki (30 November 1923[1] – 19 May 1996), also known as Janaki Ramachandran,[3] was an Indian politician, actress and activist who served as the chief minister of Tamil Nadu for 23 days after the death of her husband M. G. Ramachandran, former chief minister of Tamil Nadu. She was the first woman to become the chief minister of Tamil Nadu. She was also the first actress to become the chief minister in the history of India.
This is a matronymic name. The person is referred to as Janaki and not as Vaikom Narayani.
V. N. Janaki Ramachandran
Did not contest
30 November 1923[1]
Vaikom, Travancore Kingdom, British India (present-day Kerala, India)
19 May 1996 (aged 72)[1]
Madras, Tamil Nadu, India
M.G.R. Thottam
-
Ganapathy Bhat(m. 1939; div. 1951)
Surendran
- Rajagopal Iyer (father)
- Narayani Amma (mother)
M.G.R Thottam
Raamapuram, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
- Film actress
- politician
Background[edit]
Janaki was born in the town of Vaikom in Kottayam district of Travancore[4] into a family with ties to both Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Her father, Rajagopal Iyer, was a Tamil Brahmin hailing from Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu, and was the brother of Papanasam Sivan, the musician and composer.[5] Her mother, Narayani Amma, belonged to Vaikom and was of a Keralite matrilineal caste. The formal relation between them was of Sambandam and therefore the children were known by the name of the mother as "Vaikom Narayani Janaki."
IN 1939, aged 17, Janaki married actor Ganapathy Bhat (1915–1972), a Brahmin gentleman, in a Sambandam relation, just like her parents.[6] Janaki and Ganapati Bhat had a son named Surendran.[7]
Film career[edit]
Janaki's early films were Manmatha Vijayam (1939)[4] and Savithri(1941). Chandralekha in 1948 brought her popularity.[5]
Janaki acted with Ramachandran in films like Raja Mukthi and Mohini. She continued acting, with films like Velaikaari and Marudhanaattu Ilavarasi in the 1950s but had stopped by 1960. Following the death of Ramachandran's second wife, she moved in with him.[4] They legally married in 1962.Ramachandran, who was childless in his three marriages, is said to have taken an affectionate interest in the well-being of Surendran, her son from her first marriage.[8]
Death[edit]
She died of a cardiac arrest[2] on 19 May 1996. She was buried beside her residence at MGR Thottam in Raamapuram, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
Legacy[edit]
VN Janaki gifted her property in Avvai Shanmugham Salai (Lloyds Road) in honour of her husband to the AIADMK. It subsequently became the headquarters of the party in 1986.[13] She was the founder chairman of The Satya Educational & Charitable Society managing many free educational institutions in Chennai. She gave property worth many million of dollars for the establishment of educational and charitable institutions in Tamil Nadu. She was also instrumental in setting up the Janaki Ramachandran Educational & Charitable Trust.[14]