MGR Memorial

MGR Memorial is a memorial structure built on the Marina beach in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. Spread over 8.25 acres, the memorial is located adjacent to the Anna Memorial.[1] It was built in memory of Former Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu, M. G. Ramachandran and his protégé J. Jayalalithaa, whose bodies were buried at the site on December 5, 2016.[2]

Dr. M. G. Ramachandran Memorial
Dr. J. Jayalalithaa Memorial

History

The memorial was built in 1988 and inaugurated by Janaki Ramachandran, wife of M. G. Ramachandran, in May 1990.[3] The memorial was remodelled and the complex was laid with marble and opened in 1992 by J. Jayalalithaa who had become the chief minister of the state of Tamil Nadu in the previous year. When J. Jayalalithaa died on 5 December 2016, she was buried next to MGR. This structure was designed by Architect Mr. K. Ramachandran, retired chief architect of PWD. Between 1996 and 1998, the mausoleum was again renovated at a cost of about ₹ 27.5 million. When the Indian Ocean tsunami struck the seafront in December 2004, the memorial was damaged. Repair works cost approximately ₹ 13.3 million.[4]

MGR's tomb and memorial at Marina beach before renovation
Statue of M. G. Ramachandran

In 2012, the memorial was again renovated at a cost of ₹ 43 million, including ₹ 34 million for remodelling the facade and the surrounding walll.[5] This renovation included a new entrance with the AIADMK party's two-leaves symbol 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, waterfall at the rear, decorative lamps, and an overhead tower with lights both at the entrance and on the arch.[1][6] Two pergolas 18 metres wide were also constructed, in addition to ramps for the physically challenged.[5]

The erection of the two-leaves insignia was opposed by the opposition DMK party.[7] A public interest petition was filed in the Madras High Court in October 2012 against the erection of the two-leaves insignia,[8] but was dismissed by the court.[9][10]

Entrance
Bronze Pegasus at the entrance
Full view of the entrance

Until 2012, the facade of the memorial was a tall entry arch with folded hands which was replaced with a concrete replica of two-leaves emblem, the symbol of the AIADMK party founded by 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.[11] The 3.75-tonne sculpture, by architect R. Ravindran, a sthapathi from Mamallapuram, is set on a 4.5-metre-high pedestal.[12]

Two 15.9-metre-high columns serving as the entrance were built with reinforced concrete. The elevated "two-leaves" structure is supported by a 6-metre-high beam serving as the stem. The leaf structure, with a span of 10.2 metres for each leaf, is a metre higher than the towering columns. The leaves have a slight resemblance to a honey comb and are visible from both the front and the rear.[11]

Museum

A museum on M. G. R. is located within the memorial at the northern side of the campus.

A panoramic view of the MGR cemetery
  • A general view
  • Statue of MGR
  • The beam
  • The bronze Pegasus at night
  • The ever-burning lamp
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See also

References
  1. "MGR memorial in Marina gets makeover". Deccan Chronicle. Chennai: Deccan Chronicle. 10 December 2012. Retrieved 11 December 2012.
  2. Iyer, Aditya; Lakshmana, KV (6 December 2016). "Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalithaa dies at 68, to be buried at MGR's memorial site". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  3. "MGR Memorial". Chennai.com. Retrieved 11 December 2012.
  4. "Rs. 8.90 crore for renovation of Anna, MGR memorials". The Hindu. Chennai: The Hindu. 30 January 2012. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  5. "'Two leaves' adorns facade of renovated MGR memorial". The Hindu. Chennai: The Hindu. 10 December 2012. Retrieved 11 December 2012.
  6. "Jaya throws open renovated MGR Memorial for public on Marina". Web India 123. Chennai: WebIndia123.com. 9 December 2012. Retrieved 11 December 2012.
  7. "DMK opposes 'two leaves' symbol on MGR memorial". The Times of India. Chennai: The Times Group. 3 December 2012. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  8. "PIL questions renovation at MGR memorial". The Times of India. Chennai: The Times Group. 13 October 2012. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  9. "PIL challenging new arch at MGR Memorial dismissed". The New Indian Express. Chennai: Express Publications. 16 October 2012. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  10. "HC dismisses plea against MGR memorial rejig". The Times of India. Chennai: The Times Group. 16 October 2012. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  11. Mariappan, Julie (12 September 2012). "MGR Memorial to wear a new look with added wings". The Times of India. Chennai: The Times Group. Retrieved 11 December 2012.
  12. Mariappan, Julie (2 December 2012). "Pegasus to adorn MGR memorial". The Times of India. Chennai: The Times Group. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
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