M.G.R Memorial Complex is a memorial complex 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 who died in office, M. G. Ramachandran and his protégé J. Jayalalithaa, whose bodies were buried at the site on 26 December 1987 and 6 December 2016, respectively.[2]
History
The memorial was built in 1988 and inaugurated by V. N. 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 K. Ramachandran, retired chief architect of PWD. Between 1996 and 1998, the mausoleum was again renovated at a cost of about Template:INR 27.5 million. When the Indian Ocean tsunami struck the seafront in December 2004, the memorial was damaged. Repair works cost approximately Template:INR 13.3 million.[4]
In 2012, the memorial was again renovated at a cost of Template:INR 43 million, including Template:INR 34 million for remodelling the facade and the surrounding wall.[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]
In 2016, when his protégé J. Jayalalithaa died, she was buried behind her mentor, opposite to the memorial to her archrival, M. Karunanidhi. A new memorial was built for her at a cost of ₹500 million rupees. The Jayalalithaa Memorial or the Amma Memorial is shaped like a phoenix.
Entrance
Until 2012, the facade of the memorial was a tall entry arch with folded hands which was replaced with a concrete replica of the 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. Ramachandran's life is located within the memorial at the northern side of the campus.Template:Fact
Image gallery
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A view of the MGR Memorial
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Bust of MGR
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The eternal flame at the memorial
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 MGR memorial in Marina gets makeover. Deccan Chronicle(10 December 2012).
- ↑ Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalithaa dies at 68, to be buried at MGR's memorial site. Hindustan Times(6 December 2016).
- ↑ MGR Memorial. Chennai.com.
- ↑ Rs. 8.90 crore for renovation of Anna, MGR memorials. The Hindu(30 January 2012).
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 'Two leaves' adorns facade of renovated MGR memorial. The Hindu(10 December 2012).
- ↑ Jaya throws open renovated MGR Memorial for public on Marina. Web India 123(9 December 2012).
- ↑ DMK opposes 'two leaves' symbol on MGR memorial. The Times of India(3 December 2012).
- ↑ PIL questions renovation at MGR memorial. The Times of India(13 October 2012).
- ↑ PIL challenging new arch at MGR Memorial dismissed. The New Indian Express(16 October 2012).
- ↑ HC dismisses plea against MGR memorial rejig. The Times of India(16 October 2012).
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 MGR Memorial to wear a new look with added wings. The Times of India(12 September 2012).
- ↑ Pegasus to adorn MGR memorial. The Times of India(2 December 2012).