BENGALURU: One cannot forget that J Jayalalithaa had deep-rooted connections with Karnataka. She spent most of her school days in Bengaluru before her family shifted to Chennai (then Madras). After moving to Chennai, she joined Presentation Church Park Convent (popularly known as The Church Park Presentation Convent).
Some of her school mates from The Church Park High School, Chennai, share fond memories of her with Express. They knew her before she became one of the most popular actresses in south India and before she came to be known as Puratchi Thalaivi (revolutionary leader).
Dr Yamuna Ekambaram nee Jayram, recalls the childhood she had with Jaya. Over a phone call interview, Yamuna said, “We were more like frenemies. Be it academics or sports, whenever I stood first, she would come second and vice-versa. We were both equally sportive and competitive. In fact, she used to come home and we would compile books and study together. I wanted to become a doctor and she a lawyer.
“But fate had something else for her. She was excellent in dance, drama and debates and used to take the stage with ease. I was not much into dancing or drama, and that is where she scored over me. I am saddened by her demise. Though we never really spoke to each other after school, I was always happy for her.”
Dr Yamuna is a pediatrician, now settled in the USA.
“She even won the Gold State Award for coming first in the matriculation (ICSE) exam not only in the school but also in Tamil Nadu,” she added.
Malathi Panchapakesan, Jaya’s senior at The Church Park School, recalls the time when she had an opportunity to step into Jaya’s shoes for a few minutes.
“We were a part of a dance-drama called ‘Shakuntala’ where Jaya played the title role. We both had similar physique and long hair. We looked similar from behind. So, in one of the scenes, I went in as Shakuntala, like a stand-in, and Jaya went to change her costume. That particular scene was choreographed in a way that I had to show my profile. It was like a back shot where Kanva Maharshi (Shakuntala’s father) asks her to get ready to leave for Dushyanta’s palace.
As the curtain fell, Jaya was back on stage. She was my junior and I must admit that she was the best at everything. From sports to academics to extra curricular activities, she always used to walk away with the medals,” she said.
Meena Kaphali, Dr Yamuna’s cousin, who was a junior to Jayalalithaa, said, “Every year, our school distributed prizes to achievers on January 26. I clearly remember this sports day. My cousin Yamuna Jayram and Jayalalithaa Jayaram were in the final year and they were in race to grab the ‘All-rounder of year’ award. But Jaya walked away with the award because she was good at academics and co-curriculars. The reason why Jaya was chosen over my cousin was that she used to actively take part in dance and dramas, apart from being a topper in academics and a winner in sports.”