Wed Dec 31 01:45:00 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary of the provided text, followed by a rewritten version as a news article suitable for the e-paper.
Summary:
The article, published in The Hindu’s December 31, 2025 e-paper, reflects on two controversies involving the late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa and the Christian community during her first term (1991-1996). The first controversy arose from her visit to the San Thome Basilica in Chennai on Christmas Day in 1994, with some critics questioning the appropriateness of her addressing the gathering from the church. The second, and more significant controversy, stemmed from posters and hoardings erected by her party members in February 1995, depicting Jayalalithaa as Virgin Mary, an act widely perceived as offensive by Christians and drawing criticism from political opponents. Despite Jayalalithaa’s disapproval and subsequent orders for removal, protests continued, and the incident became a point of attack during the 1996 elections, contributing to her and her party’s defeat.
News Article:
Controversies Over Jayalalithaa’s Interactions with Christian Community Resurface Decades Later
Chennai, December 31, 2025 – A look back at the late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa’s first term in office (1991-1996) reveals tensions with the Christian community, stemming from two key incidents, according to The Hindu archives.
In December 1994, Jayalalithaa attended a Christmas Day prayer service at the San Thome Basilica in Chennai. While intended as a gesture of goodwill, the event sparked controversy. Critics, including then-DMK President M. Karunanidhi, questioned the appropriateness of her addressing the congregation.
However, the more significant controversy erupted two months later. Overzealous party members erected posters depicting Jayalalithaa as Virgin Mary in advance of her birthday. The posters were widely condemned by Christian leaders and the opposition, who considered it blasphemous. Archbishop Arul Das James called the depiction “the most painful situation to the Christian people of Tamil Nadu and India at large.”
Opposition leaders from parties including the Congress and the MDMK were critical of the posters, viewing them as a display of sycophancy. The posters were seen as hurting the religious sentiments of many, with demonstrations occurring across Tamil Nadu.
Despite Jayalalithaa’s denouncement of the posters and subsequent order for their removal, the damage was done. The controversy, along with other factors, became a significant point of criticism for her political opponents and contributed to her defeat in the 1996 elections. These events highlight the complex interplay of religion and politics in Tamil Nadu’s history.
First Piper 