Chennai, February 24: J Jayalalithaa, one of the tallest political leaders of India, was born on this day - February 24 - in the year 1948. Even four years after he shock demise, Jayalalithaa continues to be revered in Tamil Nadu, the state she headed as the Chief Minister for six times in her four-decade public life. For her welfare schemes, she was referred to as the "Amma" or the mother of Tamil Nadu.

The AIADMK, whose reigns were inherited by Jayalalithaa from actor-politician and party founder MG Ramachandran, considered her as the party matriarch. Her word was the final in party affairs and to this day the AIADMK office-bearers and cadres consider her as their top ideologue. On Jayalalithaa's 72nd birth anniversary, here are five powerful quotes of the late politician.

  • Cinema should stand as the perfect example to lead people in the right direction.

  • Education can be the answer to your question. But culture is an essential part of being human.

  • Challenges set the standard for the rise of talents.

  • University is the basement for the rise of talents and knowledge-based developments.

  • People of Tamilnadu are my children. The welfare of Tamil Nadu people is my happiness.

Jayalalithaa breathed her last on December, 2016, after suffering from a cardiac arrest. She was already battling prolonged illness, which led to her hospitalisation for the last two-and-a-half months of her life. Her demise led to a huge outpour of emotions, with the AIADMK claiming that 77 of her supporters had died out of "shock" after learning about the death. The party had announced a compensation of Rs 3 lakh to the bereaved kin.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 24, 2020 08:29 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).