M.G. Ramachandran's death marks the passing of an era of stability in Tamil Nadu

It was as if the heart of Tamil Nadu had stopped. For two days normal life was paralysed. Shops were closed, essential supplies were cut off, vehicular transport ground to a halt and passengers were stranded at railway stations and the airport. Vice-President S.D. Sharma was stuck at the airport for three hours.

As news of Marudur Gopalan Ramachandran's death spread, Madras succumbed to grief and anarchy-perhaps a glimpse, a brief foretaste of what lies ahead. Vandals began pelting stones, burning buses, uprooting road dividers, looting shops and setting ablaze and chipping and chiselling off the statue of M. Karunanidhi. Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader and MGR's arch political foe.

Hurling stones and shattering the window panes of Pals Restaurant on Mount Road. Rati, 21, assisted by a gang of at least 100 All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) members said: "Why should Madras survive when MGR has gone?" Mourned R. Chandrasekhar, 23: "The world will never see another leader like MGR." Unmindful of the advancing police patrol, G. Raja said: "With MGR dead, what is the use of us living?"

The cries of the anguished multitude had reached an eerie crescendo by the time the body of the matinee idol-turned-chief minister of Tamil Nadu, was taken on its last journey through the frenzied streets of Madras where 4 million people had descended. For three years the people of Tamil Nadu had been expecting his death.

And yet, the sight of the venerated leader, lying supine on the flower-bedecked gun-carriage, with his characteristic fur cap and dark glasses glinting in the afternoon sun, hit the surging, sobbing, milling crowd like a hammer-blow.

"Thalaiva, nee sollamai poittaye" (leader you have gone without telling us), wailed a young woman, babe in arms, running behind the funeral procession, unmindful of the jostling crowd, immune to the blows that were rained on her and her infant by the hysterical throngs who were screaming, pulling their hair, beating their breasts and faces in desperate sorrow.

After a three-hour procession from Rajaji Hall where he lay in state for 29 hours, MGR was finally brought to the Marina Beach. On Christmas day, at 4.30 p.m. to the accompaniment ofAbide with meand with full military honours, MGR was lowered into a sandalwood bier and interred in a 6 ft by 4 ft grave by the side of C.N. Annadurai, former chief minister and founder of the DMK MGR's friend, philosopher, guide and political mentor.

A burial identical to that accorded to Annadurai was provided for MGR-from the location of the site and the design of the coffin, right down to the showering of sandalwood billets into the grave.

It was a poignant historic moment when the mourners gazed one last time at MGR's beloved face, before the coffin lid shut him out forever. What had died was not just a chief minister and founder of a powerful regional party, but a symbol, a phenomenon, a legend. President R. Venkatraman observed: "MGR was the most charismatic leader in the country."