The common people of Tamil Nadu may have been mildly shocked by the grandeur of the jewellery, wristwatches and other accoutrements recovered from the residence of their former chief minister Jayalalitha last year. Indeed, the discovery of the extent of her opulence may have contributed in no small measure to her political oblivion.

Jayalalitha, banking on the fickleness of public memory, may now use those same riches that led to her electoral defeat to good effect. She has said, in a style reminiscent of her salad chief minister days marked by grand announcements, that her ornaments and watches will all be distributed among the people, if the court were to restore them to her. Well, the people found out, and finders are keepers, are they not? n The Tamil Nadu government's decision to stop renaming districts and other public facilities after the state's celebrated leaders, following caste clashes over such renaming, has won it both accolades and a planned protest bandh. Among those opposing the decision are AIADMK, Pattali Makkan Katchi (PMK) and the MDMK which argue that caste animosity in the state has deeper roots the government has failed to address. A bandh is proposed on July 14 to protest against the withdrawal of such names. Seventeen of the 29 districts and all transport corporations barring four had been named after leaders. The four spared were named after the Cheran, Cholan, Pandiyan and Pallavan, who ruled the state during the medieval period.

The problem is, says a wag, that the Tamil Nadu government will be left without too many more historical periods or ex-rulers to fall back on if they want to name the remaining 17 districts and transport corporations .

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.