How Jayalalithaa's academic brilliance shaped Tamil Nadu's education reforms.

Jayalalithaa was one of the most iconic actresses and amongst the most powerful women politicians in Indian history. She is one of the best leaders Tamil Nadu has ever produced. Whatever she touches, she does so with such elegance, intelligence, and instinctive purposefulness.

Besides being celebrated as a highly talented actor, there was one lesser-known fact about young Jayalalithaa: she happened to be a brilliant student. Her academic growth was marked with mileposts, forming a bedrock of strong commitment to education as Chief Minister. Jayalalithaa had won a State Gold Medal for topping Class 10 exams in Tamil Nadu-a shining example of her truly outstanding academic brilliance.

She shone in every sphere-be it academics, arts, or sports-at Church Park Convent, Chennai. With her graceful Bharatanatyam and Kathak dances, brilliant singing, and acting even from her school days, she stood out. She spoke Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam, Hindi, and English with ease and commanded elocution even in classical languages with the same ease. As head girl, she took up her responsibilities with seriousness and leadership that left a lasting impression on teachers and peers.

She won a government scholarship for higher education after school, joined Stella Maris College, Chennai, intending to do Law; but life had other plans. At her mother’s insistence, she quit college to join the film industry to help the family through difficult times economically. Though her academic career was short-lived, it was an important component in the molding of her intellect and discipline that later came to define her as a political leader. Her abiding respect for learning was reflected in her policies as Chief Minister, in which she made learning accessible, equitable, and empowering. Jayalalithaa believed in quality education, skill development, and equal opportunities, particularly for children from disadvantaged groups of society. 

Having experienced the snapping of her academic pathway, Jayalalithaa worked during her lifetime to make sure that no child was denied education owing to circumstances. She initiated various welfare programs aimed at the provisioning of essential school accessories and infrastructure. She distributed free laptops among higher secondary students; this was an epoch-making step to bridge the digital divide for improving digital literacy. She started the schemes aimed at providing free uniforms, bags, notebooks, and geometry boxes to the students of government schools. Realizing the problems many girl students face to reach school, she brought in the Free Bicycles Scheme aimed at improving access to education. Jayalalithaa also gave prime importance to infrastructure improvement in schools by announcing a series of new building projects and smart classrooms throughout Tamil Nadu. Jayalalithaa's most striking initiatives are the Amma Education Loan Scheme, which helped the unemployed youth to pay off their student loans without burden and allowed them to pursue their dreams.

The Amma Call Centre brought in counseling and career guidance, making them a right and not a privilege, thus giving a voice and direction to every student. During her tenure in the 1990s, she also fortified the 69% reservation in education and employment by providing legislative protection and ensuring its continuity and inclusiveness. Jayalalithaa's legacy runs much deeper than cinema and politics. Her contribution towards changing the face of education remodelled opportunities for millions of children in Tamil Nadu. Her strong academic foundation became the cornerstone of her visionary policies. A brilliant student who knew the transformative power of learning, Jayalalithaa remains an eternal role model for future generations.