M.G. Ramachandran’s hospitalisation in the U.S. and homecoming after treatment in 1985

It was October 1984, one of the most turbulent phases for India and Tamil Nadu. Chief Minister M.G. Ramachandran (MGR) was admitted to a private hospital in Madras after a health setback. And, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated.

MGR’s health deteriorated and he was flown to the United States of America (U.S.A.) on November 6, 1984, on a chartered Air India flight that was fully stocked with emergency hospital equipment. He was admitted to the Downstate Medical Centre in Brooklyn, New York. During his admission, he was running a temperature, breathing through a tube, had a non-functioning kidney, and was not fully conscious after suffering a stroke, according to a report in The Hindu archives.

He underwent a successful kidney transplant surgery and slowly recovered from the effects of the stroke. He was able to walk. At the time of discharge, he was undergoing speech therapy from a specialist who later travelled with him to Madras.

M.G. Ramachandran at the Downstate Medical Centre in Brooklyn, New York where he was undergoing treatment in December 1984
| Photo Credit:
The Hindu Archives

The Hindu’s New York correspondent reported in detail on the events that took place and the personalities who met MGR on his last day in Brooklyn. Before leaving for Madras (now Chennai) on February 2, 1985, MGR said he was returning home and was eager to meet the people of Tamil Nadu, to whom he owed a great debt of gratitude.

In a statement issued before his departure, MGR said, “I look forward to being at their service once again.” He also conveyed his thanks, and his wife V.N. Janaki’s (who later became the first woman Chief Minister of the State) gratitude, to the doctors, administrators and paramedical staff at the Downstate Medical Centre for taking good care of him.

“My stay here has enabled me to go back home with a renewed spirit of dedication to serve the people whom I love the most,” his statement said. His improved state of health was indicated by the fact that he travelled back home on a regular commercial Air India flight.

Rousing reception

In Tamil Nadu, preparations were underway, both by the State government and AIADMK members, to celebrate the homecoming of the Chief Minister. A mammoth reception was planned to mark his first public appearance after nearly three months.

M.G. Ramachandran (MGR) with his wife V.N. Janaki and AIADMK senior leader Nedunchezhian at the public reception given to him upon his arrival in Madras on February 4, 1985
| Photo Credit:
The Hindu Archives

S. Muthusamy, the incumbent Minister for Housing in the DMK government, who was then an AIADMK strongman from Erode and serving as Transport Minister in MGR’s Cabinet, oversaw transport arrangements to the reception venue at Mohite Stadium in St. Thomas Mount, two kilometres from the Madras airport.

Bus services of the erstwhile Periyar Transport Corporation and the Pattukottai Azhagiri Transport Corporation from various parts of the State, including Cuddalore, Vriddachalam, Chidambaram, Kancheepuram, Vellore and Tiruvannamalai, were operated to ferry the public to the city and back to their respective places after the reception.

AIADMK – Congress (I) combine’s victory

Following the assassination of Indira Gandhi, her elder son Rajiv Gandhi was sworn in as Prime Minister. While MGR was in hospital, Rajiv Gandhi recommended the dissolution of the Lok Sabha and called for an early election. Similarly, the ruling AIADMK in Tamil Nadu also recommended the dissolution of the Assembly and went on to face the elections in alliance with the Congress (I).

Both the Assembly and general elections took place in Tamil Nadu on December 24, 1984 (Coincidentally, MGR died on this date three years later). The combine won 195 out of 234 Assembly seats and 37 out of the 39 Lok Sabha seats in Tamil Nadu. MGR won the Andipatti Assembly seat in absentia. The Congress (I) won the general elections with a brute majority and Rajiv Gandhi became Prime Minister again.

Then Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.G. Ramachandran during a meeting with Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi at Raj Bhavan in Madras on February 28, 1985
| Photo Credit:
The Hindu Archives

In New York, the Air India flight carrying MGR and others left on February 2, 1985, in moist and bitterly cold weather, The Hindu had reported. Four seats in the plane’s first-class area were customised to provide comfort for his bedding. The flight terminated its passenger service at Bombay (now Mumbai) and flew as a charter to Madras carrying only MGR and his entourage.

On the morning of February 4, 1985, a sea of people had converged at the venue from various parts of Tamil Nadu to greet the leader. MGR, sporting his signature fur cap and dark glasses, arrived at the venue amid thunderous cheers in his Ambassador car and walked briskly to the decorated dais, reported The Hindu the following day.

A rousing reception was given to then Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.G. Ramachandran at Mohite Stadium in St. Thomas Mount, Madras on February 4, 1985, after he returned home from the U.S.A. following successful medical treatment
| Photo Credit:
The Hindu Archives

He was accompanied by senior AIADMK leader V.R. Nedunchezhian and party general secretary P.U. Shanmugham. His Cabinet colleagues and admirers were surcharged with emotion when MGR waved his hand. In a brief welcome address, Nedunchezhian said MGR, who had gone to the U.S. as Chief Minister, had returned as Chief Minister and would be sworn in as Chief Minister for the third time in the next few days. He also told MGR the people of the State had elected the AIADMK again to rule and he would dedicate this massive victory to his leader as the “people’s gift”.

After MGR reached his residence at Ramavaram (now Ramapuram), Governor S.L. Khurana met him. A few days later, he was sworn in as Chief Minister, again.

The new Tamil Nadu Cabinet, after the swearing-in ceremony at the Raj Bhavan in Madras in February 1985
| Photo Credit:
The Hindu Archives

Published – February 11, 2026 05:30 am IST