Thirunellai Narayana Iyer Seshan,  whose name evoked fear and terror among India’s politicians during his tenure as Chief Election Commissioner, sobbed when the mortal remains of his wife of 59 Jayalakshshmi was taken out of their Alwarpet residence in Chennai on Saturday for her last journey. Jayalakshmi Sesan breathed her last on March 31.

The couple known for their study in contrast, had settled down in Chennai after Seshan’s retirement from Government service. “Though I was interested in settling down  at Palakkadu in Kerala where I was born, the headload workers did not allow me to do so. I went to Palakkadu with my household articles but the headload workers were a law unto themselves and demanded exorbitant charges for unloading it. I refused flatly and came back to Chennai,” Seshan had said when asked why he opted to settle down in Chennai.

The Seshans were issueless. They even bought an apartment in a gated community exclusively for retired persons outside Chennai. But they came back to the Alwarpet residence when they found the ambience not to their taste.

Seshan was active in public life till two years ago while Jayalakshmi conducted  Narayaneeyam classes  for women in the locality. The fact that they did not have children never troubled the Seshans.

They were the ideal made for each other couple. Seshan was always soft when Jayalakshmi was around.

Not anymore. The former bureaucrat, once an embodiment of will power, bravery and discipline  is a pale shadow of his former self. Gone is the booming voice with which he enlightened the audience with his encounters with politicians and  ministers. “The passing away of Jayalakshmi has upset him. He is engaged in writing a book by name Vedic MBA which he hopes to complete soon,” said Sunil Das, a close associate of the Seshans who rushed to Chennai from Palakkadu on hearing the news about Jayalakshmi’s demise.

Seshan (85) is being looked after by five personal aides in his residence.