Long-time friends, well-wishers and admirers of former Thuglak editor 'Cho' Ramaswamy led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid rich tributes to the late political satirist, actor and journalist in Chennai on Saturday.
Addressing the audience at the Thuglak's annual reader interface meet, Mr Modi, via video conferencing from New Delhi, said in the passing away of Mr. Ramaswamy , he along with others “lost a friend”, who offered “invaluable wisdom" to whoever who came to him.
“If someone had to write the political history of India, he cannot write it without including ‘Cho’ Ramaswamy and his political commentary,” Mr. Modi said at the function that also marked the completion of 47 years of the magazine.
Ramaswamy had a sense of nationalism that went went beyond parochial, regional, linguistic and other divisions, the Prime Minister observed and added that the late political commentator was critical of everyone, including friends and “even those who considered him their mentor.”
Sharing his thoughts, Tamil film 'Superstar’ Rajinikanth said he had always enjoyed his friendship with Ramaswamy and shared several anecdotes.
“There was no politician in Tamil Nadu who didn’t come to him. There was no politician in Tamil Nadu who did not seek his opinion and his comment,” said Mr. Rajinikanth.
Even former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa had opined that Mr. Ramaswamy should live as long as she lived, Mr. Rajinikanth said. “As it turns out, he was alive till then and even few hours after that.”
Former Editor-in-Chief of The Hindu and Director of Kasturi & Sons Ltd N. Ravi described Mr. Ramaswamy as a “fearless, uncompromising champion of free speech,” who “pushed the limits of free speech to the farthest extent.”
Recalling an incident in 2003, when he and his four of his colleagues were sentenced to two weeks in prison for an editorial and reports criticising the functioning of Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly and muzzling of the opposition parties, Mr. Ravi said Mr. Ramaswamy stood “in the frontline of the protest” against such action.
Not only had Mr. Ramaswamy asked editors of newspapers to re-publish the offending editorial 'Rising intolerance' in their respective publications but followed it up with reproducing it in Thuglak, Mr. Ravi recalled.
Founder and chancellor of Vellore Institute of Technology G. Viswanathan recalled his friendship with Mr. Ramaswamy and acknowledged his help during his political campaigns he (Viswanathan) was with the AIADMK. It was only through Mr. Ramaswamy, he got to know he became a minister during the AIADMK rule in 1991, Mr. Viswanathan said.
Noted dancer Padma Subramanyam said for Mr. Ramaswamy, Thuglak was his life.
Thuglak Editor S. Gurumurthy said it was in 1989 Mr. Ramaswamy expressed his desire that he succeed him in the magazine. Elaborating on the magazine’s policy, Mr. Gurumurthy said dynasty politics was only in one party so far but it seemed it has spread to another party as well. Thuglak would not remain silent on the issue, he said.
