Cho Ramaswamy - A multifaceted phenomenon who had admirers even in IT city

BENGALURU: An unsparing political commentator, a playwright famed for his sparkling wit and pithy one-liners, an actor whose antics on screen and stage could have the audience in splits, a film critic and an editor par excellence, Srinivasa Ramaswamy Iyer, popularly known as ‘Cho’ Ramaswamy donned many hats. His admirers, though not legion were many, and he had his fair share of detractors too, besides those who were quite simply indifferent to him.
Whether it was the Emergency, or demonetisation, Cho questioned the establishment with a fierce audacity, his observations often couched in satire that was at once, subtle and scathing.
The world of journalism is so much poorer without him, said Uday Kumar, president of the Thiruvalluvar People’s Welfare Association, Karnataka. “There will not be another like Cho. His death is a loss to journalism, cinema and politics. AIADMK did a lot of good work in its last tenure, and credit, in no small measure, should go to Cho for this,” Uday added.
Cho launched the political magazine, Tughlak in 1970, following the astounding reception and success of his play, Mohammed-bin-Thuglaq. Recalling a memory from his childhood days, Uday said, “There was media censorship everywhere, and the cover page of Thuglak that Cho brought out was completely black. I remember my father explaining why he had done it. Cho had managed to say so much without printing a single word.”
Uday is one of the many followers of the magazine, which continues to command a loyal readership, which is not restricted to Tamil Nadu. SM Palani, 52, a bookshop owner for the past 35 years in Bengaluru, said that there were many readers of Thuglak in the city. “Even today, I sell over 10 copies, when it arrives at my shop every Tuesday. There are a few avid readers who come to my shop to buy Thuglak, and I make sure they aren’t disappointed,” said Palani, who owns the Sudha Book Centre in Srirampuram near the Ambedkar statue.
The latest edition of Thuglak arrived at Palani’s shop a day late – on Wednesday – bearing with it the news of Cho’s demise. The 52-year-old is yet to come to terms with this loss.
A former Wipro employee and Peenya resident, P Shanmugam left for Chennai to pay his last respects to the veteran actor-journalist. “He is a man I admire. I come from Jolarpettai in Tamil Nadi, and I still have a vivid memory of the 1980s, when police branded those of us fighting against spurious liquor Naxalites, and tried to arrest us. Cho met with us, and published a three-page article that proved we were innocent. We were subsequently spared,” the 62-year-old said.
However, Shanmugam was quick to add that he did not always agree with Cho. “I was opposed to his views on the Tamil Eelam crisis. But the man was a unique and inspiring personality,” Shanmugam added.
President of the Bangalore Tamil Sangam, G Damodaran said that Cho’s death was indeed a huge loss. However, he added that he never acknowledged their organisation. “He equated all of us with the LTTE. He refused when we offered to felicitate him. As such, we neither love nor hate him,” he added.
But Cho was like that. Bold, and outspoken.