Cho Ramaswamy is no more

Veteran journalist, former Rajya Sabha Member, political commentator and satirist Cho Ramaswamy passed away early on Wednesday morning in a private hospital here due to age-related problems.

Tamil Nadu Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao, Chief Minister O Paneerselvam, DMK leader M K Stalin and superstar Rajnikanth were among those who paid floral tributes to Cho at his residence. The 82-year-old, who was admitted to Apollo Hospitals last week for respiratory problems, is survived by his wife, son and daughter.

In his tweet, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described him as a multidimensional personality, towering intellectual and a great nationalist. “Cho Ramaswamy was insightful, frank & brilliant. Pained by his demise. Condolences to his family & countless readers of Thuglak,” Modi said.

“Above all, Cho Ramaswamy was a dear friend. I have been to his annual readers meeting, which were an unprecedented editor reader interface,” he said. A wreath was laid on the mortal remains of Cho on behalf of Modi, the Tamil Nadu government said in a release. The wreath was laid by State Protocol Officer Shiv Das Meena, it said. A stream of admirers, literary personalites and those from the cinema and theatre world also paid tributes to Cho at his residence.

A lawyer by profession, Cho was a popular name in theatre, cinema and journalism. He was a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha from 1999 to 2005. Condoling his death, Governor Rao said he was a multi-faceted personality. “I am deeply shocked and grieved to hear about the sad demise of Cho Ramaswamy, an actor, editor, lawyer and writer.

He was a multifaceted personality, a bold, veteran journalist and a political critic who never hesitated to express his views unequivocally,” he said in a Raj Bhavan statement.

The field of journalism “has lost a doyen and a great personality,” he said.

Panneerselvam, accompanied by his cabinet colleagues C Srinivasan, Edappadi K Palaniswamy, P Thangamani and S P Velumani, paid homage to Ramaswamy.