Chennai: Veteran journalist, former Rajya Sabha member, political commentator and satirist Cho Ramaswamy died Wednesday morning in a private hospital here.
Cho founded and edited the political magazine Thuglak magazine and was fearless in criticising the ruling government in the state or at the centre.
Tamil Nadu Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao, Chief Minister O Paneerselvam, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam 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.
A stream of admirers, literary personalities 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 Cho was a multifaceted 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.
DMK President M Karunanidhi, in a statement, said despite political differences, Ramaswamy had great love and affection for him.
He was a friend and a political critic who could convey his message with humour, he said.
Rajinikanth described Ramaswamy as a “close friend” and recalled they had been friends since 1978. “Whenever I was in Chennai, I used to visit him at least once a week,” he told reporters after paying homage to Cho.
“His death is not an ordinary loss,” he added.
