Srinivasa Ramaswamy, also known as Cho Ramaswamy was born October 5, 1934) is a comedian, playwright, columnist in Tamil Nadu , India
Early life
Ramaswamy was born in Chennai. He is well known for his commendable knowledge in Indian as well as World Politics. All his views are highly upright and practical. He is said to have even helped the current CM M Karunanidhi to come to power in 1996 with mutual aid from TMC and actor Rajinikanth.
Career
Ramaswamy has been an editor for Tughlak, a political magazine.
On Mahatma Gandhi
"If it was not for Gandhi, there could not have been a democratic India
On Sardar Patel
"There would have been greater discipline if he, instead of Nehru, had become the PM. After Independence
On Indira Gandhi
"As far as Mrs Gandhi was concerned, she did a lot of damage, definitely to the policy of the country. In fact, it was she who weakened the Congress. She could get votes with sheer charisma. But she was not prepared to tolerate leaders of stature in any state.
That is why she saw to it that Kamaraj in Tamil Nadu, Nijalingappa in Karnataka, Sanjeeva Reddy in Andhra Pradesh, S K Patil in Maharashtra , every one of them was relegated, and the Congress lost many stalwarts because of that. And every state unit became totally subservient to the Centre.
The Congress leader of every state was seen as a peon of the Centre, whereas the leader of the local regional party was seen as a master. He shone brilliantly as against the Congress leader. That is why regional parties started flourishing in this country. That was a disservice done by Mrs Gandhi.
She allowed free rein to the corrupt. But she was able to provide a determined leadership to the country. In Punjab , it is my belief that she encouraged Bhindranwale in the initial stages to embarrass the Janata Party. That is another disservice to the nation. As far as the Sri Lankan problem is concerned, even today we have remnants of the problem created by Mrs Gandhi. She started funding and training the Tigers.
Due to her charisma, she was acceptable to all sections of society, all parts of the country. Unfortunately, her style was followed by her successors who did not have charisma and mass appeal, and that led to the decline of the Congress."
On V.P.Singh
"V P Singh's period was an aberration. I have always been opposed to that man. So, you are at liberty to consider my views as prejudiced. From the moment he stepped out of the Congress and even before that, I was a critic of V P Singh and his politics. I warned Chandra Shekhar, I warned Hegde, I warned all my friends in the Janata Party. Beware of V P Singh, beware of V P Singh.
But they thought he just wanted the Opposition to come together and replace the Congress at the Centre and that he did not want to become prime minister. But I said that was his game. Becoming prime minister, making others propose him and then accepting the chair with great reluctance.
I was the only journalist who wrote that Devi Lal who betrayed Chandra Shekhar to make V P Singh prime minister would betray V P Singh to make Chandra Shekhar prime minister. It happened ultimately.
V P Singh serving as a minister in the Rajiv Gandhi Cabinet spied on him by employing an outside agency. A Cabinet minister who can do this to his own prime minister must be the worst betrayer imaginable. From the moment he did it I saw the man as dangerous. He was not a votary for reservation for the backward classes before he brought about the revival of the Mandal report.
The Mandal Commission was appointed during the Janata Party period. But the report was filed after the Janata Party government fell. When the BJP started disagreeing with him seriously V P Singh thought that he should contain the BJP by taking away the backward classes from them. That was why he brought about the implementation of the Mandal proposals.
I think he did a lot of damage to India
On Manmohan Singh
"I think Dr Manmohan Singh achieved something for the country through his economic policies. There is no doubt about it. He is the man who put us on the right track. Of course, international conditions helped him."
On Autonomy of Kashmir
"I am against it. I am supposed to be highly reactionary in my thinking on certain matters. Kashmir is one example of that. If there is a demand for separatism in Kashmir , it has to be put down mercilessly, by use of force. As far as more autonomy is concerned, if Kashmir is granted that, then the other states also will start claiming it. Some of the North Eastern states already claim that. And it may spread to states like Tamil Nadu also. Not because the people want it, but because the political leadership demands it."
On Reservation
"One of the biggest threat India
You cannot expect them to be good at learning if they are asked to live in the slums. The moment they go back to their homes, they are going to experience things which are totally nonconducive to education, like gambling, petty thieving, rowdism etc. So they must be provided residential schools. This must be done, whatever the financial implications.
Industrial houses will definitely come forward to help. Industrial houses which are willing to participate in this exercise should be given some concessions. If this is done, in 15 years, they will be on an equal footing with the privileged classes. And the necessity for reservations will go."
On Communism
"I have always been against Communism. In fact, one of the first series of articles which I wrote in Tuglaq 26 years back was titled 'Moscow - our capital' taking to task the then Indira Gandhi government for being subservient to Moscow. I have been against Communism because it is against the nature of man. A talented man cannot be asked to be satisfied with what a man totally devoid of talent is able to obtain from life. Communism makes machines of men.
There is no equality in nature. You cannot go against it. Have the Communists themselves been able to bring about the kind of equality in society? They have provided themselves and members of the Communist party with all comforts in Russia and in China
On the other hand, capitalism is not anti-poor. When capitalism thrives, the poor get to be employed usefully and profitably."
On Corruption
"It was systematised and institutionalised in Tamil Nadu during Karunanidhi's regime, and institutionalised all over the country during Mrs Gandhi's time. But it existed much, much before that. Kautilya's Arthasastra provides punishment for corrupt officials. Not only to corrupt officials, but for judges who accepted bribes. It would not have got mentioned in Arthasastra, if corruption had not existed then.
It is part of human nature to be corrupt. But a successful society will be able to contain it in such a way that it does not reach dangerous limits as it reached in Tamil Nadu during Jayalalitha's days."
Bibliography
Plays
Muhammad Bin Thuglak
Yaarukkum Vekamillai
Saathiram Sonnadhillai
Nermai Urangum Neram
Iraivan Irandhuvittana ?
Enru Thaniyum Inda Sudandira Thaagam ?
Judgement Reserved
Quo Vadis
Unmayae Unn Villai Ennae?
Saraswathi Sabatham
Madras by Night
Movies Acted
Guru sishyan
Adhisayappiravi
Aarilirundhu Arubadhuvarai
Kaadhalaa Kaadhalaa
Manithan
Then Mazhai
Nirai Kudam
Galaattaa Kalyaanam
Mugammad Bin Thuglak
En Annan
Maattukaaravelan
Pommalaattam
Engal Thangam
Aayiram Poi
Neelagiri Express
Paar Magale Paar
Thanga Pathakkam
Mr.Sampath
Unmaye un vilai enna
Thanikudithanam
Vandhaale Maharaasi
Suryakaanthi
Gowravam
Kazhugu
Ninaivil Nindraval
Then Kinnam
Anand
Religious Works
Hindu Maha Samudram Vol -I
Mahabaratham Pesugirathu
Valmiki Ramayanam
Verukathagada Bramaniyam
Nane Raja
Other Noteworthy and Enjoyable Works
Engey Brahmanan?
Verukatthakkatha Brahmaneeyam ?
Sambavami Yuge Yuge
Vande Mataram
Sarakar Pugunda Veedu
Koovam nadikaraiyinile
Adhigaprasangam
yaro ivar yaro ?
Saadhal Ellaiyel Kaadhal
Mydear BrahmaDeva
Kamarajarai sandhitthen
Puratchi Geethai
Sattam Thalai Guniyattum
Enge Pogirai ?
Enbak kana Onru Kandaen
Saraswathi Sabatham
Manam Oru Kurangu
En koodathu ?
Eravil Chennai
Uravugal Ellaiyadi Pappa
Edarkaga ?
Thiraiyulagathai Thirumbi Parkiraen
Unmayae Unn Villai Ennae?
Brahmanan Oru Madayan