Cho Ramaswamy passes away two days after close friend Jayalalithaa

Chennai: Cho Ramaswamy was a feisty political commentator and journalist whose sharp pen and tongue never spared even his best friends. And to term him as an “all-rounder” would be an understatement since he left his imprint in every role he played in his 82-year-long journey — lawyer, actor, journalist, political commentator and an adviser to several politicians.

Cho, the editor of the satire magazine Thuglak breathed his last at 4 am on Wednesday after suffering a cardiac arrest at Apollo Hospital where he was admitted on November 29. The 82-year-old is survived by his wife, daughter and son.

The fearless commentator, born on October 5, 1934 and named Srinivasa Iyer Ramaswamy, had shared confidence with the likes of the late Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar and incumbent Narendra Modi. He was close to several political leaders across the country. His fierce opposition to Emergency made him a prominent figure.

He had been suffering from acute breathing problem for a very long time and was shifted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the hospital on December 3 after he complained of chest pain.

“He was on ventilator since Tuesday evening and he suffered a cardiac arrest in the early hours of Wednesday and passed away at 4 am,” sources in the hospital said.

Cho — a friend, philosopher and guide to J. Jayalalithaa — was at the ICU of the same hospital where her end came on December 5. That he watched Jayalalithaa’s funeral procession from his hospital bed few hours before his death added a poignant touch to their long-lasting friendship.