Letters to the Editor, The Tribune 04 March 2002
T.K. Ramasamy
“You write well. Why don’t you write for us?” his voice over the phone was gentle, encouraging and considerate.
It is not often that a freelancer gets to hear such words from a journalist of Mr Ramasamy’s seniority, especially when you have never met him. Thus started a relationship that lasted a little over three years. A strange relationship really. Here were two people confined to their respective rooms with little hope to be free birds, reaching out to each other through the technological marvel called telephone.
In this world where it is more important to be a somebody or have a somebody as your godfather, here was a man who was not interested in my “antecedants”. I had called on him over the phone and asked him if there was an opening for freelancers in The Tribune. I told him that I was published in various dailies and other publications. Cutting short my attempts at self-promotion, he asked me to submit a piece to him, which I promptly did through my father — my sole link to the outside world. Within 24 hours of the submission, my telephone bell rang. And I heard the words that sent joy coursing through my being.
Over a period of time I realised that he had a soft corner for the underdog. He would tell me to go soft on new writers’ books that came for review. “It is easy to hector a writer but very difficult to offer constructive criticism” he would say, “and it is easier still to tear a piece of writing to shreds, especially it is by someone else. Just put yourself in his or her place. How would you like to be at the receiving end of similar criticism?” Thus “go soft” became the mantra for all book reviews written by me.
I learnt from him the virtue of humility. Of trying to understand a contrary viewpoint and shedding ego. Such a “guru” is rare. I am lucky to have been associated with him.
“He is a saint,” said my sister, who had met him but once, and my father often referred to him as “a faqueer” (the ascetic). And that about sums up the man. I wish I could meet him in person at least once in my lifetime.
RANDEEP WADEHRA, Chandigarh
Outspoken: We were shocked to learn the sad demise of Mr Ramasamy. Ramu to his friends and admirers, he has left hundreds of them in a state of shock. He was a friend of friends, upright, straightforward and an outspoken journalist, who never mixed business with pleasure. Though a bachelor, he was married to journalism.
His editorials in The Tribune were well sought after as he called a spade a spade. He could write on any topic with ease and his flow of English was simple and well understood. He used to study a lot. Whenever I met him, I either saw him reading or writing or watching television, sometimes missing his meals.
Dr. P. K. VASUDEVA, Panchkula
Valiant T.K.R: I rang up TKR on Monday after I learnt from a friend that he was not well. He sounded quite lively on the line. That was his usual way of responding to any query. And on Wednesday he was no more.
TKR was an affable man always ready to help, ready to give, looking for no return, no barter, though shattered by the death of his brother a few years ago. He identified himself with The Tribune and built up a team of talented contributors to his column without meanwhile disowning the superannuated ones. He was indeed an affable personality.
MOHINDER PAL KOHLI, Patiala
This page was last updated on: 25 June 2002