Independent candidates in elections across the country are strange characters. Lack of money, muscle power and organizational strength has never been a barrier to their entry into the fray, even though it is dominated by incumbent political party candidates who have everything in their power. One of them was Poomedai Ramaiah.
Follow | Tamil Nadu Election Update
Dressed in white khadi and a Gandhi cap, he moved around the streets of Nagercoil on a bicycle, often walking beside him and pushing him, putting up posters that said nothing about local politics and the inaction of the government authorities, especially the Nagercoil Municipal Corporation. ‘Poomedai 666 Watts; Thottal Adikkum Shock’ was a slogan that often appeared on his posters, boldly proclaiming his own ‘power’.
Kotti – roughly translated as “eccentric” – a short story from the Aram Sirukathaikal collection by writer Jayamohan, tries to capture the character that was Poomedai Ramaiah. Few took him seriously, yet he had his own group of followers who used to gather at the grounds of the Nagercoil Municipality – now the Municipal Corporation – to attend his meetings. Sometimes these meetings were held near the Veppamood junction.
He carried his own table and chair, set them up and put up a white flag with a poomedai (round flower garland). Local merchants did not mind providing electricity for a few hours to support his meeting. After all, the crowds often turned into more customers for nearby tea stalls.
Like Gándhían, he began his meetings with prayer and slogans. Ramaiah had mastered the art of oratory and his speeches were often peppered with comical remarks that elicited laughter. Some of his comments were so layered that it took the audience time to grasp their full meaning. He could talk about local, national and international politics with equal ease.
“In one meeting, he talked about the attack on Kamaraj in Delhi, which he called Vadakku (North). Then he said that he had asked the local Congress leader about the attack that took place in the north. But the Congressman replied that he was busy with the harvest in the northern part of Kanniyakumari district,” recalled Professor V. Umaiyorubhagan.
Few details are available about Ramaiah. Contrary to the claim – also found in Jayamohan’s story – that he was born in Kottaram, Ramaiah was actually born in Vadakku Thamaraikulam in Kanniyakumari district. He was living in Kottaram when he had a dispute with his brother. Ramaiah participated in the freedom movement and the struggle for the annexation of Kanniyakumari to Tamil Nadu. Well versed in the works of Vallalar Ramalinga Adigal, he also ran his own magazine Meimurasu. His lectures on Vallalar were a delight even for scholars.
“Have you read Meimurasu? Volume 28 is out. I wrote about worshiping the light,” Kotti would say in the story.
Ramaiah was relatively wealthy and well read. “He was a member of the Communist Party but did not remain in it after the split in 1964. By then he had also earned a reputation as an eccentric. He lost most of his wealth by contesting elections, organizing meetings and publishing his magazine,” said 96-year-old N. Manickam, a CPI(M) leader.
Mr. Manickam said that Ramaiah had also contested the Suchindram town panchayat elections and his symbol was the seei chatti (frying pan). His rivals were Gopinath, a renowned CPI(M) leader, and Sornam Pillai, a local bigwig. “Ramaiah would say that Sornam Pillai’s road roller is only good for the streets and Gopinath’s pumpkin cannot be used a day after it is cooked. But seei chatti can be kept permanently in the kitchen,” he said.
Ramaiah’s posters were ubiquitous, especially in the narrow lanes of Nagercoil town, where men hid to answer the call of nature. His posters carried slogans like “Thideer Current Cut Vizha” (for power cuts) and “Thideer Saakkadi Moodu Vizha” (highlighting the poor condition of sewage). “Poomedai Muzhangukirar,” they declared.
He used to compete for the paanai (pot) symbol; later became aanai (elephant). “Remember our symbol is not paanai but aanai,” he would remind voters. He participated in local body elections, parliamentary elections, Lok Sabha elections and by-elections. Supporters would pay his advance. But he never recovered from it.
In the early 1990s, his voice gradually weakened before falling silent. Mr. Manickam said he went to a temple at Vadasera near Nagercoil and lived on temple food in the last years of his life. He died in 1996.
Published – 30 March 2026 22:13 IST
