At a time when people can raise complaints through emails, social media posts and online grievance portals, Kannan N Ramakrishnan continues to trust a simple tool: a handwritten petition. For nearly three decades, the Tamil Nadu resident has helped people put their problems into words and present them to government officials, without charging them a rupee.Now 69, Ramakrishnan visits the Tiruchy collectorate during weekly grievance meetings, where people approach authorities with concerns ranging from civic problems to welfare benefits. He estimates that he has submitted more than 5,000 petitions since 1995 and spends around Rs 300 a day on photocopying them. His story was reported by The New Indian Express, which highlighted his decades of unpaid public service.
A meeting that gave his pen a purpose
Ramakrishnan’s journey began with a conversation in 1994. At a grievance meeting in Tiruchy, he met social worker NL Raman, who encouraged him and other like-minded people to approach government authorities through written petitions. One of his early efforts focused on getting the Uyyakondan canal cleaned. Born in 1958 in Ayyampalayam near Musiri, Ramakrishnan studied physics at Thanthai Periyar College in Tiruchy. He later worked as a teacher at a tutorial college, spent a short period in journalism and joined All India Radio in 1995. He remained part of its technical staff until 2023.His professional experience helped shape the careful and courteous language he uses in his petitions. He writes in both Tamil and English, explaining public concerns in a way that officials can understand and act upon. In 2004, he began submitting petitions under the banner of MGR Nalpani Mandram. He said officials and journalists had suggested that working under an organisation’s name could lend greater credibility to his efforts. Although the group initially had 12 members, age-related health issues have reduced its active strength to two.
From a canal to a heritage building
Ramakrishnan’s petitions have covered a wide range of issues. Some have focused on public infrastructure, while others have sought to protect local heritage or secure benefits for people in need. One effort he remembers with satisfaction involved preserving part of Tiruchy’s historic Town Hall building. After submitting a petition, he explained its heritage value to the then district collector, K Rajaraman, who visited the site. A portion of the building was later converted into a museum, although it is now closed for renovation.He was also among those who sought a dedicated ramp at the Samayapuram Mariamman Temple, helping draw attention to accessibility for visitors. Not every campaign ends with a visible result. However, Ramakrishnan continues to pursue causes that he believes deserve attention. He also files applications under the Right to Information Act, using the information he receives to support his representations to officials.
Helping people whose problems might go unheard
For many people, approaching a government office can be difficult. They may know what is troubling them but struggle to explain it formally or identify the right authority. Ramakrishnan offers help with that first step, turning their concerns into written petitions. Social worker Vairakannu Baskaran experienced this assistance firsthand. He met Ramakrishnan in 2009 while seeking a bus stop at Senthaneerpuram. Ramakrishnan helped him draft a petition, beginning an association that continued over the years.Baskaran later witnessed him helping people with various concerns, including civic issues and pension claims. His support, Baskaran believes, has been valuable to those trying to navigate the process of seeking official action. Ramakrishnan’s service is rooted in his belief that people should devote some part of their lives to society. A devoted admirer of former Tamil Nadu chief minister MG Ramachandran, he has remained unmarried and dedicated much of his time to public causes.
Why he still believes in the written word
Ramakrishnan knows that not every petition brings a solution. Yet he does not measure his work only by the number of successful outcomes. “I don’t allow the lack of impact of some petitions to dampen my energy. I get joy from writing to the authorities about an issue itself. When something changes for society because of a petition, the happiness is immense,” he says. He also believes that the way a concern is presented matters. A clear, polite and carefully written petition can help an official understand the issue, even in an age when information travels instantly online.“The way a petition is written can itself make an official read it. Social media has certainly improved the way issues reach authorities. But a properly worded petition also has its value,” he says. For Ramakrishnan, the daily expense of photocopying and the time spent preparing letters are part of a commitment he has chosen to make. His work shows how public service can begin with something small: listening to another person’s problem, helping them explain it clearly and ensuring their voice reaches the people who may be able to help.
