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Traffic Ramaswamy is a 73-year-old former mill worker, a founder member of the state's Home Guard, and a self-appointed traffic policeman cum public interest litigator and social activist from Chennai (formerly Madras), Tamil Nadu province, India.

'Traffic' Ramaswamy

Much of his focus is on controlling the city's chaotic traffic. Initially, he started unofficially directing traffic at the city's busy Parrys Corner. The local police were so pleased with his efforts that they provided him with an official identity card. He acquired the nickname, Traffic Ramaswamy, shortly afterwards.

He has single-handedly brought many public interest law suits in the Madras High Court. In one recent case, he was attacked by his opponents' lawyers on the steps of the courthouse. This was not the first time, he has been attacked: in 2002, he was assaulted by fish sellers - after he obtained a ban on the use of motorised fish carts - damaging his sight. He has also recently had his office ransacked and papers were stolen; he was attacked in 2002, damaging his sight; and his family have disowned him. However, helped by donations from friends, he claims he will continue his fight to make Chennai the most livable and lovable city.

He has successfully obtained: the demolition of illegally constructed buildings in Chennai; restrictions on motorised fish carts; the decongestion of major bus routes by banning auto rickshaws from them; and a review of lavish state funding for a feature film (arguing the money could be more properly used for development work). He is now accompanied day and night by an armed police bodyguard.