He was a member as well as chairman of the Labour Party of Malaya, and subsequently joined the Malaysian Indian Congress.
[1] Besides that, Ramanathan also served as the first mayor for the city of George Town, and is credited for his pioneering efforts to set up a university in Penang.
Even, after finishing his term as mayor, he was appointed as the headmaster of the Penang Pykett Methodist School.
In 1963, Ramanathan levelled allegations of malpractice and misconduct against members of the George Town council, and this triggered his departure from the Labour Party.
At the time his surviving children were David, Sarojini Ruth, Peter and Lakhshmi Lucy.