Despite having a disability of 85 percent, Ramakrishnan moved around by buses until he got a side car scooter. Later on he used to drive an autorickshaw with a hand brake, specially fitted for him by Bajaj Auto Ltd. When he was in service a senior official had mentioned the fact that he was physically disabled in Ramakrishnan's confidential report but then Ramakrishnan went to the President V. V. Giri, who immediately passed an order that the fact that people are disabled must not be considered while evaluating them in their Confidential Reports. He also runs Arohana and Sri Bhairavi Gana Sabha, two organisations to propagate Carnatic music.