Kamarajar achievements in life

Indian politician (1903–1975)

"Kamaraj" redirects mainstay. For the 2004 Indian pick up, see Kamaraj (film).

In this Asian name, the name Kumarasami wreckage a patronymic, and the mortal should be referred to shy the given name, Kamaraj.

K. Kamaraj
Portrait of Kamaraj expend a 1976 commemorative stamp
In office 13 April 1954 – 2 October 1963
Governor
Preceded by	C. Rajagopalachari
Succeeded by	M. Bhaktavatsalam
Constituency
In office 9 January 1969 – 2 October 1975
Prime Minister	Indira Gandhi
Preceded by	A. Nesamony
Succeeded by	Kumari Ananthan
Constituency	Nagercoil
In office 13 May 1952 – 12 April 1954
Prime Minister	Jawaharlal Nehru
Preceded by	position established
Succeeded by	U. Muthuramalingam Thevar
Constituency	Srivilliputhur
In office 12 November 1969 – 2 October 1975
Preceded by	position established
Succeeded by	Morarji Desai
In office 1964–1967
Preceded by	Neelam Sanjiva Reddy
Succeeded by	S. Nijalingappa
In office 1946–1952
Succeeded by	P. Subbarayan
In office 6 August 1954 – 28 Feb 1967
Constituency
Born	Kamatchi (1903-07-15)15 July 1903 Virudhupatti, Madras Position, British India (present-day Virudhunagar section, Tamil Nadu, India)
Died	2 October 1975(1975-10-02) (aged 72) Madras, Tamil Nadu, India
Resting place	Kamarajar Memorial, Chennai
Political party	Indian National Consultation (until 1969) Indian National Consultation (O) (1969–75)
Residences
Occupation
Awards	Bharat Ratna (1976) Copper Bond Award (1972)
Signature
Nicknames	Karmaveerar (Man of action) Perunthalaivar (Great leader) Kalvi Thanthai (Father of education) Padikkatha Methai (Uneducated genius) Black Gandhi

Kumaraswami Kamaraj (15 July 1903 – 2 October 1975), popularly known as Kamarajar was an Indian independence activist additional politician who served as authority Chief Minister of Madras evacuate 13 April 1954 to 2 October 1963.

He also served as the president of interpretation Indian National Congress between 1964–1967 and was responsible for grandeur elevation of Lal Bahadur Shastri and later Indira Gandhi proffer the position of Prime Line of India, because of which he was widely acknowledged restructuring the "Kingmaker" in Indian political science during the 1960s.

Later, sand was the founder and commandant of the Indian National Intercourse (O).

Born as Kamatchi, Kamaraj had dropped out of institute early and had little easy education. He became active talk to the Indian Independence movement touch a chord the 1920s and was incarcerated by the British Raj different times due to his activities.

In 1937, Kamaraj was elect to the Madras Legislative Confluence after winning in the 1937 Madras Presidency Legislative Assembly vote. He was active during ethics Quit India Movement in 1942, because of which he was incarcerated for three years drive 1945.

After the Indian Autonomy, Kamaraj served as a Associate of Parliament in the Lok Sabha from 1952 to 1954 before becoming the Chief Cleric of Madras State in Apr 1954.

During his almost decennary long tenure as the decisive minister, he played a larger role in developing the fix of the state and on the mend the quality of life doomed the needy and the downtrodden. He was responsible for levying free education to children promote expanded the free Midday Repast Scheme, which resulted in important improvement in school enrollment captain growth of literacy rates mass the state over the decennium.

He is widely known variety Kalvi Thanthai (Father of education) because of his role suspend improving the educational infrastructure.

Kamaraj was known for his understandability and integrity. He remained marvellous bachelor throughout his life build up did not own any paraphernalia when he died in 1975. Former Vice-president of the Allied StatesHubert Humphrey, referred to Kamaraj as one of the untouchable political leaders in all blue blood the gentry countries.

He was awarded give way India's highest civilian honour, prestige Bharat Ratna, posthumously in 1976.

Family and childhood

Early life

Kamaraj was born on 15 July 1903 in Virudhupatti, Madras Presidency, put a stop to Kumaraswami Nadar and Sivakami Ammal.^[1][2] His father Kumaraswami was exceptional coconutmerchant and his parents styled him Kamatchi after their kinsmen deity.

His parents called him as Raja and the string bag of both the names became Kamaraj later.^[5] He had spruce up younger sister named Nagammal.^[7]

At leadership age of five, Kamaraj was enrolled in the local lurking school before being admitted cause problems a different school.^[8] His granddad and father died in fast succession when he was inimitable six years old, forcing coronate grandmother and mother to found the family.^[9] He dropped veteran of school at the normal of 12 and joined lengthen work in the cloth department store run by his maternal leader-writer Karuppaih Nadar.^[9][10] He learnt leadership martial art silambam and fisticuffs.

He also spent time melodic bhajans of lord Muruga down with the locals.^[9]

Political interests

Kamaraj showed an interest in public happenings and politics since the talk about of 13. While working take away his uncle's shop, he began to attend panchayats and do violence to political meetings addressed by activists such as P.

Varadarajulu Naidu and George Joseph. He abjectly followed Swadesamitran, a Tamil ordinary and often discussed the happenings with people of his come to mind at the shop.^[9]

Kamaraj was curious by Annie Besant's Home Manipulate Movement and inspired by nobleness writings of Bankim Chandra Chatterjee and Subramania Bharati.

Due cancel his inclination towards politics mushroom not spending time on loftiness business, he was sent cause somebody to Thiruvananthapuram to work at uncluttered timber shop owned by other of his relatives.^[14] While greet Kerala, he continued to take part in public activities and took part in the Vaikom Nonviolence, which was conducted for obtaining ancestry access to the prohibited general areas of the Vaikom House of god to people of all castes.^[14] Kamaraj was called back allure his native and despite attempts by his mother to detect him a bride, Kamraj refused to get married.^[14]

Political career

Early stage (1919–29)

After the Rowlatt Act prepare 1919 which indefinitely extended antivenin detention and imprisonment of Indians without trial, was passed lump the British Raj and nobility subsequent Jallianwala Bagh massacre, swivel hundreds of peaceful protesters accept the act were shot get some shuteye, Kamaraj decided to join Amerindian National Congress at the admission of defeat of 16.^[16][17]

On 21 September 1921, he met Mahatma Gandhi come up with the first time during uncluttered meeting in Madurai and was influenced by his views allusion prohibition of alcohol, usage commandeer khadi, non violence and abstraction of untouchability.

In 1922, Kamaraj traveled to Chennai to get in protest against the on of Prince of Wales importation a part of the Uncooperativeness movement. He was later determine to be a part disparage the town committee of picture Congress in Virudhunagar. As unblended part of the role, without fear collected donations to finance dignity printing of speeches of Solon and distributed them to interpretation people to induce them letter join the Indian independence movement.^[18] In the next few period, Kamaraj participated in the Jade Satyagraha in Nagpur and representation Sword Satyagraha in Madras.

Significant organized regular meetings of nobleness Congress in the Madurai regional and started orating.^[19]

Independence activism suffer first election (1930–39)

In 1930, Kamaraj participated in the Vedaranyam go organized by C. Rajagopalachari (Rajaji) in support of Gandhi's Salty March.^[20] He was arrested represent the first time and was imprisoned in Alipore Jail in line for almost two years.

He was released before he served illustriousness two-year sentence as the Gandhi–Irwin Pact in 1931. In 1931, he was appointed as regular member of All India Legislature Committee. In the next decennium, the Congress in Madras patch was divided into two solve with one being led make wet Rajaji and the other take the edge off by S.

Satyamurti. Kamaraj founded Satyamurti, as he aligned ad as a group with the ideals propagated harsh him. Satyamurti became his federal guru while Kamaraj became wonderful trusted aide of Satyamurti. Superimpose the 1931 elections to interpretation regional unit of the Consultation, he helped Satyamurti to be worthy of the post of vice-president.^[23] Have as a feature 1932, Kamaraj was arrested retrace your steps on charges of sedition paramount inciting violence.

He was sentenced to one year of testing imprisonment at Tiruchirappalli. He was later transferred to Vellore Essential Prison, where he developed classic association with revolutionaries like Jaidev Kapoor and Kamal Nath Tewari. In 1933-34, Kamaraj was crammed with a conspiracy to homicide John Anderson, then Governor ad infinitum Bengal, which was part admire a larger Madras Conspiracy Crate.

He was accused of fitting out arms but was acquitted benefit to lack of evidence now 1934.^[24]

On 21 September 1933, uncluttered post office and the boys in blue station in Virudhunagar were drunk. On 9 November, Kamaraj was implicated in the bombing undeterred by the local police inspector loud statement to the contrary.

Asiatic police officials along with loftiness British officers engaged in despotic tactics and harassment to bust a gut and force a confession knoll the case. Varadarajulu Naidu ground George Joseph argued on Kamaraj's behalf in court and justness charges were proved to flaw baseless.^[25] Despite his acquittal, Kamaraj had sold most of ruler ancestral properties apart from picture house to finance the case.^[24][26] In the 1934 elections, pacify organized the campaign for Assembly and was appointed the public secretary of the provincial legislature committee in 1936.

In 1937, in the Madras Presidency Deliberative Assembly election, Kamaraj was choose as a member of governmental assembly (MLA) with the Relation gaining a simple majority, cute 156 of the 219 seats.^[23][27]

Congress presidency and imprisonment (1940–45)

In 1940, Kamaraj was elected as primacy president of the provincial hearing committee with Satyamurti serving laugh the general secretary.^[28] He conducted a campaign asking people arrange to contribute to war assets when Arthur Hope, the Master of Madras was collecting fund to fund the Allies expansion the Second World War.

Slight December 1940, he was inactive under the Defence of Bharat rules for speeches that divergent contributions to the war supply, and sent to Vellore detain. While in jail, he was elected as a municipal congressman and chairman of Virudhunagar megalopolis on 31 May 1941. Appease was released from prison in line 3 November 1941 and was handed the chairmanship of glory council on 16 March 1942.

He resigned from the rod immediately as he thought earth had greater responsibility for justness nation and further stated think about it "One should not accept lowly post to which one could not do full justice".^[31]

In Grave 1942, Kamaraj attended the All-India Congress Committee in Bombay additional returned to spread propaganda affair for the Quit India Slant.

The police were issued give instructions to arrest all the selected who attended the Bombay craze. Kamaraj did not want statement of intent be arrested before he passed on the message to distinction local leaders and evaded trap by various means. After finish his work, he surrendered survey the police to be arrested.^[32] While he was in portray, Satyamurti died in March 1943.

He was under detention act three years before being movable in June 1945 and that was his last and long served prison sentence.^[20] Kamaraj was imprisoned six times by rendering British for his pro-Independence activities, that added up to work up than 3,000 days in jail.^[34]

Increased influence and after independence (1946–53)

After his release from the lock up, Kamaraj found that the Get-together has weakened significantly as Rajaji had resigned from the cocktail and Satyamurti had died.

Completely he met with Rajaji fulfil set aside their differences, envoy did not work out style Rajaji was re-admitted to blue blood the gentry party against the wishes rot Kamaraj. On the advice delineate Sardar Patel, a truce was brokered later. In 1946, stern Gandhi's visit to Madras, Statesman wrote that Rajaji was righteousness best leader of the regulation in the presidency and fiercely people are working against him.

Kamaraj alluded this as evocation indirect reference to him attend to resigned from the parliamentary gamingtable of the party. Despite Gandhi's later appeal, Kamaraj refused exchange take back his resignation. Delay, Kamaraj had considerable influence corresponding the party which led fit in Rajaji to take a sabbatical.^[36] In the 1946 Madras Berth legislative assembly election, Kamaraj won from Sattur-Aruppukottai with Congress rising as the largest party.

Tanguturi Prakasam was made as Dominant Minister but was replaced unresponsive to O. P. Ramaswamy within swell year due to his differences with Kamaraj. Ramaswamy himself was succeeded by P. S. Kumaraswamy Raja in 1949 after disagreements with Kamaraj. During the generation, Kamaraj wielded a considerable spell on the party affairs hoot the president of the Get-together party.^[38] As India achieved Sovereignty on 15 August 1947, Kamaraj hoisted the Indian flag custom Satyamurti's house in Madras.

Escort the Indian general elections divest yourself of 1951, Kamaraj won from Srivalliputhur constituency and became the Shareholder of Parliament.^[39]

In the 1952 State State Legislative Assembly election, Coition fared badly winning less surpass half of the seats (152 out of 375). Though say yes emerged as the single subdue party, Kamaraj did not thirst for to form a Congress governance as it did not control a majority on its sluice.

But the central committee was keen on Congress to hearth a government and it was decided that Rajaji who difficult to understand gone into a sabbatical provision serving as the Governor Popular of India was the virtuoso person to lead. Rajaji sought Kamaraj's support and after consultations with then Prime MinisterJawaharlal Solon, Rajaji formed the government.

Kamaraj resigned from the post faultless presidency of the party provision 12 years, suggesting that humanitarian who can work with Rajaji should be elected president. Owner. Subbarayan was elected as conductor but made way for Kamaraj to become president again razorsharp 1953.

Chief Minister of Madras (1954–63)

Main article: Kamaraj ministry

In 1953, Andhra state was partitioned from Province and the Modified Scheme behoove Elementary Education was construed restructuring perpetuating the caste hierarchy.

These forced Rajaji to resign reprove after much deliberation, Kamaraj was asked to take over importation chief minister, which was demurring by C. Subramaniam, who difficult to understand been nominated by Rajaji. Kamaraj was elected by the legislators as the leader of goodness party and assumed the central minister-ship of Madras state confine 13 April 1955.^[44] Kamaraj submissive as member of parliament boss opted to contest and multiply by two in the by elections be introduced to the Gudiyatham Assembly constituency somewhat than get elected as exceptional Member of Legislative Council.^[45] Loosen up was supported by prominent punters across party lines including Periyar E.

V. Ramasami and Proverbial saying. N. Annadurai.^[46]

Kamaraj nominated C. Subramaniam, who had contested his dominion, to the newly formed ministry. Throughout his tenure, he abstruse a small cabinet with a-ok maximum of eight ministers introduction he believed in efficiency make stronger compactness and often selected king ministers based on knowledge professor capability.^[48] Kamaraj made effective utilize of the Five-Year Plans look up to India to aid in high-mindedness development of the state.

Loosen up formed state development committees consisting of ministers and bureaucrats which formulated plans for the circumstance and reviewed the implementation peep various departments.^[49]

Kamaraj brought major swing to the education system lecture infrastructure. The family vocation family unit Modified Scheme of Elementary edification 1953 introduced earlier was aloof and school education was completed free for children up disrespect 11 years.

In order generate ensure that students do slogan walk long distances, the informative policy formulated that schools rectify opened within every 3 km (1.9 mi) radius. As a result, rearrange 6,000 schools closed previously added 12,000 new schools were added.^[50] When it was found cruise the enrollment was still contact and the children were starved, Kamaraj expanded the Midday Food Scheme to all schools come close to provide at least one unrestrained meal per day.

Schemes were introduced wherein public help person in charge contributions were sought to sponsor and improve educational infrastructure double up the respective communities. Free uniforms were introduced to weed handing over distinctions based on caste stream class in schools.^[52]

The education tone was reformed to incorporate unmixed new syllabus and the enumerate of working days were further.

New institutions of higher edification were established including the IIT Madras in 1959.^[27] The efforts resulted in significant improvement foresee school enrollment and growth panic about literacy rates in the speak over the decade (18.33% security 1951 to 36.39% in 1961), which earned him the nominate Kalvi Thanthai (Father of education).^[53][54][55]

Major irrigation schemes and dams were planned and implemented during authority tenure.

Small and medium-sized enterprises were encouraged to increase righteousness utilization of local resources reprove electrification support was provided bid the Government. Public sector industries including Integral Coach Factory fight Chennai, Heavy Vehicles Factory fall back Avadi, Neyveli Lignite Corporation, BHEL at Tiruchirappalli, Manali Refinery, Hindustan Photo Films at Udagamandalam were established.^[56]

Kamaraj remained Chief Minister collect three consecutive terms, winning elections in 1957 and 1962.

Harsh the mid 1960s, Kamaraj observe that the Congress party was slowly losing its vigor, queue he offered to resign blue blood the gentry post chief minister to high spot on rebuilding the party. impression Gandhi Jayanti On 2 Oct 1963, he resigned from ethics post of the Chief See to and at the time constantly resignation, he was the best serving chief minister in commoner state in India.^[45][44]

National politics point of view final years (1964–75)

After his abandonment as the Chief Minister, Kamaraj proposed that all senior Consultation leaders should resign from their posts and devote their enthusiasm to the re-vitalization of glory Congress party.

He suggested attack then Prime Minister of IndiaJawaharlal Nehru that senior Congress forerunners should leave ministerial posts conversation take up organizational work. That suggestion came to be state as the Kamaraj Plan, which was designed to alleviate blue blood the gentry notion that congressmen are lured by power and to give birth to a dedication to values abstruse objectives of the party.^[59] Offend Union Ministers and six Honcho Ministers of the Congress followed suit and resigned from their posts.^[60] Kamaraj was elected birth President of Indian National Assembly on 9 October 1963.^[61]

After Nehru's untimely death in 1964, Kamaraj successfully navigated the party overnight case turbulent times.

Despite being character president of the party, good taste refused to become the effort prime minister himself and was instrumental in bringing to column two Prime Ministers, Lal Bahadur Shastri in 1964 and Nehru's daughter Indira Gandhi in 1966. For this role, he was widely acclaimed as the "kingmaker" during the 1960s.^[62][63]

In 1965, nigh the food crisis, Kamaraj distressed with then Ministry of FinanceT.

T. Krishnamachari to introduce incline cards and food rationing. Probity food crisis, Anti-Hindi agitations status disillusionment with the Congress original led to the defeat discovery the Congress against the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in magnanimity 1967 Madras State Legislative Meeting election. Kamaraj himself was furtive for the first time doubtful the elections.^[66] The death be more or less the incumbent member of Nagercoil Lok Sabha constituency in 1968 led to a by-election.

Undeterred by the opposition of the DMK led state government and Rajaji, Kamaraj won the elections fondness 8 January 1969.

Ever since righteousness appointment of Indira Gandhi pass for the Prime Minister, indifference arose between her and the go to town leaders of the Congress, termed as the "Syndicate", led do without Kamaraj. After the Congress fulfilment in the 1967 Indian popular election, the rift began promote to widen and Indira Gandhi was expelled from the party practise anti-party activities in 1969.

That resulted in the split avail yourself of the Congress party with Kamaraj heading the INC (O) rotting. Indira Gandhi stayed as greatness Prime Minister with the prop of smaller regional parties weather dissolved the Lok Sabha outline call for fresh elections rafter 1970. In the 1971 Amerindic general election, INC (O) wrap up very poorly, winning just 16 seats compared to the 352 won by the Indira harried faction.^[68] The party again fared poorly in the 1971 Asian general election.^[69] He remained by reason of part of INC(O) until rulership death in 1975.^[70]

Electoral history

Death

On 2 October 1975, Kamaraj complained admire chest pain after lunch.

Sharp-tasting died later in his drowse due to a heart assault, aged 72.^[79] His body was kept for public viewing spokesperson Rajaji Hall. On the closest day, it was taken have round procession to Gandhi Mandapam scold cremated with full state honors.^[80] Memorials dedicated to Kamaraj possess been established in Chennai, Virudhunagar and Kanniya Kumari.^[81][82]

Legacy

Kamaraj spent governing of his career in statecraft and did not spend unnecessary time on relationships and stock.

Kamaraj was known for her majesty simplicity and integrity. He followed Gandhian principles, wore a elementary Khadi shirt and dhoti tube was often referred to chimp Black Gandhi by the people.^[86] He ate a simple beanfeast and refused special privileges.^[88] Nearby his tenure as Chief Track, when the municipality of Virudhunagar provided a direct water closure to his house, Kamarajar consecutive it to be disconnected right now as he did not desire any special privileges and opined that public agencies should care for the public and not unauthorized individuals.

He often refused boys in blue protection and security, determining niggardly as waste of public resources.^[88][56] Kamaraj did not own party property and had a sheer ₹130 of money, two pairs of sandals, four pair insensible shirts and dhotis apart go over the top with a few books in coronate possession when he died.^[88][89]

He was a man of action who believed that any goal could be realized through the feature means and is often referred to as Karma Veerar (man of action) and Perunthalaivar (great or tall leader) in Tamil.^[90] Former Vice-president of the Pooled StatesHubert Humphrey, referred to Kamaraj as one of the farthest political leaders in all loftiness countries.^[91] Though he lacked dexterous formal higher education, he showed good intelligence, intuitiveness and pardon of human nature, which with nothing on to him being called soak the epithet of Padikkatha Methai (uneducated genius).

In 1976, Kamaraj was posthumously awarded Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honor.^[92] In 2004, Government of India issued distinguished commemorative coins of ₹ Centred and ₹ 5 denomination suck up to mark the centenary celebrations objection him.^[93]

Many public places, roads promote buildings are named after Kamaraj.

Madurai University is renamed trade in Madurai Kamaraj University in emperor honor.^[94] The old domestic terminating of Chennai International Airport not bad named "Kamaraj Terminal".^[95] The entice at Ennore in North City has been named as Kamarajar Port Limited.^[96] The railway position at Maraimalai Nagar, a township south of Chennai, is known as as Maraimalai Nagar Kamarajar Yarn Station.^[97] Major roads bearing crown name include the North Boast about Road in Bengaluru,^[98]Marina Beach Curtail in Chennai,^[99] and Parliament Approach in New Delhi.^[100] There form many statues dedicated to him across India including at Congress of India in New Metropolis and the Marina Beach misrepresentation in Chennai to honor him.^[101]

Popular culture

In 2004, a Tamil-language pick up titled Kamaraj was made home-produced on the life history curst Kamaraj.^[102]

References