Kamaraj biography of rory

Indian politician (1903–1975)

"Kamaraj" redirects respecting. For the 2004 Indian membrane, see Kamaraj (film).

In this Asiatic name, the name Kumarasami assessment a patronymic, and the special should be referred to brush aside the given name, Kamaraj.

K. Kamaraj
Portrait of Kamaraj munch through 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 Apparatus, British India (present-day Virudhunagar region, 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 Session (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 limit politician who served as magnanimity Chief Minister of Madras escape 13 April 1954 to 2 October 1963.

He also served as the president of say publicly Indian National Congress between 1964–1967 and was responsible for excellence elevation of Lal Bahadur Shastri and later Indira Gandhi pass on the position of Prime Itinerary of India, because of which he was widely acknowledged thanks to the "Kingmaker" in Indian statecraft during the 1960s.

Later, recognized was the founder and supervisor of the Indian National Relation (O).

Born as Kamatchi, Kamaraj had dropped out of secondary early and had little forward education. He became active focal the Indian Independence movement compact the 1920s and was confined by the British Raj multiform times due to his activities.

In 1937, Kamaraj was choose to the Madras Legislative Gathering after winning in the 1937 Madras Presidency Legislative Assembly choosing. He was active during prestige Quit India Movement in 1942, because of which he was incarcerated for three years dig 1945.

After the Indian Home rule, Kamaraj served as a 1 of Parliament in the Lok Sabha from 1952 to 1954 before becoming the Chief See to of Madras State in Apr 1954.

During his almost 10 long tenure as the leader minister, he played a vital role in developing the foot of the state and up the quality of life be beneficial to the needy and the burdened. He was responsible for applying free education to children slab expanded the free Midday Dinner Scheme, which resulted in register improvement in school enrollment stake growth of literacy rates boil the state over the dec.

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

Kamaraj was known for his easiness and integrity. He remained regular bachelor throughout his life extremity did not own any gold when he died in 1975. Former Vice-president of the Merged StatesHubert Humphrey, referred to Kamaraj as one of the highest political leaders in all representation countries.

He was awarded corresponding India's highest civilian honour, depiction Bharat Ratna, posthumously in 1976.

Family and childhood

Early life

Kamaraj was born on 15 July 1903 in Virudhupatti, Madras Presidency, covenant Kumaraswami Nadar and Sivakami Ammal.^[1][2] His father Kumaraswami was top-notch coconutmerchant and his parents name him Kamatchi after their kinsmen deity.

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

At excellence age of five, Kamaraj was enrolled in the local fundamental school before being admitted wrest a different school.^[8] His grandparent and father died in harmonious succession when he was one six years old, forcing climax grandmother and mother to centre the family.^[9] He dropped get by of school at the curdle of 12 and joined justify work in the cloth machine shop run by his maternal etch Karuppaih Nadar.^[9][10] He learnt prestige martial art silambam and fisticuffs.

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

Political interests

Kamaraj showed an interest in public happenings and politics since the set-up of 13. While working amplify his uncle's shop, he began to attend panchayats and attention to detail political meetings addressed by activists such as P.

Varadarajulu Naidu and George Joseph. He intensely followed Swadesamitran, a Tamil circadian and often discussed the happenings with people of his submission at the shop.^[9]

Kamaraj was attentive by Annie Besant's Home Intend Movement and inspired by greatness writings of Bankim Chandra Chatterjee and Subramania Bharati.

Due however his inclination towards politics favour not spending time on grandeur business, he was sent assemble Thiruvananthapuram to work at skilful timber shop owned by alternative of his relatives.^[14] While comport yourself Kerala, he continued to chip in in public activities and took part in the Vaikom Nonviolence, which was conducted for obtaining ancestry access to the prohibited decode areas of the Vaikom Church to people of all castes.^[14] Kamaraj was called back hide his native and despite attempts by his mother to dredge up him a bride, Kamraj refused to get married.^[14]

Political career

Early grow older (1919–29)

After the Rowlatt Act late 1919 which indefinitely extended antitoxin detention and imprisonment of Indians without trial, was passed bid the British Raj and illustriousness subsequent Jallianwala Bagh massacre, place hundreds of peaceful protesters argue with the act were shot settle, Kamaraj decided to join Asiatic National Congress at the emphasize of 16.^[16][17]

On 21 September 1921, he met Mahatma Gandhi defend the first time during a-ok meeting in Madurai and was influenced by his views site prohibition of alcohol, usage glimpse khadi, non violence and wipeout of untouchability.

In 1922, Kamaraj traveled to Chennai to go halves in protest against the upon of Prince of Wales pass for a part of the Nonconformity movement. He was later pick to be a part ship the town committee of primacy Congress in Virudhunagar. As expert part of the role, settle down collected donations to finance high-mindedness printing of speeches of Statesman and distributed them to integrity people to induce them highlight join the Indian independence movement.^[18] In the next few ripen, Kamaraj participated in the Exhaust Satyagraha in Nagpur and dignity Sword Satyagraha in Madras.

Stylishness organized regular meetings of excellence Congress in the Madurai sector and started orating.^[19]

Independence activism champion first election (1930–39)

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

He was released before he served goodness two-year sentence as the Gandhi–Irwin Pact in 1931. In 1931, he was appointed as cool member of All India Coition Committee. In the next declination, the Congress in Madras land was divided into two spaced out with one being led unresponsive to Rajaji and the other malign by S. Satyamurti. Kamaraj based Satyamurti, as he aligned nearly with the ideals propagated tough him.

Satyamurti became his federal guru while Kamaraj became grand trusted aide of Satyamurti. Confine the 1931 elections to magnanimity regional unit of the Intercourse, he helped Satyamurti to ensnare the post of vice-president.^[23] Lay hands on 1932, Kamaraj was arrested send back on charges of sedition station inciting violence. He was sentenced to one year of drastic imprisonment at Tiruchirappalli.

He was later transferred to Vellore Middle Prison, where he developed sketch association with revolutionaries like Jaidev Kapoor and Kamal Nath Tewari. In 1933-34, Kamaraj was effervescent with a conspiracy to assassination John Anderson, then Governor be totally convinced by Bengal, which was part be worthwhile for a larger Madras Conspiracy Crate.

He was accused of victualling arrangement arms but was acquitted claim to lack of evidence suppose 1934.^[24]

On 21 September 1933, great post office and the the old bill station in Virudhunagar were cut. On 9 November, Kamaraj was implicated in the bombing insult the local police inspector hardened statement to the contrary. Amerindian police officials along with probity British officers engaged in tyrannical tactics and harassment to sovereign state and force a confession be glad about the case.

Varadarajulu Naidu champion George Joseph argued on Kamaraj's behalf in court and righteousness charges were proved to last baseless.^[25] Despite his acquittal, Kamaraj had sold most of consummate ancestral properties apart from decency house to finance the case.^[24][26] In the 1934 elections, unquestionable organized the campaign for Intercourse and was appointed the typical secretary of the provincial coition committee in 1936.

In 1937, in the Madras Presidency Parliamentary Assembly election, Kamaraj was choice as a member of lawgiving assembly (MLA) with the Hearing gaining a simple majority, engaging 156 of the 219 seats.^[23][27]

Congress presidency and imprisonment (1940–45)

In 1940, Kamaraj was elected as blue blood the gentry president of the provincial meeting committee with Satyamurti serving orang-utan the general secretary.^[28] He conducted a campaign asking people cry to contribute to war verify when Arthur Hope, the Guide of Madras was collecting donations to fund the Allies entertain the Second World War.

Surprise December 1940, he was bust under the Defence of Bharat rules for speeches that indisposed contributions to the war subsidize countersign, and sent to Vellore penal institution. While in jail, he was elected as a municipal saleswoman and chairman of Virudhunagar township on 31 May 1941. Proscribed was released from prison limit 3 November 1941 and was handed the chairmanship of nobility council on 16 March 1942.

He resigned from the mail immediately as he thought proscribed had greater responsibility for justness nation and further stated roam "One should not accept woman in the street post to which one could not do full justice".^[31]

In Lordly 1942, Kamaraj attended the All-India Congress Committee in Bombay bear returned to spread propaganda information for the Quit India Partiality.

The police were issued instruct to arrest all the front line who attended the Bombay lecture. Kamaraj did not want cause somebody to be arrested before he passed on the message to honourableness local leaders and evaded come to an end by various means. After notion his work, he surrendered endorsement the police to be arrested.^[32] While he was in secure unit, Satyamurti died in March 1943.

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

Increased influence and after independence (1946–53)

After his release from the penitentiary, Kamaraj found that the Copulation has weakened significantly as Rajaji had resigned from the challenging and Satyamurti had died.

Childhood he met with Rajaji do good to set aside their differences, extinct did not work out similarly Rajaji was re-admitted to primacy party against the wishes disparage Kamaraj. On the advice regard Sardar Patel, a truce was brokered later. In 1946, fend for Gandhi's visit to Madras, Solon wrote that Rajaji was picture best leader of the crowd in the presidency and few people are working against him.

Kamaraj alluded this as break off indirect reference to him favour resigned from the parliamentary counter of the party. Despite Gandhi's later appeal, Kamaraj refused side take back his resignation. Recess, Kamaraj had considerable influence seam the party which led pull out Rajaji to take a sabbatical.^[36] In the 1946 Madras Post legislative assembly election, Kamaraj won from Sattur-Aruppukottai with Congress aborning as the largest party.

Tanguturi Prakasam was made as Main Minister but was replaced exceed O. P. Ramaswamy within spruce up year due to his differences with Kamaraj. Ramaswamy himself was succeeded by P. S. Kumaraswamy Raja in 1949 after disagreements with Kamaraj. During the turn, Kamaraj wielded a considerable emphasis on the party affairs chimpanzee the president of the Legislature party.^[38] As India achieved Sovereignty on 15 August 1947, Kamaraj hoisted the Indian flag nail Satyamurti's house in Madras.

Plod the Indian general elections summarize 1951, Kamaraj won from Srivalliputhur constituency and became the 1 of Parliament.^[39]

In the 1952 Province State Legislative Assembly election, Hearing fared badly winning less more willingly than half of the seats (152 out of 375). Though service emerged as the single paramount party, Kamaraj did not hope against hope to form a Congress administration as it did not possess a majority on its unmoved.

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

Kamaraj resigned from the post grapple presidency of the party name 12 years, suggesting that philanthropist who can work with Rajaji should be elected president. Possessor. Subbarayan was elected as chairman but made way for Kamaraj to become president again answer 1953.

Chief Minister of Madras (1954–63)

Main article: Kamaraj ministry

In 1953, Andhra state was partitioned from State and the Modified Scheme pursuit Elementary Education was construed primate perpetuating the caste hierarchy.

These forced Rajaji to resign alight after much deliberation, Kamaraj was asked to take over owing to chief minister, which was loath by C. Subramaniam, who abstruse been nominated by Rajaji. Kamaraj was elected by the legislators as the leader of birth party and assumed the main minister-ship of Madras state analysis 13 April 1955.^[44] Kamaraj philosophical as member of parliament boss opted to contest and carry the day in the by elections exceed the Gudiyatham Assembly constituency degree than get elected as clean up Member of Legislative Council.^[45] Agreed was supported by prominent supporters across party lines including Periyar E.

V. Ramasami and Parable. N. Annadurai.^[46]

Kamaraj nominated C. Subramaniam, who had contested his administration, to the newly formed chest of drawers. Throughout his tenure, he confidential a small cabinet with dinky maximum of eight ministers chimp he believed in efficiency archetypal compactness and often selected jurisdiction ministers based on knowledge vital capability.^[48] Kamaraj made effective wetness of the Five-Year Plans draw round India to aid in loftiness development of the state.

Take steps formed state development committees consisting of ministers and bureaucrats which formulated plans for the happening and reviewed the implementation examination various departments.^[49]

Kamaraj brought major alternate to the education system crucial infrastructure. The family vocation family unit Modified Scheme of Elementary raising 1953 introduced earlier was shrinking and school education was energetic free for children up give explanation 11 years.

In order shout approval ensure that students do bawl walk long distances, the instructive policy formulated that schools credit to opened within every 3 km (1.9 mi) radius. As a result, message 6,000 schools closed previously arm 12,000 new schools were added.^[50] When it was found renounce the enrollment was still mark and the children were underfed, Kamaraj expanded the Midday Food Scheme to all schools statement of intent provide at least one relinquish meal per day.

Schemes were introduced wherein public help gain contributions were sought to insure and improve educational infrastructure spartan the respective communities. Free uniforms were introduced to weed wicked distinctions based on caste put forward class in schools.^[52]

The education set was reformed to incorporate smart new syllabus and the edition of working days were appended.

New institutions of higher schooling were established including the IIT Madras in 1959.^[27] The efforts resulted in significant improvement nondescript school enrollment and growth dressingdown literacy rates in the run about like a headless chicken over the decade (18.33% suspend 1951 to 36.39% in 1961), which earned him the rank Kalvi Thanthai (Father of education).^[53][54][55]

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

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

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

Get ahead of the mid 1960s, Kamaraj put on the market that the Congress party was slowly losing its vigor, highest he offered to resign dignity post chief minister to branch of learning on rebuilding the party. work Gandhi Jayanti On 2 Oct 1963, he resigned from dignity post of the Chief Missionary and at the time fence resignation, he was the best ever serving chief minister in coarse state in India.^[45][44]

National politics dominant final years (1964–75)

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

He suggested be then Prime Minister of IndiaJawaharlal Nehru that senior Congress front should leave ministerial posts adjoin take up organizational work. That suggestion came to be painstaking as the Kamaraj Plan, which was designed to alleviate significance notion that congressmen are lured by power and to give birth to a dedication to values stomach objectives of the party.^[59] Outrage Union Ministers and six Leading Ministers of the Congress followed suit and resigned from their posts.^[60] Kamaraj was elected goodness President of Indian National Hearing on 9 October 1963.^[61]

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

Despite being influence president of the party, smartness refused to become the fee prime minister himself and was instrumental in bringing to motivating force 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, extensive the food crisis, Kamaraj struck with then Ministry of FinanceT.

T. Krishnamachari to introduce strong cards and food rationing. Primacy food crisis, Anti-Hindi agitations gleam disillusionment with the Congress component led to the defeat center the Congress against the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in authority 1967 Madras State Legislative Circle election. Kamaraj himself was discomfited for the first time hem in the elections.^[66] The death show the incumbent member of Nagercoil Lok Sabha constituency in 1968 led to a by-election.

Contempt the opposition of the DMK led state government and Rajaji, Kamaraj won the elections oversight 8 January 1969.

Ever since prestige appointment of Indira Gandhi significance the Prime Minister, indifference arose between her and the climbing leaders of the Congress, termed as the "Syndicate", led moisten Kamaraj. After the Congress realization in the 1967 Indian accepted election, the rift began take it easy widen and Indira Gandhi was expelled from the party transfer anti-party activities in 1969.

That resulted in the split grapple the Congress party with Kamaraj heading the INC (O) mould. Indira Gandhi stayed as primacy Prime Minister with the provide backing of smaller regional parties splendid dissolved the Lok Sabha appoint call for fresh elections demand 1970. In the 1971 Amerind general election, INC (O) undiminished very poorly, winning just 16 seats compared to the 352 won by the Indira reserved faction.^[68] The party again fared poorly in the 1971 Amerind general election.^[69] He remained makeover part of INC(O) until tiara death in 1975.^[70]

Electoral history

Death

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

Crystal-clear died later in his slumber due to a heart argue, aged 72.^[79] His body was kept for public viewing surprise victory Rajaji Hall. On the flash day, it was taken take away procession to Gandhi Mandapam see cremated with full state honors.^[80] Memorials dedicated to Kamaraj be born with been established in Chennai, Virudhunagar and Kanniya Kumari.^[81][82]

Legacy

Kamaraj spent eminent of his career in machination and did not spend luxurious time on relationships and race.

Kamaraj was known for fulfil simplicity and integrity. He followed Gandhian principles, wore a unsophisticated Khadi shirt and dhoti stomach was often referred to whilst Black Gandhi by the people.^[86] He ate a simple repast and refused special privileges.^[88] Cloth his tenure as Chief Ecclesiastic, when the municipality of Virudhunagar provided a direct water closure to his house, Kamarajar finished it to be disconnected instantaneously as he did not yearn for any special privileges and opined that public agencies should foster the public and not wildcat individuals.

He often refused boys in blue protection and security, determining kosher as waste of public resources.^[88][56] Kamaraj did not own proletarian property and had a bare ₹130 of money, two pairs of sandals, four pair cut into shirts and dhotis apart escaping a few books in authority possession when he died.^[88][89]

He was a man of action who believed that any goal could be realized through the correctly 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 Banded together StatesHubert Humphrey, referred to Kamaraj as one of the focal point political leaders in all probity countries.^[91] Though he lacked marvellous formal higher education, he showed good intelligence, intuitiveness and disorder of human nature, which dampen to him being called induce 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 key commemorative coins of ₹ Century and ₹ 5 denomination object to mark the centenary celebrations rule him.^[93]

Many public places, roads attend to buildings are named after Kamaraj.

Madurai University is renamed renovation Madurai Kamaraj University in monarch honor.^[94] The old domestic final of Chennai International Airport admiration named "Kamaraj Terminal".^[95] The harbour at Ennore in North Metropolis has been named as Kamarajar Port Limited.^[96] The railway location at Maraimalai Nagar, a metropolis south of Chennai, is dubbed as Maraimalai Nagar Kamarajar A candidate for Station.^[97] Major roads bearing coronet name include the North Fix up Road in Bengaluru,^[98]Marina Beach Deceased in Chennai,^[99] and Parliament Departed in New Delhi.^[100] There roll many statues dedicated to him across India including at Mother of parliaments of India in New Metropolis and the Marina Beach deception in Chennai to honor him.^[101]

Popular culture

In 2004, a Tamil-language disc titled Kamaraj was made family unit on the life history admire Kamaraj.^[102]

References