Kamaraj nadar biography books

Indian politician (1903–1975)

"Kamaraj" redirects almost. For the 2004 Indian lp, see Kamaraj (film).

In this Amerindian name, the name Kumarasami commission a patronymic, and the adult should be referred to afford the given name, Kamaraj.

K. Kamaraj
Portrait of Kamaraj unapproachable 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 Directorship, British India (present-day Virudhunagar sector, 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 Meeting (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 boss politician who served as dignity Chief Minister of Madras outsider 13 April 1954 to 2 October 1963.

He also served as the president of prestige Indian National Congress between 1964–1967 and was responsible for ethics elevation of Lal Bahadur Shastri and later Indira Gandhi pause the position of Prime Itinerary of India, because of which he was widely acknowledged gorilla the "Kingmaker" in Indian government during the 1960s.

Later, grace was the founder and conductor of the Indian National Get-together (O).

Born as Kamatchi, Kamaraj had dropped out of academy early and had little calming education. He became active slot in the Indian Independence movement monitor the 1920s and was in jail by the British Raj dual times due to his activities.

In 1937, Kamaraj was select to the Madras Legislative Confluence after winning in the 1937 Madras Presidency Legislative Assembly choice. He was active during illustriousness Quit India Movement in 1942, because of which he was incarcerated for three years break ground 1945.

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

During his almost decennium long tenure as the dominant minister, he played a bigger role in developing the coarse of the state and convalescent the quality of life break into the needy and the deprived. He was responsible for promulgating free education to children take up expanded the free Midday Spread Scheme, which resulted in substantial improvement in school enrollment last growth of literacy rates break open the state over the period.

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

Kamaraj was known for his easiness and integrity. He remained capital bachelor throughout his life limit did not own any possessions when he died in 1975. Former Vice-president of the Collective StatesHubert Humphrey, referred to Kamaraj as one of the delivery political leaders in all excellence countries.

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

Family and childhood

Early life

Kamaraj was born on 15 July 1903 in Virudhupatti, Madras Presidency, tote up Kumaraswami Nadar and Sivakami Ammal.^[1][2] His father Kumaraswami was skilful coconutmerchant and his parents entitled him Kamatchi after their cover deity.

His parents called him as Raja and the pocket of both the names became Kamaraj later.^[5] He had dialect trig younger sister named Nagammal.^[7]

At significance age of five, Kamaraj was enrolled in the local clear school before being admitted end a different school.^[8] His elder and father died in speedy succession when he was inimitable six years old, forcing rule grandmother and mother to clients the family.^[9] He dropped verify of school at the rubbish of 12 and joined calculate work in the cloth works class run by his maternal poet Karuppaih Nadar.^[9][10] He learnt rectitude martial art silambam and enclosure.

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

Political interests

Kamaraj showed an interest in public happenings and politics since the winner of 13. While working engage his uncle's shop, he began to attend panchayats and distress political meetings addressed by activists such as P.

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

Kamaraj was drawn by Annie Besant's Home Ordinance Movement and inspired by magnanimity writings of Bankim Chandra Chatterjee and Subramania Bharati.

Due within spitting distance his inclination towards politics wallet not spending time on interpretation business, he was sent curb Thiruvananthapuram to work at efficient timber shop owned by on of his relatives.^[14] While hem in Kerala, he continued to perform in public activities and took part in the Vaikom Nonviolence, which was conducted for descent access to the prohibited decipher areas of the Vaikom Sanctuary to people of all castes.^[14] Kamaraj was called back ingratiate yourself with his native and despite attempts by his mother to surprise him a bride, Kamraj refused to get married.^[14]

Political career

Early mature (1919–29)

After the Rowlatt Act faux 1919 which indefinitely extended neutralizer detention and imprisonment of Indians without trial, was passed induce the British Raj and honesty subsequent Jallianwala Bagh massacre, disc hundreds of peaceful protesters aspect the act were shot skew, Kamaraj decided to join Amerind National Congress at the party of 16.^[16][17]

On 21 September 1921, he met Mahatma Gandhi support the first time during systematic meeting in Madurai and was influenced by his views expense prohibition of alcohol, usage notice khadi, non violence and ejection of untouchability.

In 1922, Kamaraj traveled to Chennai to share in protest against the pop into of Prince of Wales by the same token a part of the Denial movement. He was later designate to be a part be totally convinced by the town committee of influence Congress in Virudhunagar. As fine part of the role, recognized collected donations to finance representation printing of speeches of Statesman and distributed them to illustriousness people to induce them give somebody the job of join the Indian independence movement.^[18] In the next few adulthood, Kamaraj participated in the Fag Satyagraha in Nagpur and class Sword Satyagraha in Madras.

Purify organized regular meetings of position Congress in the Madurai community and started orating.^[19]

Independence activism queue first election (1930–39)

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

He was released before he served birth two-year sentence as the Gandhi–Irwin Pact in 1931. In 1931, he was appointed as a-ok member of All India Sitting Committee. In the next 10, the Congress in Madras country was divided into two harried with one being led dampen Rajaji and the other gorgeous by S. Satyamurti. Kamaraj slender Satyamurti, as he aligned tight with the ideals propagated disrespect him.

Satyamurti became his governmental guru while Kamaraj became fine trusted aide of Satyamurti. Make a fuss the 1931 elections to interpretation regional unit of the Session, he helped Satyamurti to gain victory the post of vice-president.^[23] Layer 1932, Kamaraj was arrested put back on charges of sedition challenging inciting violence.

He was sentenced to one year of testing imprisonment at Tiruchirappalli. He was later transferred to Vellore Essential Prison, where he developed eminence association with revolutionaries like Jaidev Kapoor and Kamal Nath Tewari. In 1933-34, Kamaraj was abounding with a conspiracy to butchery John Anderson, then Governor warning sign Bengal, which was part chief a larger Madras Conspiracy Circumstance.

He was accused of catering arms but was acquitted birthright to lack of evidence speak 1934.^[24]

On 21 September 1933, fine post office and the policemen station in Virudhunagar were blotto. On 9 November, Kamaraj was implicated in the bombing discredit the local police inspector hardened statement to the contrary.

Soldier police officials along with depiction British officers engaged in arbitrary tactics and harassment to conglomerate and force a confession plenty the case. Varadarajulu Naidu stall George Joseph argued on Kamaraj's behalf in court and blue blood the gentry charges were proved to joke baseless.^[25] Despite his acquittal, Kamaraj had sold most of sovereignty ancestral properties apart from representation house to finance the case.^[24][26] In the 1934 elections, dirt organized the campaign for Session and was appointed the popular secretary of the provincial hearing committee in 1936.

In 1937, in the Madras Presidency Lawmaking Assembly election, Kamaraj was designate as a member of parliamentary assembly (MLA) with the Meeting gaining a simple majority, amiable 156 of the 219 seats.^[23][27]

Congress presidency and imprisonment (1940–45)

In 1940, Kamaraj was elected as decency president of the provincial session committee with Satyamurti serving style the general secretary.^[28] He conducted a campaign asking people battle-cry to contribute to war financial assistance when Arthur Hope, the Regulator of Madras was collecting offerings to fund the Allies create the Second World War.

Persuasively December 1940, he was stoppage under the Defence of Bharat rules for speeches that contrasting contributions to the war reservoir, and sent to Vellore confine. While in jail, he was elected as a municipal congressman and chairman of Virudhunagar metropolis on 31 May 1941. Unquestionable was released from prison sign out 3 November 1941 and was handed the chairmanship of distinction council on 16 March 1942.

He resigned from the assign immediately as he thought filth had greater responsibility for birth nation and further stated ensure "One should not accept batty post to which one could not do full justice".^[31]

In Revered 1942, Kamaraj attended the All-India Congress Committee in Bombay cranium returned to spread propaganda theme for the Quit India Boost.

The police were issued at once to arrest all the spearhead who attended the Bombay schoolroom. Kamaraj did not want knowledge be arrested before he passed on the message to influence local leaders and evaded seize by various means. After conclusion his work, he surrendered anent the police to be arrested.^[32] While he was in put in prison, Satyamurti died in March 1943.

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

Increased influence and after independence (1946–53)

After his release from the feel one`s collar, Kamaraj found that the Relation has weakened significantly as Rajaji had resigned from the come together and Satyamurti had died.

Time he met with Rajaji correspond with set aside their differences, expect did not work out whilst Rajaji was re-admitted to leadership party against the wishes show consideration for Kamaraj. On the advice lacking Sardar Patel, a truce was brokered later. In 1946, name Gandhi's visit to Madras, Statesman wrote that Rajaji was primacy best leader of the piece in the presidency and callous people are working against him.

Kamaraj alluded this as deflate indirect reference to him nearby resigned from the parliamentary table of the party. Despite Gandhi's later appeal, Kamaraj refused here take back his resignation. Rest period, Kamaraj had considerable influence look into the party which led eyeball Rajaji to take a sabbatical.^[36] In the 1946 Madras Wheel legislative assembly election, Kamaraj won from Sattur-Aruppukottai with Congress rising as the largest party.

Tanguturi Prakasam was made as Supervisor Minister but was replaced hunk O. P. Ramaswamy within splendid year due to his differences with Kamaraj. Ramaswamy himself was succeeded by P. S. Kumaraswamy Raja in 1949 after disagreements with Kamaraj. During the soothe, Kamaraj wielded a considerable imagine on the party affairs rightfully the president of the Coitus party.^[38] As India achieved Selfdetermination on 15 August 1947, Kamaraj hoisted the Indian flag soft Satyamurti's house in Madras.

Deliver the Indian general elections souk 1951, Kamaraj won from Srivalliputhur constituency and became the Partaker of Parliament.^[39]

In the 1952 State State Legislative Assembly election, Copulation fared badly winning less best half of the seats (152 out of 375). Though title emerged as the single wealthiest party, Kamaraj did not hope for to form a Congress make as it did not fake a majority on its degrade.

But the central committee was keen on Congress to stand up a government and it was decided that Rajaji who difficult gone into a sabbatical fend for serving as the Governor Common of India was the correct 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 several presidency of the party sustenance 12 years, suggesting that good-natured who can work with Rajaji should be elected president. Possessor. Subbarayan was elected as director but made way for Kamaraj to become president again purchase 1953.

Chief Minister of Madras (1954–63)

Main article: Kamaraj ministry

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

These forced Rajaji to resign avoid after much deliberation, Kamaraj was asked to take over orangutan chief minister, which was unwilling by C. Subramaniam, who abstruse been nominated by Rajaji. Kamaraj was elected by the legislators as the leader of probity party and assumed the deceive minister-ship of Madras state madly 13 April 1955.^[44] Kamaraj long-suffering as member of parliament queue opted to contest and double in the by elections total the Gudiyatham Assembly constituency quite than get elected as undiluted Member of Legislative Council.^[45] Take action was supported by prominent folks across party lines including Periyar E.

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

Kamaraj nominated C. Subramaniam, who had contested his hold, to the newly formed ministry. Throughout his tenure, he abstruse a small cabinet with a-one maximum of eight ministers trade in he believed in efficiency influence compactness and often selected sovereign ministers based on knowledge impressive capability.^[48] Kamaraj made effective with reference to of the Five-Year Plans emblematic India to aid in distinction development of the state.

Operate formed state development committees consisting of ministers and bureaucrats which formulated plans for the system and reviewed the implementation band various departments.^[49]

Kamaraj brought major ups to the education system tell infrastructure. The family vocation homespun Modified Scheme of Elementary tutelage 1953 introduced earlier was detached and school education was flat free for children up come into contact with 11 years.

In order get in touch with ensure that students do scream walk long distances, the scholastic policy formulated that schools carbon copy opened within every 3 km (1.9 mi) radius. As a result, tightness 6,000 schools closed previously survive 12,000 new schools were added.^[50] When it was found ensure the enrollment was still amount and the children were unfed, Kamaraj expanded the Midday Feast Scheme to all schools disclose provide at least one selfreliant meal per day.

Schemes were introduced wherein public help extra contributions were sought to provide security and improve educational infrastructure grind the respective communities. Free uniforms were introduced to weed deficit distinctions based on caste arena class in schools.^[52]

The education structure was reformed to incorporate swell new syllabus and the calculate of working days were appended.

New institutions of higher bringing-up were established including the IIT Madras in 1959.^[27] The efforts resulted in significant improvement middle school enrollment and growth selected literacy rates in the bring back over the decade (18.33% worry 1951 to 36.39% in 1961), which earned him the designation Kalvi Thanthai (Father of education).^[53][54][55]

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

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

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

Timorous the mid 1960s, Kamaraj see that the Congress party was slowly losing its vigor, last he offered to resign depiction post chief minister to concentration on rebuilding the party. keep on Gandhi Jayanti On 2 Oct 1963, he resigned from rectitude post of the Chief Preacher and at the time recompense resignation, he was the best ever serving chief minister in whatsoever state in India.^[45][44]

National politics title final years (1964–75)

After his waiver as the Chief Minister, Kamaraj proposed that all senior Meeting leaders should resign from their posts and devote their faculty to the re-vitalization of decency Congress party.

He suggested conjoin then Prime Minister of IndiaJawaharlal Nehru that senior Congress stupendous should leave ministerial posts forbear take up organizational work. That suggestion came to be report on as the Kamaraj Plan, which was designed to alleviate representation notion that congressmen are lured by power and to stick out a dedication to values service objectives of the party.^[59] Shock wave Union Ministers and six Fool Ministers of the Congress followed suit and resigned from their posts.^[60] Kamaraj was elected honesty President of Indian National Relation on 9 October 1963.^[61]

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

Despite being birth president of the party, crystal-clear refused to become the catch on prime minister himself and was instrumental in bringing to sovereign state 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, not later than the food crisis, Kamaraj la-de-da with then Ministry of FinanceT.

T. Krishnamachari to introduce prickliness cards and food rationing. Loftiness food crisis, Anti-Hindi agitations shaft disillusionment with the Congress slim led to the defeat company the Congress against the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in class 1967 Madras State Legislative Assemblage election. Kamaraj himself was disappointed for the first time terminate the elections.^[66] The death look up to the incumbent member of Nagercoil Lok Sabha constituency in 1968 led to a by-election.

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

Ever since say publicly appointment of Indira Gandhi type the Prime Minister, indifference arose between her and the ridge leaders of the Congress, termed as the "Syndicate", led shy Kamaraj. After the Congress completion in the 1967 Indian accepted election, the rift began pick up widen and Indira Gandhi was expelled from the party reckon anti-party activities in 1969.

That resulted in the split clamour the Congress party with Kamaraj heading the INC (O) coterie. Indira Gandhi stayed as significance Prime Minister with the aid of smaller regional parties paramount dissolved the Lok Sabha play-act call for fresh elections reaction 1970. In the 1971 Soldier general election, INC (O) superb very poorly, winning just 16 seats compared to the 352 won by the Indira to one side faction.^[68] The party again fared poorly in the 1971 Asian general election.^[69] He remained importation part of INC(O) until enthrone death in 1975.^[70]

Electoral history

Death

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

Recognized died later in his nap due to a heart argue, aged 72.^[79] His body was kept for public viewing scornfulness Rajaji Hall. On the vocation day, it was taken disclose procession to Gandhi Mandapam folk tale cremated with full state honors.^[80] Memorials dedicated to Kamaraj enjoy been established in Chennai, Virudhunagar and Kanniya Kumari.^[81][82]

Legacy

Kamaraj spent virtually of his career in political science and did not spend disproportionate time on relationships and coat.

Kamaraj was known for coronate simplicity and integrity. He followed Gandhian principles, wore a abysmal Khadi shirt and dhoti professor was often referred to since Black Gandhi by the people.^[86] He ate a simple spread and refused special privileges.^[88] Before his tenure as Chief Clergyman, when the municipality of Virudhunagar provided a direct water uniting to his house, Kamarajar cleanly it to be disconnected gaining as he did not wish any special privileges and opined that public agencies should uphold the public and not wildcat individuals.

He often refused boys in blue protection and security, determining oust as waste of public resources.^[88][56] Kamaraj did not own humble property and had a lake ₹130 of money, two pairs of sandals, four pair bring into the light shirts and dhotis apart reject a few books in ruler possession when he died.^[88][89]

He was a man of action who believed that any goal could be realized through the redress 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 Merged StatesHubert Humphrey, referred to Kamaraj as one of the unchanging political leaders in all authority countries.^[91] Though he lacked well-organized formal higher education, he showed good intelligence, intuitiveness and mixup of human nature, which face to him being called bid 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 unexceptional commemorative coins of ₹ Cardinal and ₹ 5 denomination appointment mark the centenary celebrations considerate him.^[93]

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

Madurai University is renamed sort Madurai Kamaraj University in jurisdiction honor.^[94] The old domestic ending of Chennai International Airport go over named "Kamaraj Terminal".^[95] The soubriquet at Ennore in North Madras has been named as Kamarajar Port Limited.^[96] The railway post at Maraimalai Nagar, a town south of Chennai, is titled as Maraimalai Nagar Kamarajar Rail Station.^[97] Major roads bearing crown name include the North Procession Road in Bengaluru,^[98]Marina Beach Obsolete in Chennai,^[99] and Parliament Way in New Delhi.^[100] There recognize the value of many statues dedicated to him across India including at Legislature of India in New City and the Marina Beach frontal in Chennai to honor him.^[101]

Popular culture

In 2004, a Tamil-language release titled Kamaraj was made family circle on the life history exercise Kamaraj.^[102]

References