K. Kamaraj Nadar
| K. Kamaraj | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Chief Minister of Madras | |
|
In office 1954–1963 |
|
| Preceded by | C. Rajagopalachari |
| Succeeded by | M. Bhakthavatsalam |
| Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha | |
|
In office 1967–1975 |
|
| Preceded by | A. Nesamony |
| Succeeded by | Kumari Ananthan |
| Constituency | Nagercoil |
| Member of Legislative Assembly | |
|
In office 1957–1967 |
|
| Preceded by | S. Ramaswamy Naidu |
| Succeeded by | S. Ramaswamy Naidu |
| Constituency | Sattur |
| Member of Legislative Assembly | |
|
In office 1954–1957 |
|
| Preceded by | Rathnaswamy and A. J. Arunachala Mudaliar |
| Succeeded by | V. K. Kothandaraman and T. Manavalan |
| Constituency | Gudiyatham |
| Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha | |
|
In office 1952–1954 |
|
| Preceded by | None |
| Succeeded by | S. S. Natarajan |
| Constituency | Srivilliputhur |
| President of Indian National Congress | |
|
In office 1964–1967 |
|
| Preceded by | Neelam Sanjiva Reddy |
| Succeeded by | S. Nijalingappa |
| President of the Madras Provincial Congress Committee | |
|
In office 1946–1952 |
|
| Succeeded by | P. Subbarayan |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
15 July 1903 Virudhunagar, Madras Presidency, British India |
| Died | 2 October 1975 (aged 72) Madras (now Chennai, Tamil Nadu), India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Political party | Indian National Congress |
| Awards |
 Bharat Ratna (1976) |
| Signature |  |
Kumaraswami Kamaraj (b. 15 July 1903 – d. 2 October 1975), was a leader of the Indian National Congress (INC), widely acknowledged as the "kingmaker" in Indian politics during the 1960s. He served as INC president for four years between 1964-1967 and was responsible for the elevation of Lal Bahadur Shastri to the position of Prime Minister of India after Indira Gandhi turned down the same at the time of Jawaharlal Nehru's death. Kamaraj was the chief minister of Tamil Nadu during 1954–1963 and a Member of Parliament during 1952–1954 and 1967–1975. He was known for his simplicity and integrity.
He was involved in the Indian independence movement. As the president of the INC, he was instrumental in navigating the party after the death of Jawaharlal Nehru. In Tamil Nadu, his home state, he is still remembered for bringing school education to millions of the rural poor by introducing free education and the free Midday Meal Scheme during his tenure as chief minister. He was awarded with India's highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, posthumously in 1976.
Kamaraj was born on 15 July 1903 to Kumarasamy Nadar and Sivakami at Virudhunagar in Tamil Nadu. His name was originally Kamatchi, but later changed to Kamarajar. His father Kumarasamy was a merchant. In 1907, four years after the birth of Kamaraj, his sister Nagammal was born. At age 5 (1907), Kamaraj was admitted to a traditional school and in 1908 he was admitted to Yenadhi Narayana Vidhya Salai. In 1909 Kamaraj was admitted in Virudupatti High School. Kamaraj's father died when he was six years old and his mother was forced to support her family. In 1914 Kamaraj dropped out of school to support his family.
He worked in his uncle's provision shop and during this time he started joining processions and attending public meetings about the Indian Home Rule Movement. Kamaraj developed an interest in prevailing political conditions by reading newspapers daily. The Jallianwala Bagh massacre was the decisive turning point in his life, and at this point he decided his aim was to fight for national freedom and to bring an end to foreign rule. In 1920, at the age of 18, he became active as a political worker and joined Congress as a full-time worker. In 1921 Kamaraj was organising public meetings at Virudhunagar for Congress leaders. He was eager to meet Gandhi, and when Gandhi visited Madurai on 21 September 1921 Kamaraj attended Gandhi's public meeting and met him for the first time in person. He visited villages carrying Congress propaganda.
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