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Kamaraj

Kumaraswami Kamaraj
குமாரசாமி காமராஜர்
K. Kamaraj.jpg
K. Kamaraj
Chief Minister of Madras State (Tamil Nadu)
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
1967–1971
Preceded by None
Succeeded by Morarji Desai
President of Indian National Congress
In office
1963–1967
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 (1903-07-15)15 July 1903
Virudhunagar, Madras Presidency, British India
Died 2 October 1975(1975-10-02) (aged 72)
Madras (now Chennai, Tamil Nadu), India
Nationality Indian
Political party Indian National Congress
Religion Hinduism
Awards Bharat Ratna Ribbon.svg Bharat Ratna (1976)
Signature

Kumaraswami Kamaraj , better known as K. Kamaraj (15 July 1903 – 2 October 1975), was a leader of the Indian National Congress, widely acknowledged as the "Kingmaker" in Indian politics during the 1960s. He served as Congress 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 Indian National Congress, 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 as the name sounded feminine.and a great man name His father Kumarasamy was a merchant. In 1907, four years after the birth of Kamaraj, his sister Nagammal was an merchant. 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.


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