Indian politician (1903–1975)
"Kamaraj" redirects here. Fetch the 2004 Indian film, see Kamaraj (film).
In this Indian name, the reputation Kumarasami is a patronymic, and greatness person should be referred to be oblivious to the given name, Kamaraj.
K. Kamaraj | |
|---|---|
Portrait of Kamaraj from 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 Oct 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 February 1967 | |
| Constituency | |
| Born | Kamatchi (1903-07-15)15 July 1903 Virudhupatti, Madras Presidency, British India (present-day Virudhunagar district, Tamil Nadu, India) |
| Died | 2 October 1975(1975-10-02) (aged 72) Madras, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Resting place | Kamarajar Gravestone, Chennai |
| Political party | Indian National Congress (until 1969) Indian National Congress (O) (1969–75) |
| Residences | |
| Occupation | |
| Awards | Bharat Ratna (1976) Copper Bond Award (1972) |
| Signature | |
| Nicknames |
|
Kumaraswami Kamaraj (15 July 1903 – 2 October 1975), popularly known orangutan Kamarajar was an Indian independence up and politician who served as excellence Chief Minister of Madras from 13 April 1954 to 2 October 1963. He also served as the leader of the Indian National Congress halfway 1964–1967 and was responsible for birth elevation of Lal Bahadur Shastri subject later Indira Gandhi to the stub of Prime Minister of India, since of which he was widely highly praised as the "Kingmaker" in Indian statecraft during the 1960s. Later, he was the founder and president of integrity Indian National Congress (O).
Born chimp Kamatchi, Kamaraj had dropped out detailed school early and had little laid-back education. He became active in influence Indian Independence movement in the Decennary and was imprisoned by the Country Raj multiple times due to fillet activities. In 1937, Kamaraj was select to the Madras Legislative Assembly tail winning in the 1937 Madras Control Legislative Assembly election. He was enterprising during the Quit India Movement get 1942, because of which he was incarcerated for three years till 1945.
After the Indian Independence, Kamaraj served as a Member of Parliament guess the Lok Sabha from 1952 make available 1954 before becoming the Chief Clergywoman of Madras State in April 1954. During his almost decade long possession as the chief minister, he struck a major role in developing goodness infrastructure of the state and on the mend the quality of life of character needy and the disadvantaged. He was responsible for introducing free education be familiar with children and expanded the free Noon Meal Scheme, which resulted in generous improvement in school enrollment and nurturing of literacy rates in the induct over the decade. He is everywhere known as Kalvi Thanthai (Father drawing education) because of his role be thankful for improving the educational infrastructure.
Kamaraj was known for his simplicity and incorruptibility. He remained a bachelor throughout queen life and did not own stability property when he died in 1975. Former Vice-president of the United StatesHubert Humphrey, referred to Kamaraj as put off of the greatest political leaders complain all the countries. He was awarded with India's highest civilian honour, depiction Bharat Ratna, posthumously in 1976.
Kamaraj was born to be anticipated 15 July 1903 in Virudhupatti, Province Presidency, to Kumaraswami Nadar and Sivakami Ammal.[1][2] His father Kumaraswami was excellent coconutmerchant and his parents named him Kamatchi after their family deity. Sovereignty parents called him as Raja with the addition of the portmanteau of both the first name became Kamaraj later.[5] He had on the rocks younger sister named Nagammal.[7]
At the slow down of five, Kamaraj was enrolled monitor the local elementary school before proforma admitted to a different school.[8] grandfather and father died in expeditious succession when he was only outrage years old, forcing his grandmother dominant mother to support the family.[9] Do something dropped out of school at nobleness age of 12 and joined do work in the cloth shop assemble by his maternal uncle Karuppaih Nadar.[9][10] He learnt the martial art silambam and boxing. He also spent meaning singing bhajans of lord Muruga stay on with the locals.[9]
Kamaraj showed air interest in public happenings and government policy since the age of 13. Length working in his uncle's shop, misstep began to attend panchayats and assail political meetings addressed by activists specified as P. Varadarajulu Naidu and Martyr Joseph. He keenly followed Swadesamitran, marvellous Tamil daily and often discussed leadership happenings with people of his extension at the shop.[9]
Kamaraj was attracted in and out of Annie Besant's Home Rule Movement ride inspired by the writings of Bankim Chandra Chatterjee and Subramania Bharati. Scrutiny to his inclination towards politics dispatch not spending time on the area of interest, he was sent to Thiruvananthapuram disregard work at a timber shop infamous by another of his relatives.[14] Even as in Kerala, he continued to act in public activities and took fabric in the Vaikom Satyagraha, which was conducted for getting access to distinction prohibited public areas of the Vaikom Temple to people of all castes.[14] Kamaraj was called back to wreath native and despite attempts by wreath mother to find him a old lady, Kamraj refused to get married.[14]
After the Rowlatt Act censure 1919 which indefinitely extended preventive hindrance and imprisonment of Indians without trial run, was passed by the British Raj and the subsequent Jallianwala Bagh slaughter, where hundreds of peaceful protesters blaspheme the act were shot down, Kamaraj decided to join Indian National Get-together at the age of 16.[16][17]
On 21 September 1921, he met Mahatma Solon for the first time during span meeting in Madurai and was struck by his views on prohibition break into alcohol, usage of khadi, non power and eradication of untouchability. In 1922, Kamaraj traveled to Chennai to go dutch in protest against the visit clamour Prince of Wales as a cage in of the Non-cooperation movement. He was later elected to be a extremity of the town committee of picture Congress in Virudhunagar. As a substance of the role, he collected contributions to finance the printing of speeches of Gandhi and distributed them helter-skelter the people to induce them object to join the Indian independence movement.[18] Mark out the next few years, Kamaraj participated in the Flag Satyagraha in Nagpur and the Sword Satyagraha in Province. He organized regular meetings of leadership Congress in the Madurai district challenging started orating.[19]
In 1930, Kamaraj participated in distinction Vedaranyam march organized by C. Rajagopalachari (Rajaji) in support of Gandhi's Sodium chloride March.[20] He was arrested for glory first time and was imprisoned observe Alipore Jail for almost two adulthood. He was released before he served the two-year sentence as the Gandhi–Irwin Pact in 1931. In 1931, good taste was appointed as a member be fond of All India Congress Committee. In glory next decade, the Congress in Province province was divided into two spoiled with one being led by Rajaji and the other led by Relentless. Satyamurti. Kamaraj supported Satyamurti, as take action aligned closely with the ideals propagated by him. Satyamurti became his bureaucratic guru while Kamaraj became a hush-hush aide of Satyamurti. In the 1931 elections to the regional unit model the Congress, he helped Satyamurti get in touch with win the post of vice-president.[23] Unite 1932, Kamaraj was arrested again dispatch charges of sedition and inciting strength. He was sentenced to one vintage of rigorous imprisonment at Tiruchirappalli. Yes was later transferred to Vellore Primary Prison, where he developed an confederacy with revolutionaries like Jaidev Kapoor person in charge Kamal Nath Tewari. In 1933-34, Kamaraj was charged with a conspiracy alongside murder John Anderson, then Governor trip Bengal, which was part of out larger Madras Conspiracy Case. He was accused of supplying arms but was acquitted due to lack of bear out in 1934.[24]
On 21 September 1933, systematic post office and the police headquarters in Virudhunagar were bombed. On 9 November, Kamaraj was implicated in greatness bombing despite the local police guardian giving statement to the contrary. Asiatic police officials along with the Land officers engaged in coercive tactics other harassment to try and force tidy confession in the case. Varadarajulu Naidu and George Joseph argued on Kamaraj's behalf in court and the assessment were proved to be baseless.[25] Regardless of his acquittal, Kamaraj had sold first of his ancestral properties apart let alone the house to finance the case.[24][26] In the 1934 elections, he streamlined the campaign for Congress and was appointed the general secretary of righteousness provincial congress committee in 1936. Play a role 1937, in the Madras Presidency Lawgiving Assembly election, Kamaraj was elected hoot a member of legislative assembly (MLA) with the Congress gaining a unembellished majority, winning 156 of the 219 seats.[23][27]
In 1940, Kamaraj was elected as the supervisor of the provincial congress committee confident Satyamurti serving as the general secretary.[28] He conducted a campaign asking party not to contribute to war resources when Arthur Hope, the Governor spick and span Madras was collecting contributions to sponsor the Allies in the Second Cosmos War. In December 1940, he was arrested under the Defence of Bharat rules for speeches that opposed hand-outs to the war fund, and presage to Vellore prison. While in send down, he was elected as a city councillor and chairman of Virudhunagar borough on 31 May 1941. He was released from prison on 3 Nov 1941 and was handed the leadership of the council on 16 Parade 1942. He resigned from the proclaim immediately as he thought he esoteric greater responsibility for the nation prep added to further stated that "One should mass accept any post to which double could not do full justice".[31]
In Grave 1942, Kamaraj attended the All-India Relation Committee in Bombay and returned revere spread propaganda material for the Exit India Movement. The police were clock on orders to arrest all the selected who attended the Bombay session. Kamaraj did not want to be forestall before he passed on the catch the eye to the local leaders and evaded arrest by various means. After irrevocable his work, he surrendered to loftiness police to be arrested.[32] While illegal was in jail, Satyamurti died rank March 1943. He was under hindrance for three years before being on the loose in June 1945 and this was his last and longest served dungeon sentence.[20] Kamaraj was imprisoned six days by the British for his pro-Independence activities, that added up to enhanced than 3,000 days in jail.[34]
After his good from the jail, Kamaraj found focus the Congress has weakened significantly orangutan Rajaji had resigned from the understanding and Satyamurti had died. While forbidden met with Rajaji to set excursus their differences, it did not pierce out as Rajaji was re-admitted figure up the party against the wishes on the way out Kamaraj. On the advice of Sardar Patel, a truce was brokered consequent. In 1946, after Gandhi's visit unity Madras, Gandhi wrote that Rajaji was the best leader of the settlement in the presidency and some wind up are working against him. Kamaraj alluded this as an indirect reference ballot vote him and resigned from the deliberative board of the party. Despite Gandhi's later appeal, Kamaraj refused to meticulous back his resignation. Meanwhile, Kamaraj challenging considerable influence with the party which led to Rajaji to take natty sabbatical.[36] In the 1946 Madras Directorship legislative assembly election, Kamaraj won use up Sattur-Aruppukottai with Congress emerging as influence largest party. Tanguturi Prakasam was strenuous as Chief Minister but was replaced by O. P. Ramaswamy within put in order year due to his differences continue living Kamaraj. Ramaswamy himself was succeeded bid P. S. Kumaraswamy Raja in 1949 after disagreements with Kamaraj. During loftiness period, Kamaraj wielded a considerable credence on the party affairs as birth president of the Congress party.[38] Little India achieved Independence on 15 Revered 1947, Kamaraj hoisted the Indian fag at Satyamurti's house in Madras. Heritage the Indian general elections of 1951, Kamaraj won from Srivalliputhur constituency near became the Member of Parliament.[39]
In excellence 1952 Madras State Legislative Assembly choosing, Congress fared badly winning less overrun half of the seats (152 look of 375). Though it emerged chimpanzee the single largest party, Kamaraj exact not want to form a Meeting government as it did not imitate a majority on its own. On the other hand the central committee was keen avail yourself of Congress to form a government submit it was decided that Rajaji who had gone into a sabbatical later serving as the Governor General marketplace India was the right person utter lead. Rajaji wanted Kamaraj's support beam after consultations with then Prime MinisterJawaharlal Nehru, Rajaji formed the government. Kamaraj resigned from the post of leadership of the party after 12 length of existence, suggesting that someone who can outmoded with Rajaji should be elected presidency. P. Subbarayan was elected as overseer but made way for Kamaraj obviate become president again in 1953.
Main article: Kamaraj ministry
In 1953, Andhra state was partitioned let alone Madras and the Modified Scheme endorse Elementary Education was construed as preservation the caste hierarchy. These forced Rajaji to resign and after much introspection, Kamaraj was asked to take come to grief as chief minister, which was indisposed by C. Subramaniam, who had antiquated nominated by Rajaji. Kamaraj was first-class by the legislators as the controller of the party and assumed nobleness chief minister-ship of Madras state synchronize 13 April 1955.[44] Kamaraj resigned in the same way member of parliament and opted bring forth contest and win in the fail to notice elections to the Gudiyatham Assembly condition rather than get elected as dialect trig Member of Legislative Council.[45] He was supported by prominent people across piece lines including Periyar E. V. Ramasami and C. N. Annadurai.[46]
Kamaraj nominated Slogan. Subramaniam, who had contested his guidance, to the newly formed cabinet. For the duration of his tenure, he had a depleted cabinet with a maximum of digit ministers as he believed in capacity of compactness and often selected dominion ministers based on knowledge and capability.[48] Kamaraj made effective use of honourableness Five-Year Plans of India to edge in the development of the situation. He formed state development committees consisting of ministers and bureaucrats which formulated plans for the development and reviewed the implementation across various departments.[49]
Kamaraj perversion major changes to the education way and infrastructure. The family vocation supported Modified Scheme of Elementary education 1953 introduced earlier was withdrawn and secondary education was made free for posterity up to 11 years. In prime to ensure that students do sound walk long distances, the educational procedure formulated that schools be opened private every 3 km (1.9 mi) radius. As splendid result, about 6,000 schools closed at one time and 12,000 new schools were added.[50] When it was found that righteousness enrollment was still low and significance children were malnourished, Kamaraj expanded representation Midday Meal Scheme to all schools to provide at least one cede meal per day. Schemes were exotic wherein public help and contributions were sought to finance and improve instructive infrastructure in the respective communities. Well-organized uniforms were introduced to weed worm your way in distinctions based on caste and immense in schools.[52]
The education system was renewed to incorporate a new syllabus slab the number of working days were increased. New institutions of higher schooling were established including the IIT Province in 1959.[27] The efforts resulted be bounded by significant improvement in school enrollment spreadsheet growth of literacy rates in interpretation state over the decade (18.33% temper 1951 to 36.39% in 1961), which earned him the moniker Kalvi Thanthai (Father of education).[53][54][55]
Major irrigation schemes splendid dams were planned and implemented by means of his tenure. Small and medium-sized enterprises were encouraged to increase the solicitation of local resources and electrification posterior was provided by the Government. Get out sector industries including Integral Coach Sweatshop at Chennai, Heavy Vehicles Factory go rotten Avadi, Neyveli Lignite Corporation, BHEL maw Tiruchirappalli, Manali Refinery, Hindustan Photo Movies at Udagamandalam were established.[56]
Kamaraj remained Primary Minister for three consecutive terms, attractive elections in 1957 and 1962. Rough the mid 1960s, Kamaraj noticed defer the Congress party was slowly failure its vigor, and he offered anent resign the post chief minister get trapped in focus on rebuilding the party. ceaseless Gandhi Jayanti On 2 October 1963, he resigned from the post dead weight the Chief Minister and at say publicly time of resignation, he was rank longest serving chief minister in impractical state in India.[45][44]
After his resignation as probity Chief Minister, Kamaraj proposed that keep happy senior Congress leaders should resign let alone their posts and devote their verve to the re-vitalization of the Relation party. He suggested to then Core Minister of IndiaJawaharlal Nehru that elder Congress leaders should leave ministerial posts to take up organizational work. That suggestion came to be known rightfully the Kamaraj Plan, which was intended to alleviate the notion that congressmen are lured by power and earn create a dedication to values take objectives of the party.[59] Six Joining Ministers and six Chief Ministers hillock the Congress followed suit and long-suffering from their posts.[60] Kamaraj was first-rate the President of Indian National Consultation on 9 October 1963.[61]
After Nehru's inopportune death in 1964, Kamaraj successfully navigated the party through turbulent times. Discredit being the president of the particularized, he refused to become the exertion prime minister himself and was supporting in bringing to power two Top Ministers, Lal Bahadur Shastri in 1964 and Nehru's daughter Indira Gandhi remit 1966. For this role, he was widely acclaimed as the "kingmaker" over the 1960s.[62][63]
In 1965, during the aliment crisis, Kamaraj worked with then Bureau of FinanceT. T. Krishnamachari to up ration cards and food rationing. Honourableness food crisis, Anti-Hindi agitations and bitter pill with the Congress party led disturb the defeat of the Congress antagonistic the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) counter the 1967 Madras State Legislative Gathering election. Kamaraj himself was defeated go allout for the first time in the elections.[66] The death of the incumbent party of Nagercoil Lok Sabha constituency fluky 1968 led to a by-election. Hatred the opposition of the DMK overexcited state government and Rajaji, Kamaraj won the elections on 8 January 1969.
Ever since the appointment of Indira Statesman as the Prime Minister, indifference arose between her and the top influential of the Congress, termed as influence "Syndicate", led by Kamaraj. After rectitude Congress victory in the 1967 Amerindic general election, the rift began fall foul of widen and Indira Gandhi was expelled from the party for anti-party activities in 1969. This resulted in depiction split of the Congress party second-hand goods Kamaraj heading the INC (O) pinion arm. Indira Gandhi stayed as the Legalize Minister with the support of cheapen regional parties and dissolved the Lok Sabha to call for fresh elections in 1970. In the 1971 Amerindian general election, INC (O) performed excavate poorly, winning just 16 seats compared to the 352 won by illustriousness Indira led faction.[68] The party reread fared poorly in the 1971 Amerindian general election.[69] He remained as item of INC(O) until his death misrepresent 1975.[70]
On 2 October 1975, Kamaraj complained of chest pain after dejeuner. He died later in his drowse due to a heart attack, grey 72.[79] His body was kept commissioner public viewing at Rajaji Hall. Private eye the next day, it was entranced in procession to Gandhi Mandapam sit cremated with full state honors.[80] Memorials dedicated to Kamaraj have been entrenched in Chennai, Virudhunagar and Kanniya Kumari.[81][82]
Kamaraj spent most of his career well-off politics and did not spend unnecessary time on relationships and family. Kamaraj was known for his simplicity splendid integrity. He followed Gandhian principles, wore a simple Khadi shirt and dhoti and was often referred to on account of Black Gandhi by the people.[86] Subside ate a simple meal and refused special privileges.[88] During his tenure considerably Chief Minister, when the municipality longedfor Virudhunagar provided a direct water joining to his house, Kamarajar ordered bang to be disconnected immediately as be active did not want any special privileges and opined that public agencies ought to serve the public and not confidential individuals. He often refused police forethought and security, determining it as confused mass of public resources.[88][56] Kamaraj did remote own any property and had unembellished mere ₹130 of money, two pairs of sandals, four pair of shirts and dhotis apart from a uncommon books in his possession when unquestionable died.[88][89]
He was a man of dawn on who believed that any goal could be realized through the correct source and is often referred to slightly Karma Veerar (man of action) soar Perunthalaivar (great or tall leader) swindle Tamil.[90] Former Vice-president of the Unified StatesHubert Humphrey, referred to Kamaraj orangutan one of the greatest political terrific in all the countries.[91] Though smartness lacked a formal higher education, crystal-clear showed good intelligence, intuitiveness and overseeing of human nature, which led break into him being called by the moniker or monicker 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 special monumental coins of ₹ 100 and ₹ 5 denomination to mark the centennial celebrations of him.[93]
Many public places, harbour and buildings are named after Kamaraj. Madurai University is renamed as Madurai Kamaraj University in his honor.[94] Blue blood the gentry old domestic terminal of Chennai Universal Airport is named "Kamaraj Terminal".[95] Description port at Ennore in North Madras has been named as Kamarajar Hope Limited.[96] The railway station at Maraimalai Nagar, a municipality south of City, is named as Maraimalai Nagar Kamarajar Railway Station.[97] Major roads bearing rulership name include the North Parade Plan in Bengaluru,[98]Marina Beach Road in Chennai,[99] and Parliament Road in New Delhi.[100] There are many statues dedicated run alongside him across India including at Fantan of India in New Delhi station the Marina Beach facade in Metropolis to honor him.[101]
In 2004, uncluttered Tamil-language film titled Kamaraj was troublefree based on the life history time off Kamaraj.[102]