K. Kamaraj Biography: Kumaraswami Kamaraj (15 July 1903 – 2 October 1975) was an Indian independence activist and politician who served as the Chief Minister of Madras State (Tamil Nadu) from 13 April 1954 to 2 October 1963. During the 1960s, he was the founder and president of the Indian National Congress (Organisation) and was widely regarded as the “Kingmaker” in Indian politics. He was responsible for the elevation of Lal Bahadur Shastri to the position of Prime Minister of India after Nehru’s death and Indira Gandhi after Shastri’s death.
Kamaraj also served as president of the Indian National Congress for two terms, or four years, between 1964 and 1967. He was a member of the Lok Sabha from 1952 to 1954 and 1969 to 1975. He was known for his honesty and simplicity. Kamaraj was instrumental in the development of the infrastructure of the state of Madras and worked to enhance the quality of life for the poor and disadvantaged.
K. Kamaraj Biography
Early years
Kamaraj was born on 15 July 1903 in Virudhunagar, Tamil Nadu, to Kumaraswami Nadar and Sivakami Ammal. His original name was Kamatchi, but he subsequently changed it to Kamarajar. His merchant father Kumaraswami Nadar was his ancestor. Kamaraj had a younger sibling named Nagammal. Kamaraj was accepted to Yenadhi Narayana Vidhya Salai in 1908 after being admitted to a traditional school in 1907. He was admitted to Virudupatti High School in 1909. When Kamaraj was six years old, his father passed away, leaving his mother to sustain the family. In 1914, Kamaraj quit education to help support his mother.
K. Kamaraj Politics
As a young boy, Kamaraj laboured in his uncle’s provision store and began attending public meetings and marches regarding the Indian Home Rule movement. Daily newspaper consumption piqued Kamaraj’s interest in the state of the nation’s politics. The massacre at Jallianwala Bagh was a turning point in his life; he resolved to fight for national liberation and end foreign rule. In 1920, at the age of 18, he became politically active. He entered Congress as a professional politician. In 1921, Kamaraj organised public meetings for Congress leaders in Virudhunagar. When Gandhi visited Madurai on 21 September 1921, Kamaraj attended the public meeting where he first met Gandhi. He travelled to villages to spread Congress propaganda.
In 1922, the Congress boycotted the Prince of Wales’s visit as part of the Non-Cooperation Movement. He travelled to Madras and participated in the event. Kamaraj participated in the Nagpur Flag Satyagraha from 1923 to 1925. In 1927, Kamaraj initiated the Sword Satyagraha in Madras and was subsequently selected to lead the Neil Statue Satyagraha, which was abandoned due to the Simon Commission boycott.
Participation in the “Salt Satyagraha” landed Kamaraj in prison for two years in June 1930. As a consequence of the Gandhi–Irwin Pact of 1931, Rajagopalachari was released before serving the two-year sentence he was given at Vedaranyam. In 1932, Section 144 was enacted in Madras, forbidding the conducting of meetings and organising of marches in protest of Gandhi’s arrest in Bombay. Under Kamaraj’s leadership, daily processions and demonstrations occurred in Virdhunagar. In January 1932, Kamaraj was apprehended again and sentenced to one year in prison. In 1933, Kamaraj was unjustly accused of the bombing of Virudhunagar. Varadarajulu Naidu and George Joseph defended Kamaraj and demonstrated that the charges were without merit. At the age of 34, Kamaraj was elected to the Assembly in 1937, gaining the Sattur seat.
Personal life
During his tenure as chief minister, when the municipality of Virudhunagar provided a direct water connection to his house in his hometown, Kamarajar promptly had it disconnected because he did not want special privileges. As chief minister of Tamil Nadu, he refused to use the Z-level security provided to him and instead travelled with a single police patrol vehicle. He never married, possessed no property, and was never tempted by power. He left behind 130, two pairs of sandals, four shirts, four dhotis, and a few novels when he passed away.
Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy Biography: Age, Birthday, Early life, Career, Honors, Contributions
K. Kamaraj Death
On Gandhi Jayanti (2 October 1975), which was also the 12th anniversary of his resignation, Kamaraj passed away at home. He died of a heart attack in his slumber at the age of 72.
K. Kamaraj Legacy
- In 1976, he was conferred the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour, posthumously.
- In 2004, the Government of India issued commemorative coins with denominations of 100 and 5 to commemorate his centenary.
- The name of Terminal 1 at Chennai International Airport is Kamaraj Terminal.
- Chennai’s Ennore Port was renamed Kamarajar Port Limited.
- Maraimalai Nagar Railway Station also named after him as Maraimalai Nagar Kamarajar Railway Station.
- In honour of him, statues were erected at Parliament of India and Marina Beach.
- In his honour, Madurai University is renamed Madurai Kamaraj University.[4]North Parade Road in Bengaluru and Parliament Road in New Delhi were both given the name “Kamaraj Road”
- The names “Kamarajar Salai” were given to Marina Beach Road in Chennai and Ettayapuram Road in Thoothukudi.
 was an Indian independence activist and politician){kind=link}