->Dabberoni15: /* Chief Minister */

2021-12-28T08:10:12Z

Chief Minister

New page

{{short description|Indian politician (1903–1975)}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}

{{Redirect|Kamaraj|the 2004 Indian film|Kamaraj (film)}}{{Indian name|Kamaraj|Kumarasami}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = K. Kamaraj
| image = File:K Kamaraj 1976 stamp of India.jpg
| caption = K. Kamaraj commemorative stamp
| office = 2nd [[List of Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu|Chief Minister of Madras State]]
| term_start = 13 April 1954
| term_end = 2 October 1963
| president =
| primeminister =
| governor = {{ubl|[[Sri Prakasa]]|[[A. J. John]]|[[P. V. Rajamannar]] (acting)|[[Bishnuram Medhi]]}}
| 1blankname = Speaker
| 1namedata =
| 2blankname = Leader of Opposition
| 2namedata =
| predecessor = [[C. Rajagopalachari]]
| successor = [[M. Bhaktavatsalam]]
| constituency = [[Gudiyatham (state assembly constituency)|Gudiyatham]] (1954–1957) and <br />[[Sattur (state assembly constituency)|Sattur]] (1957–1963)
| office1 = [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha]]
| term_start1 = 9 January 1969
| term_end1 = 2 October 1975
| primeminister1 = [[Indira Gandhi]]
| predecessor1 = [[A. Nesamony]]
| successor1 = [[Kumari Ananthan]]
| constituency1 = [[Nagercoil (Lok Sabha constituency)|Nagercoil]]
| term_start2 = 13 May 1952
| term_end2 = 12 April 1954
| primeminister2 = [[Jawaharlal Nehru]]
| predecessor2 = ''position established''
| successor2 = [[U. Muthuramalingam Thevar]]
| constituency2 = [[Srivilliputhur]]
| office3 = President of the [[Indian National Congress (Organisation)]]
| term_start3 = 12 November 1969
| term_end3 = 2 October 1975
| predecessor3 = ''position established''
| successor3 = [[Morarji Desai]]
| office4 = [[President of the Indian National Congress]]
| term_start4 = 1964
| term_end4 = 1967
| predecessor4 = [[Neelam Sanjiva Reddy]]
| successor4 = [[S. Nijalingappa]]
| office5 = President of the [[Tamil Nadu Congress Committee|Madras Provincial Congress Committee]]
| term_start5 = 1946
| term_end5 = 1952
| predecessor5 =
| successor5 = [[P. Subbarayan]]
| office6 = [[Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly|Member of the Madras State Legislative Assembly]]
| term_start6 = 6 August 1954
| term_end6 = 28 February 1967
| constituency6 = [[Gudiyatham (state assembly constituency)|Gudiyatham]] (1954–1957) <br/> [[Sattur (state assembly constituency)|Sattur]] (1957–1967)
| birth_name = Kumaraswami Kamaraj
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1903|07|15}}
| birth_place = [[Virudhunagar]], [[Madras Presidency]], [[British India]]<br/>(present-day [[Virudhunagar district]], [[Tamil Nadu]], India)
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1975|10|02|1903|07|15}}
| death_place = [[Madras]] (present-day [[Chennai]], [[Tamil Nadu]], India)
| death_cause = Heart attack ([[myocardial infarction]])
| resting_place = Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Ninaivagam
| party = [[Indian National Congress (Organisation)|Indian National Congress (O)]] (1969-1975)
| otherparty = [[Indian National Congress]] (until 1969)
| nationality = Indian
| spouse = None
| children = None
| residence = Kamarajar Illam<br/>1/10, [[Thyagaraya Nagar]], [[Chennai]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]]
| profession = {{Hlist|[[Freedom fighter]] | [[Activist]] |Politician}}
| awards = * [[Bharat Ratna]] (1976) (posthumously)
* Copper Bond Award (1972)
| signature = Signature of K. Kamraj.svg
| nickname = {{Hlist|Karmaveerar|Perunthalaivar|Kingmaker}}
}}
'''Kumaraswami Kamaraj''' (15 July 1903<ref name="hindu1">{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/2009/07/08/stories/2009070859180300.htm |title=Revised edition of book on Kamaraj to be launched |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110510083123/http://www.hindu.com/2009/07/08/stories/2009070859180300.htm |archive-date=10 May 2011 |first=T |last=Ramakrishnan|date=8 July 2009 |url-status=dead |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=11 March 2021}}</ref> – 2 October 1975<ref name="frontline1">{{usurped|[https://web.archive.org/web/20080915160945/http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1819/18191180.htm Crusading Congressman, Frontline Magazine]}}, hinduonnet.com. 15–28 September 2001</ref>), popularly known as '''Kamarajar''' was an Indian independence activist and politician who served as the [[chief minister of Tamil Nadu|Chief Minister of Madras State (Tamil Nadu)]] from 13 April 1954 to 2 October 1963. He was the founder and the president of the [[Indian National Congress (Organisation)]], widely acknowledged as the "[[Kingmaker]]" in Indian politics during the 1960s. He also served as the president of the [[Indian National Congress]] for two terms i.e. four years between 1964–1967 and was responsible for the elevation of [[Lal Bahadur Shastri]] to the position of [[Prime Minister of India]] after [[Jawaharlal Nehru|Nehru]]'s death and [[Indira Gandhi]] after Shastri's death. He was the [[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha]] during 1952–1954<ref>{{cite book |title=LOK SABHA DEBATES |publisher=Government of India |page=22 |url=https://eparlib.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/55615/1/lsd_01_07_23-08-1954.pdf |access-date=8 April 2020}}</ref> and 1969–1975. He was known for his simplicity and integrity. He played a major role in developing the infrastructure of the [[Madras State|Madras state]] and worked to improve the quality of life of the needy and the disadvantaged.<ref name="hindu1"/><ref name="hindu2">[https://web.archive.org/web/20080718234945/http://www.hindu.com/2008/07/16/stories/2008071660450700.htm He raised the bar with simplicity]. ''The Hindu''. 16 July 2008 </ref>

As the [[Indian National Congress|president of the INC]],<ref name="frontline2">{{usurped|[https://web.archive.org/web/20110728031218/http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1917/19170840.htm The commonsense politician, Frontline Magazine, 17–30 August 2002]}}</ref> he was instrumental in steering the party after the death of [[Jawaharlal Nehru]]. As the [[Chief Minister of Madras|chief minister of Madras]], he was responsible for bringing free education to the disadvantaged and introduced the [[Midday Meal Scheme|free Midday Meal Scheme]] while he himself did not complete schooling. He was awarded with India's [[Bharat Ratna|highest civilian honour]], the [[Bharat Ratna]], [[Posthumous recognition|posthumous]]ly in 1976.<ref>{{cite web|title=Padma Awards Directory (1954–2007)|url=http://www.mha.nic.in/pdfs/PadmaAwards1954-2007.pdf|publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs |access-date=7 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090304070427/http://mha.nic.in/pdfs/PadmaAwards1954-2007.pdf |archive-date=4 March 2009}}</ref> US Vice-President [[Hubert Humphrey]], called Kamaraj as "one of the greatest political leaders in all the countries of the free world" in January 1966.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://theprint.in/politics/k-kamaraj-the-southern-stalwart-who-gave-india-two-pms/127890/ |title=K. Kamaraj: The southern stalwart who gave India two PMs |work=The Print |first=Maneesh |last=Chhibber |date=2 October 2018 |accessdate=11 March 2021}}</ref>

==Early life==
Kamaraj was born on 15 July 1903 in [[Virudhunagar]], [[Tamil Nadu]], to Kumaraswami and Sivakami Ammal. His name was originally Kamatchi, later changed to Kamarajar. His father Kumaraswami was a merchant. Kamaraj had a younger sister named Nagammal.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/30267/7/chapter1.pdf|title=A Brief Personal and Political Biography of Kamaraj Early Life}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/In-dire-straits-Kamaraj-kin-get-Congress-aid-for-education/articleshow/24563144.cms|title=In dire straits, Kamaraj kin get Congress aid for education - Times of India|website=The Times of India|access-date=19 January 2019}}</ref> Kamaraj was first enrolled in a traditional school in 1907 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, his mother was forced to support the family. In 1914 Kamaraj dropped out of school to support his mother.<ref name="kapur">{{cite book |first=Raghu Pati |last=Kapur |year=1966 |title=Kamaraj, the iron man |publisher=Deepak Associates |page=12 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RoVHAAAAIAAJ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141116082111/http://books.google.com/books?id=RoVHAAAAIAAJ |archive-date=16 November 2014 }}</ref>

==Politics==
As a young boy, Kamaraj worked in his uncle's provision shop and during that time he began to attend public meetings and processions 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 - he decided to fight for national freedom and to bring an end to foreign rule.<ref name=b1/> In 1920, when he was 18, he became active in politics. He joined Congress as a full-time political worker.{{cn|date=December 2021}} In 1921 Kamaraj organised public meetings at Virudhunagar for Congress leaders. He was eager to meet Gandhi, and when Gandhi visited Madurai on 21 September 1921, Kamaraj attended the public meeting and met Gandhi for the first time. He visited villages carrying Congress propaganda.<ref name=b1>{{cite book|title=Early Life of K. Kamaraj|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bOjT3qffnMkC|publisher=Concept Publishing Company|pages=24–25}}</ref>

In 1922 Congress boycotted the visit of the Prince of Wales as part of the [[Non-Cooperation Movement]]. He came to Madras and took part in the event.<ref>[https://www.indialegacy.website/2019/04/India-State-Andhra-Pradesh.html] {{|date=May 2019|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> In 1923–25 Kamaraj participated in the [[Flag Satyagraha|Nagpur Flag Satyagraha]].<ref>[http://www.virudhunagar.nic.in/kamaraj.htm K.Kamaraj]. virudhunagar.nic.in {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141007061812/http://www.virudhunagar.nic.in/kamaraj.htm |date=7 October 2014 }}</ref> In 1927, Kamaraj started the Sword Satyagraha in Madras and was chosen to lead the [[Neil Statue Satyagraha]], but this was given up later in view of the [[Simon Commission]] boycott.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bOjT3qffnMkC |title=The Political Career of K. Kamaraj |first=P. |last=Kandaswamy |publisher=Concept Publishing Company |year=2001 |page=30 }}</ref>

Kamaraj went to jail for two years in June 1930 for participating in the [[Vedaranyam march|"Salt Satyagraha"]].<ref name="asiantribune" /> led by Rajagopalachari at Vedaranyam; he was released before he served the two-year sentence as a result of 1931 [[Gandhi–Irwin Pact]].{{citation needed|date=October 2013}} In 1932, [[Unlawful assembly|Section 144]] was imposed in Madras prohibiting the holding of meetings and organisation of processions against the arrest of Gandhi in Bombay. In Virdhunagar, under Kamaraj's leadership, processions and demonstrations happened every day. Kamaraj was arrested again in January 1932 and sentenced to one year's imprisonment.<ref>[http://www.isrj.net/publisharticles/1100.pdf Freedom Movement In Madras Presidency With Special Reference To The Role Of Kamaraj (1920–1945), Page 3]</ref> In 1933 Kamaraj was falsely charged in the Virudhunagar bomb case. Varadarajulu Naidu and George Joseph argued on Kamaraj's behalf and proved the charges to be baseless.<ref>[http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-editorialfeatures/article2248765.ece?css=print George Joseph, a true champion of subaltern] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160126004730/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-editorialfeatures/article2248765.ece?css=print |date=26 January 2016 }}</ref> At the age of 34, Kamaraj entered the Assembly winning the [[Sattur]] seat in the 1937 election.<ref name="DH_Kingmaker">{{Cite news|title=K Kamaraj 116th birth anniv: Rare pics of 'Kingmaker'|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/national/south/k-kamaraj-116th-birth-anniv-rare-pics-of-kingmaker-747273.html|date=15 July 2019|work=Deccan Herald|language=en|access-date=22 May 2020}}</ref>

Kamaraj conducted a vigorous campaign throughout the state asked people not to contribute to war funds when [[Arthur Hope, 2nd Baron Rankeillour|Sir Arthur Hope]], the Madras Governor, was collecting contributions to fund for the Second World War. In December 1940 he was arrested again at Guntur, under the Defence of India rules for speeches that opposed contributions to the war fund, and sent to Vellore Central Prison while he was on his way to Wardha to get Gandhi's approval for a list of Satyagrahis. While in jail, he was elected as Municipal Councillor of Virudhunagar. He was released nine months later in November 1941 and resigned from this post as he thought he had greater responsibility for the nation.<ref name="Remembering Our Leaders, Page 146">{{cite book|title=Remembering Our Leaders|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=epPiG7IytcUC|year=1989|publisher=Children's Book Trust|isbn=978-81-7011-767-4|page=146}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Encyclopedia of Bharat Ratnas|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HkF3avvFvb4C|publisher=Pitambar Publishing|isbn=978-81-209-1307-3 |page=88}}</ref> His principle was "One should not accept any post to which one could not do full justice".<ref>{{Cite book|last=Sain|first=Pravina Bhim|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=epPiG7IytcUC&pg=PA146|title=Remembering our leaders.|year=1989|isbn=81-7011-545-0|location=New Delhi|pages=146|oclc=422855040}}</ref>

In 1942, Kamaraj attended the All-India Congress Committee in [[Bombay]] and returned to spread propaganda material for the Quit India Movement. The police issued orders to all the leaders who attended this Bombay session. Kamaraj did not want to be arrested before he took the message to all district and local leaders. finishing his work and sent a message to the local police that he was ready to be arrested. He was arrested in August 1942. He was under detention for three years and was released in June 1945. This was his last prison term.<ref name="asiantribune">{{cite news |url=http://www.asiantribune.com/news/2009/10/13/tributes-kamaraj|date=13 October 2009 |title=Tributes To Kamaraj |publisher=Asian Tribune |first=R. K. |last=Bhatnagar |access-date=3 February 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221044857/http://www.asiantribune.com/news/2009/10/13/tributes-kamaraj |archive-date=21 February 2014 }}</ref><ref name="Remembering Our Leaders, Page 146"/><ref>{{cite book|title=Encyclopedia of Bharat Ratnas|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HkF3avvFvb4C|publisher=Pitambar Publishing|isbn=978-81-209-1307-3|page=89 }}</ref> Kamaraj was imprisoned six times by the British for his pro-Independence activities, that added up to more than 3,000 days in jail.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kGUuOdeCiXQC |title=Crafting State-Nations: India and Other Multinational Democracies |first1=Alfred |last1=Stepan |first2=Juan J. |last2=Linz |first3=Yogendra |last3=Yadav |publisher=JHU Press |year=2011 |isbn=9780801897238 |page=124 }}</ref>

During the [[1966 anti-cow slaughter agitation|anti-cow slaughter agitation in 1966]], Kamaraj's house near the parliament was burnt down by [[Hindutva]] groups. The agitation was incited by [[Bharatiya Jana Sangh]], the political arm of the [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh]] (RSS). They also surrounded his house with an intent to attack him.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Chandra|first=Bipan|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ipwpbhd6sQUC&pg=PT237|title=India Since Independence|date=11 February 2008|publisher=Penguin UK|isbn=978-81-8475-053-9|language=en}}</ref> Kamaraj had a narrow escape.<ref>{{Cite web|title=RSS Chief's Call for National Cow Protection Law Echoes a Familiar Pattern|url=https://thewire.in/politics/mohan-bhagwat-cow-protection-law-bjp-rss|access-date=11 October 2020|website=The Wire}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Ramesh|first=Jairam|date=9 November 2016|title=The very first attack on Parliament|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/The-very-first-attack-on-Parliament/article16440305.ece|access-date=11 October 2020|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

==Chief Minister==
{{main|Kamaraj ministry}}
On 13 April 1954, Kamaraj became the [[Chief Minister]] of [[Madras Province]]. To everyone's surprise, Kamaraj nominated [[C. Subramaniam]] and [[M. Bhakthavatsalam]], who had contested his leadership, to the [[Kamaraj ministry|newly formed cabinet]].

As [[Chief Minister]], Kamaraj removed the family vocation based [[Hereditary Education Policy]] introduced by [[Rajaji]]. He reopened 6000 schools closed in the previous government by [[C. Rajagopalachari]] citing financial reasons and reopened 12,000 more schools. The State made immense strides in education and trade. New schools were opened, so that poor rural students had to walk no more than three kilometres to their nearest school. Better facilities were added to existing ones. No village remained without a primary school and no panchayat without a high school. Kamaraj strived to eradicate illiteracy by introducing free and compulsory education up to the eleventh standard. He introduced the [[Midday Meal Scheme]] to provide at least one meal per day to the lakhs of poor school children.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Muthiah|first=S.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tbR_LLkqdI8C&pg=PA354|title=Madras, Chennai: A 400-year Record of the First City of Modern India|date=2008|publisher=Palaniappa Brothers|isbn=978-81-8379-468-8|language=en|pages=354}}</ref> He introduced free school uniforms to weed out caste, creed and class distinctions among young minds.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Sinha|first=Dipa|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hyYFDAAAQBAJ&q=kamaraj+free+school+uniform&pg=PT119|title=Women, Health and Public Services in India: Why are states different?|date=20 April 2016|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-317-23525-5|language=en}}</ref>

[[File:Statue of Kamarajar.jpg|right|thumb|Kamaraj Statue in [[Marina Beach]], [[Chennai]] depicting his contribution to education in the state]]
[[File:KAMARAJAR Statue infront of KAP Kalyana Mandabam, Hosur.jpg|thumb |Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Statue in Kamaraj Colony, [[Hosur]]]]
During the [[British Raj|colonial era]], the local education rate was at 7%; after Kamaraj's reforms, it reached 37%. Apart from increasing the number of schools, steps were taken to improve standards of education. To improve standards, the number of working days was increased from 180 to 200; unnecessary holidays were reduced; and syllabi were prepared to give opportunity to various abilities. Kamaraj and Bishnuram Medhi (Governor) took efforts to establish [[IIT Madras]] in 1959.<ref name="DH_Kingmaker"/>

Major irrigation schemes were planned in Kamaraj's period. Dams and irrigation canals were built across higher [[Bhavanisagar Dam|Bhavani]], [[Manimuthar Dam|Mani Muthar]], [[Arani, Tiruvannamalai|Aarani]], [[Vaigai Dam|Vaigai]], [[Amaravathi Dam|Amaravathi]], [[Sathanur Reservoir|Sathanur]], [[Krishnagiri Dam|Krishnagiri]], [[Pullambadi]], [[Parambikulam River|Parambikulam]] and [[Neyyar (river)|Neyyaru]] among others. The Lower Bhavani Dam in Erode district brought {{convert|207000|acre|km2}} of land under cultivation. {{convert|45000|acre|km2}} of land benefited from canals constructed from the [[Mettur Dam]]. The Vaigai and Sathanur systems facilitated cultivation across thousands of acres of lands in Madurai and North Arcot districts respectively. Rs 30 crores were planned to be spent for Parambikulam River scheme, and 150 lakhs of acres of lands were brought under cultivation; one third of this (i.e. 56 lakhs of acres of land) received a permanent irrigation facility. In 1957–61 1,628 tanks were de-silted under the Small Irrigation Scheme, and 2,000 wells were dug with outlets. Long-term loans with 25% subsidy were given to farmers. In addition farmers who had dry lands were given oil engines and electric pump sets on an instalment basis.

Industries with huge investments in crores of Rupees were started in his period: [[Neyveli Lignite Corporation]], [[BHEL]] at Trichy, [[Manali Refinery]], Hindustan raw photo film factory at Ooty, surgical instruments factory at Chennai, and a railway coach factory at Chennai were established. Industries such as paper, sugar, chemicals and cement took off during the period.

===Kamaraj Plan===
Kamaraj remained Chief Minister for [[List of chief ministers of Tamil Nadu|three consecutive terms]], winning elections in [[1957 Madras Legislative Assembly election|1957]] and [[1962 Madras Legislative Assembly election|1962]]. Kamaraj noticed that the Congress party was slowly losing its vigour.
[[File:Kamarajar Statue at East Tambaram.jpeg|right|thumb|200px|Kamaraj statue at East Tambaram, Chennai]]
On [[Gandhi Jayanti]] day 2 October 1963, he resigned from the post of the Chief Minister. He proposed that all senior Congress leaders should resign from their posts and devote all their energy to the re-vitalization of the Congress.

In 1963 he suggested to Nehru that senior Congress leaders should leave ministerial posts to take up organisational work. This suggestion came to be known as the '''Kamaraj Plan''', which was designed primarily to dispel from the minds of Congressmen the lure of power, creating in its place a dedicated attachment to the objectives and policies of the organisation. Six Union Ministers and six [[Chief Minister (India)|Chief Ministers]] including [[Lal Bahadur Shastri]], [[Jagjivan Ram]], [[Morarji Desai]], [[Biju Patnaik]] and [[S.K. Patil]] followed suit and resigned from their posts. Impressed by Kamaraj's achievements and acumen, Prime Minister [[Jawaharlal Nehru]] felt that his services were needed more at the national level.{{citation needed|date=April 2020}} In a swift move he brought Kamaraj to Delhi as the President of the Indian National Congress. Nehru realised that in addition to wide learning and vision, Kamaraj possessed enormous common sense and pragmatism. Kamaraj was elected the President of Indian National Congress on 9 October 1963.<ref>[http://www.dpcc.co.in/inc/history/presidents/k_kamaraj.php K Kamaraj]. dpcc.co.in {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120518025825/http://www.dpcc.co.in/inc/history/presidents/k_kamaraj.php |date=18 May 2012 }}</ref>

==National politics==
After Nehru's death in 1964, Kamaraj successfully navigated the party through turbulent times. As the president of INC, he refused to become the next Prime Minister himself and was instrumental in bringing to power two Prime Ministers, [[Lal Bahadur Shastri]] in 1964 and Nehru's daughter [[Indira Gandhi]] in 1966.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://scroll.in/article/822847/will-mamata-banerjees-hindi-handicap-hurt-her-national-ambition|title=Will Mamata Banerjee's Hindi handicap hurt her ambition to be prime minister?|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161202020139/http://scroll.in/article/822847/will-mamata-banerjees-hindi-handicap-hurt-her-national-ambition|archive-date=2 December 2016}}</ref> For this role, he was widely acclaimed as the "kingmaker" during the 1960s.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Khan|first=Farhat Basir|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=u6KoDwAAQBAJ&q=kingmaker+kamaraj+1960&pg=PT76|title=The Game of Votes: Visual Media Politics and Elections in the Digital Era|date=16 September 2019|publisher=SAGE Publishing India|isbn=978-93-5328-693-4|pages=76|language=en}}</ref>

When the Congress split in 1969, Kamaraj became the leader of the [[Indian National Congress (Organisation)]] (INC(O)) in Tamil Nadu. The party fared poorly in the [[1971 Indian general election|1971 elections]] amid allegations of fraud by the opposition parties. He remained the leader of INC(O) until his death in 1975.<ref>{{cite book|title=India through the ages|url=https://archive.org/details/indiathroughages00mada|last=Gopal|first=Madan|year= 1990| page= [https://archive.org/details/indiathroughages00mada/page/164 164]|editor=K.S. Gautam|publisher=Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India}}</ref>

==Electoral history==
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;"
! Year !! Post !! Constituency !! Party !! Opponent !! Election !! Result
|-
| 1937 || MLA || [[Sattur]] || INC || Unopposed || [[1937 Madras Presidency legislative assembly election|1937 elections]] || Won
|-
| 1946 || MLA|| [[Sattur]]-[[Aruppukottai]] || INC || Unopposed || [[1946 Madras Presidency legislative assembly election|1946 elections]] || Won
|-
| 1952 || MP|| Srivilliputhur || INC || [[G. D. Naidu]] || [[Indian general election in Madras, 1951|Indian General Elections, 1951]] || Won
|-
| 1954 || MLA || [[Gudiyatham (State Assembly Constituency)|Gudiyatham]] ||INC||[[V. K. Kothandaraman]] || By Election || Won
|-
| 1957 || MLA ||[[Sattur (State Assembly Constituency)|Sattur]] ||INC||[[Jayarama Reddiar]] || [[1957 Madras legislative assembly election]] || Won
|-
| 1962 || MLA ||[[Sattur (State Assembly Constituency)|Sattur]] ||INC||P. Ramamoorthy || [[1962 Madras legislative assembly election]] || Won
|-
| 1967 || MLA ||[[Virudhunagar (State Assembly Constituency)|Virudhunagar]] ||INC||[[P. Seenivasan]] || [[1967 Tamil Nadu state assembly election]] || Lost{{citation needed|date=April 2020}}
|-
| 1969|| MP ||[[Nagercoil (Lok Sabha constituency)|Nagercoil]] ||INC||M. Mathias || By Election || Won
|-
| 1971 || MP ||[[Nagercoil (Lok Sabha constituency)|Nagercoil]] ||INC(O)||[[M. C. Balan]]||[[Indian general election in Tamil Nadu, 1971|Indian General Elections, 1971]] || Won
|-
|}

==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 ordered it to be disconnected immediately as he did not want any special privileges. He refused to use the Z-level security that was provided to him as the CM of Tamil Nadu and instead travelled with just one police patrol vehicle. He did not marry, did not own any property and was never tempted by power.<ref name=":1" /> When he died, he left behind 130 rupees, 2 pairs of sandals, 4 shirts, 4 [[dhoti]]s and a few books.<ref>{{Cite web|title=To regain lost glory, Congress needs a Kamaraj as its leader|url=https://www.dailypioneer.com/2019/state-editions/to-regain-lost-glory--congress-needs-a-kamaraj-as-its-leader.html|last=Pioneer|first=The|website=The Pioneer|language=en}}</ref>

==Death==
[[File:Kamaraj samathi.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Kamaraj Memorial in Chennai]]
Kamaraj died at his home, on Gandhi Jayanti day (2 October 1975), which also was the 12th anniversary of his resignation. He was aged 72 and died in his sleep due to a heart attack.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Times|first=Kashturi Rangan Special to The New York|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/10/03/archives/kumaraswami-kamaraj-dead-power-broker-in-indian-politics.html|title=Kumaraswami Kamaraj Dead; Power Broker in Indian Politics|date=3 October 1975|work=The New York Times|access-date=28 April 2020|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

==Legacy==
* In 1976, he was posthumously awarded [[Bharat Ratna]], India's highest civilian honor.
* In 2004, the [[Government of India]] issued a commemorative coin of ₹ 100 and ₹ 5 denomination to mark the centenary celebrations of him.
* Terminal-1 of [[Chennai International Airport]] is named "Kamaraj Terminal".
* Ennore Port in [[Chennai]] was renamed to [[Kamarajar Port Limited]].
* Maraimalai Nagar Railway Station also named after him as [[Maraimalai Nagar Kamarajar Railway Station]].
* His statue was erected in [[Parliament of India]] and [[Marina Beach]] to honor him.
* Madurai University is renamed as [[Madurai Kamaraj University]] in his honor.<ref name="hindu2"/><ref name="tribune1">[http://www.tribuneindia.com/2006/20060817/edit.htm Man of the people] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080906220613/http://www.tribuneindia.com/2006/20060817/edit.htm |date=6 September 2008 }}, ''The Tribune'', 4 October 1975</ref>
* North Parade Road in [[Bengaluru]] and Parliament Road in [[New Delhi]] were named as "Kamaraj Road".
* Marina Beach Road in [[Chennai]] and Ettayapuram Road in [[Thoothukudi]] were named as "Kamarajar Salai".

==Popular culture==
In 2004 a [[Tamil language|Tamil-language]] film titled ''[[Kamaraj (film)|Kamaraj]]'' was made based on the life history of Kamaraj.<ref>{{cite news |title=Film on former CM Kamaraj to be re-released with additional content' - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/Film-on-former-CM-Kamaraj-to-be-re-released-with-additional-content/articleshow/37023636.cms |access-date=24 March 2020 |work=The Times of India |date=16 January 2017 |language=en}}</ref> The English version of the film was released on DVD in 2007.

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|K. Kamaraj}}
* [https://dheivegam.com/kamarajar-biography-tamil/ Complete history about Kamarajar]
* [https://archive.org/details/kamaraj_201907/ On the Footsteps of Kamarajar]

{{Indian independence movement}}
{{Indian National Congress Presidents}}
{{Bharat Ratna}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kamaraj, K.}}
[[Category:1903 births]]
[[Category:1975 deaths]]
[[Category:1st Lok Sabha members]]
[[Category:4th Lok Sabha members]]
[[Category:5th Lok Sabha members]]
[[Category:Chief ministers from Indian National Congress]]
[[Category:Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Indian Hindus]]
[[Category:Indian independence activists]]
[[Category:Indian independence activists from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Indian National Congress (Organisation) politicians]]
[[Category:Indian National Congress politicians from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Indian nationalists]]
[[Category:Indian political party founders]]
[[Category:Indian socialists]]
[[Category:Indian Tamil politicians]]
[[Category:Indian tax resisters]]
[[Category:Lok Sabha members from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Members of the 2nd Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly]]
[[Category:Members of the 3rd Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly]]
[[Category:People from Virudhunagar district]]
[[Category:Presidents of the Indian National Congress]]
[[Category:Prisoners and detainees of British India]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Bharat Ratna]]
[[Category:State funerals in India]]
[[Category:Tamil Nadu politicians]]

K. Kamaraj - Revision history

WikiDwarfBOT: Cleanup: Information added.

Snthilakammarist at 10:54, 17 March 2022

->Dabberoni15: /* Chief Minister */

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:24, 17 March 2022
Line 8:		Line 8:
	\| image = File:K Kamaraj 1976 stamp of India.jpg		\| image = File:K Kamaraj 1976 stamp of India.jpg
	\| caption = K. Kamaraj commemorative stamp		\| caption = K. Kamaraj commemorative stamp
	\| office = ~~2nd~~ [[List of Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu\|Chief Minister of Madras State]]		\| office = 3nd [[List of Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu\|Chief Minister of Madras State]]
	\| term_start = 13 April 1954		\| term_start = 13 April 1954
	\| term_end = 2 October 1963		\| term_end = 2 October 1963