One of the great leaders in the Indian History who changed our entire life by granting compulsory free education to children’s up to 11th standard and offering mid day meal scheme for all students. The person who made us educated today and make the world will respect us by all the fields was initiated by one and only our former chief minister “Kingmaker in Politics” popularly called as “Karmaveer Kamaraj”. Today his 116th birth anniversary is celebrated in all parts of Tamilnadu. He was well known for his simplicity, kindness and helping tendency to all people.
Early Life:
He was born in 15th July, 1903 to Kumarasamy Nadar and Sivagami ammal at Virudhunagar in Tamilnadu. His name was originally Kamatchi, but later changed to Kamarajar. His father Kumarasamy was a merchant. At age of 5, Kamaraj was admitted to a traditional school. When he was 6 years old, his father died and his mother was forced to support her family. In 1914, Kamaraj dropped out of school to support his family.
Political Life:
Due to his family condition, he started working in his uncle’s provision shop and during the time he attended political meetings about the Indian Home Rule Moment. Kamaraj developed his political intent by started reading newspapers daily. The Jallianwallah Bagh Mascare was the turning point in his life. At the time, 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. He was actively involved in various political campaigns. Kamaraj was imprisoned totally six times by the British.
Chief minister
His principle was “one should not accept any post to which one could not do full justice”. On 13th April 1954, Kamaraj became the Chief Minister of Madras Province. To everyone’s surprise, Kamaraj nominated C.Subramaniam and M.Bakthavachalam , who had contested his leadrership, to the newly formed cabinet.
His Reforms
During the time of Nehru's death in 1964, Kamaraj successfully navigated the party through turbulent times.He was the president of INC during the time, he refused to become the next prime minister himself. He played a crucial key role in bringing to powerful two Prime Ministers Lal Bahadur Sastri in 1964 and Nehru's daughter Indira Gandhi in 1966. For his crucial role, he was widely called as 'Kingmaker'.
As several leaders can emerge in anytime but no one can become Kamaraj. One of the leader who serve for nation and for the people is our best one & only Karmaverar Kamaraj. Today is the day which we remember our great leader who makes us to live in the society.
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Early Life:
He was born in 15th July, 1903 to Kumarasamy Nadar and Sivagami ammal at Virudhunagar in Tamilnadu. His name was originally Kamatchi, but later changed to Kamarajar. His father Kumarasamy was a merchant. At age of 5, Kamaraj was admitted to a traditional school. When he was 6 years old, his father died and his mother was forced to support her family. In 1914, Kamaraj dropped out of school to support his family.
Political Life:
Due to his family condition, he started working in his uncle’s provision shop and during the time he attended political meetings about the Indian Home Rule Moment. Kamaraj developed his political intent by started reading newspapers daily. The Jallianwallah Bagh Mascare was the turning point in his life. At the time, 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. He was actively involved in various political campaigns. Kamaraj was imprisoned totally six times by the British.
Chief minister
His principle was “one should not accept any post to which one could not do full justice”. On 13th April 1954, Kamaraj became the Chief Minister of Madras Province. To everyone’s surprise, Kamaraj nominated C.Subramaniam and M.Bakthavachalam , who had contested his leadrership, to the newly formed cabinet.
His Reforms
- As a Chief Minister, Kamaraj removed the family vocation based Hereditary Education Policy introduced by Rajaji.
- He opened new schools, so that poor rural students had to walk no more than 3 kms to the nearest school.
- He introduced Midday Meal Scheme to provide atleast one meal per day to the lakhs of poor school children.
- During the British regime the education rate was only 7 %. But after Kamaraj’s reforms it reached 37%.
- Apart from increasing number of schools, steps were taken to improve standards of education.
- Kamaraj and Bisnuram Medhi (Governor) took efforts to establish IIT Madras in 1959.
- Not only he took part in education field but also he was interested to develop our agriculture field.
- For the agricultural development, major irrigation systems were planned. Also that dams and canals were built across higher Bhavani, Mani Muthar, Arani, Vaigai, Amaravathi, Sathanur, Krishnagiri, Pullambadi, Parambikulam and Neyyaru among others.
- Long term loans with 25% subsidy were given to farmers. In addition who had dry lands were given oil engines and electric pumps on installment basis.
- Industries with huge investments were started off during his period are Neyveli Lignite Corporation, BHEL at Trichy, Manali Oil Refinery, Hindustan raw photo film factory at Ooty, Surgical Instruments factory at Chennai, Railway coach factory at Chennai and several other factories were established.
During the time of Nehru's death in 1964, Kamaraj successfully navigated the party through turbulent times.He was the president of INC during the time, he refused to become the next prime minister himself. He played a crucial key role in bringing to powerful two Prime Ministers Lal Bahadur Sastri in 1964 and Nehru's daughter Indira Gandhi in 1966. For his crucial role, he was widely called as 'Kingmaker'.
When congress split in 1969, Kamaraj became the leader of Indian National Congress Organisation in Tamilnadu. The congress party poorly failed in 1971 elections due to the allegations of the fraud by the Opposition parties. He remained as the leader of INC(O) until his death in 1975.
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