33 Facts About Kamaraj

1.

Kamaraj was the founder and the president of the Indian National Congress, widely acknowledged as the "Kingmaker" in Indian politics during the 1960s.

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2.

Kamaraj played a major role in developing the infrastructure of the Madras state and worked to improve the quality of life of the needy and the disadvantaged.

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3.

Kamaraj was awarded with India's highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, posthumously in 1976.

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4.

Kamaraj was born on 15 July 1903 in Virudhunagar, Tamil Nadu, to Kumaraswami Nadar and Sivakami Ammal.

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5.

Kamaraj was first enrolled in a traditional school in 1907 and in 1908 he was admitted to Yenadhi Narayana Vidhya Salai.

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6.

Kamaraj's father died when he was six years old, his mother was forced to support the family.

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7.

Kamaraj developed an interest in prevailing political conditions by reading newspapers daily.

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8.

In 1921 Kamaraj organised public meetings at Virudhunagar for Congress leaders.

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9.

Kamaraj 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.

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10.

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.

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11.

Kamaraj went to jail for two years in June 1930 for participating in the "Salt Satyagraha".

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12.

Kamaraj was arrested again in January 1932 and sentenced to one year's imprisonment.

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13.

At the age of 34, Kamaraj entered the Assembly winning the Sattur seat in the 1937 election.

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14.

Kamaraj conducted a vigorous campaign throughout the state asked people not to contribute to war funds when Arthur Hope, the Madras Governor, was collecting contributions to fund for the Second World War.

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15.

Kamaraj was released nine months later in November 1941 and resigned from this post as he thought he had greater responsibility for the nation.

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16.

Kamaraj's principle was "One should not accept any post to which one could not do full justice".

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17.

In 1942, Kamaraj attended the All-India Congress Committee in Bombay and returned to spread propaganda material for the Quit India Movement.

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18.

Kamaraj did not want to be arrested before he took the message to all district and local leaders.

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19.

Kamaraj was under detention for three years and was released in June 1945.

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20.

Kamaraj was imprisoned six times by the British for his pro-Independence activities, that added up to more than 3,000 days in jail.

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21.

Kamaraj reopened 6000 schools closed in the previous government by C Rajagopalachari citing financial reasons and reopened 12,000 more schools.

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22.

Kamaraj strove to eradicate illiteracy by introducing free and compulsory education up to the eleventh standard.

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23.

Kamaraj introduced the Midday Meal Scheme to provide at least one meal per day to the lakhs of poor school children.

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24.

Kamaraj introduced free school uniforms to weed out caste, creed and class distinctions among young minds.

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25.

Kamaraj remained Chief Minister for three consecutive terms, winning elections in 1957 and 1962.

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26.

Kamaraj noticed that the Congress party was slowly losing its vigour.

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27.

Kamaraj proposed that all senior Congress leaders should resign from their posts and devote all their energy to the re-vitalization of the Congress.

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28.

Kamaraj was elected the President of Indian National Congress on 9 October 1963.

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29.

Kamaraj remained the leader of INC until his death in 1975.

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30.

Kamaraj 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.

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31.

Kamaraj did not marry, did not own any property and was never tempted by power.

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32.

Kamaraj died at his home, on Gandhi Jayanti day, which was the 12th anniversary of his resignation.

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33.

Kamaraj was aged 72 and died in his sleep due to a heart attack.

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