33 Facts About Kamaraj

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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