KINGMAKER "KAMARAJ"

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KINGMAKER "KAMARAJ"

Kumarasami Kamaraj, 15th July 1903 to 2nd Oct 1975, popularly known as KAMARAJ, was born in Virdhunagar District of Tamil Nadu to Kumarasamy Nadar & Sivakami Ammal. Kamaraj's father passed away when he was six so dropped out of school in 1914 and supported his mother, he had a younger sister named Nagammal. To support his family Kamaraj at a young age worked in his uncle's provision shop, he gradually gained an interest in attending political public meetings, and he is very much interested in reading the everyday newspaper to know the political conditions. The Jallianwala Bagh massacre was the turning point in Kamaraj's life which brought him to light to fight for the freedom of India, at the age of 18 in 1920 he joined congress as a full-time political worker. In 1921 he organized a public meeting in Vidhunagar district of Madras State for congress leaders. He was very eager to meet Mahatma Gandhi and met him for the first time in Madurai on 21st Sep 1921. Kamaraj was put in jail for two years in Jun1930 for participating in "Salt Satyagraha" led by Rajagopalachari at Vedaranyam he was released before the sentences as a result of the 1931 Gandi-Irwin Pact. 

He was an Indian Independence freedom activist and also a popular politician of South India who served as the Chief Minister of Madras (Tamil Nadu) from Apr 1954 - Oct 1963. He was the Founder & President of "The Indian National Congress" widely known as KINGMAKER in 1960s Indian Politics. He is well-known among the public as a man of simplicity & integrity. As the president of The Indian National Congress for two terms 1964-67 he was responsible for the raise of Lal Bahadur Shastri as Prime Minister of India after Nehru's Death and succeeding Indra Gandhi as the Prime Minister after Shastri. As he is the Member of Parliament LOK SABHA member 1952-54 & 1969-75 he played a major role in the development of the infrastructure of Madras State (Tamil Nadu). 

After the Independence of India, Madras State was a precursor to the present-day state of Tamil Nadu, which was created after India became a republic on 26th Jan 1950. Being the 3rd Chief Minister of Madras State (Tamil Nadu) he was the first Chief Minister to introduce free mid-day meals to all children to leverage free education for children. He was awarded India's highest civilian honor BHARAT RATNA award in 1976.  

KAMARAJ THE ROLE OF CHIEF MINISTER 
Kamarajar became the Chief Minister of Madras Province on 13th Apr 1954, Kamarajar nominated        Mr. C. Subramanian for the newly formed cabinet. 
He reopened 6000 schools closed by C Rajagopalachari stating financial reasons & opened 12000 more schools across the state. The state showed immense changes in education & trade, He made sure any poor student should not walk more than three kilometers for his basic education therefore no village remained without a primary school & no panchayat without a high school. Kamarajar also introduced compulsory education up to the eleventh standard, here is where he introduced mid-day meals at least one meal per day for the lakhs & lakhs of poor school children, He also introduced the free uniform to weed out differences in caste, creed, and class distinction among the young minds. This education reformation by Kamarajar raised the education rate from 7% to 35%, this increase in education rate did not just stop here he took steps to improve the standard of education, to do this he increased the number of working days from 180 to 200 days the syllabi was modified to allow various abilities. IIT in 1959 was the effort of Kamarajar & Bishnuram Medhi (Governor). 

Another major contribution of Kamarajar was Major irrigation schemes were planned during this period. Dam, irrigation canals were built across higher Bhavani, Mani Muthar, Aarani, Vaigai, Amaravathi, Sathanur, Krishnagiri, Pullambadi, Parambikulam, and Neyyaru among others. Rs.30 crores were planned to be spent for the Parambikulamthe river scheme and 150 lakhs of acres of land were brought under cultivation. One-third of this  (56 Lakhs of acres of Land) received a permanent irrigation facility. In 1975-61 1628 tanks were de-sited under the small irrigation scheme and 2000 wells were dug with outlets. Long terms loans with a 25% subsidy were given to farmers, in addition, farmers who had drylands were given oil engines and electric pump sets on an installment basis.

Industries with huge investment in crores of rupees were started during Kamarajar's period like Neyveli Lignite Corporation, BHEL at Trichy, Manali Refinery, Hindustan raw photo flim factory at Ooty, Surgical instruments factory at Chennai, and a railway coach factory at Chennai was established. Industries such as paper, sugar, chemicals & cement took off well during this Kamaraj era.

KARMAVEERAR PERUNTHALAIVAR KINGMAKER - 
KAMARAJ Legacy
- In 1976, he was posthumously awarded BHARAT RATNA, India's highest civilian honor.
- In 2004, the Government of India issues a commemorative coin of Rs.100 & Rs.5 denomination to mark his centenary celebrations of him.
- Terminal - 1 of Chennai International Airport is named "Kamaraj Terminal"
- Ennore Port in Chennai was renamed Kamarajar Port Limited
- Maraimalai Nagar Railway Station was also named after him as Maraimalai Nagar Kamarajar Railway Station.
- His Statue was erected in the Parliament of India and Marina Beach to honor him.
- Madurai University is renamed Madurai Kamaraj University in his honor.
- North Parade Road in Bengaluru and Parliament Road in New Delhi were named Kamaraj Road
- Marina Beach Road in Chennai and Ettayapuram Road in Thoothukudi were named Kamaraj Salai 





  • By PinkSamosa MGR

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