Life story of Karma Warrior Kamarajar

                                                                     

               

  Life story of Karma Warrior Kamarajar Sir 

'Perunthalaivar Kamarajar' is considered to be one of the most notable Chief Ministers who ruled Tamil Nadu. He ruled Tamil Nadu for nine years and is considered as the "Golden Age" in the political history of Tamil Nadu. He established a free mid-day meal program for school children and improved the education of the poor. Due to his hard work and charity, he rose gradually and is called by various special names like 'Great Leader', 'Gandhi of the South', 'Uneducated Genius', 'Karma Warrior', 'Kamarajar with open eyes'. The Government of India posthumously awarded him the "Bharat Ratna" in 1976 for his selfless service to the downtrodden and the poor in the society. Let's take a detailed look at the life history and achievements of Kamaraj, hailed as the 'Kingmaker' of India, who created two of India's most respected Prime Ministers.

Birth and Adolescence:

Kamarajar was born in Virudhunagar district on 15th July 1903 to Kumaraswamy Nadar Sivagami Ammal. He also has a younger sister named Nagammal. Kamaraj's father was a petty trader. Kamaraj, who was studying in the beginning, lost his father at the age of 6 and had to drop out of school. After dropping out of school, he worked in his uncle's cloth shop for some time due to family circumstances.

It was the moment when Kamaraj's life of devotion began.

Kamaraj joined the Congress Party in 1920 at the age of 16 after seeing many leaders working in his uncle's cloth shop giving speeches and being inspired by their fighting spirit. From that day he thought that he should do all the help for the people and began to act accordingly.

Kamaraj in India's Freedom Struggle:

Fascinated by the speeches of freedom struggle leaders from a young age, Kamaraj later devoted himself fully to the freedom struggle and went to jail several times. The speeches of leaders like Kalyana Sundara Mudaliar and Varadarajulu Naidu were Kamaraj's favorite. Initially working under the “Home Rule” movement, Kamaraj joined the Congress as a full-time worker in 1920 at the age of 16.

Kamaraj spent 9 years of his life in jail, participating in many protests like Salt Satyagraha, Non-Cooperation Movement, Vaikam Satyagraha, Nagpur Satyagraha.

Kamaraj's work as Chief Minister:

Kamaraj formed his cabinet in a very different and surprising way. C. Subramaniam who contested against him and M. who proposed him. He also made Bhaktavatsala a minister. After becoming Chief Minister, Rajaji's first task was to abandon the clan education scheme and opened 6000 schools which had been closed by him. Moreover, he not only opened more than 17000 schools, but also established the "Free Midday Scheme" for school children and brought about progress in the education of the poor. Considered to be a masterpiece in Indian politics, this project has also become a globally acclaimed project. As a result, the number of educated people rose from 7 percent during the British rule to 37 percent during his rule.                                                                                 

Kamaraj made progress not only in the field of education but also in industry, irrigation projects, power projects etc. With the objective of developing industries in Tamil Nadu, he started implementing various activities. 'Neyveli Coal Project', 'Perambur Coach Factory', 'Tiruchi Bharat Heavy Electricals', 'Kalpakkam Nuclear Power Station', 'Ooty Raw Film Factory', 'Kindi Teleprinter Factory', 'Mettur Paper Factory', 'Salem Iron and Steel Plant' ', 'Bharat Miku Power Company', 'Railway Box Factory', 'Coal Photocoil Factory' and many more factories were established by Kamaraj. Apart from this, he established 'Mettur Canal Project', 'Bhavani Project', 'Kaveri Delta Drainage Development Project', 'Manimutthar, Amaravati, Vaigai, Chatanur, Krishnagiri, Araniyar etc irrigation projects'. By the end of Kamaraj's reign, Tamil Nadu had overtaken the northern states in terms of industrial prosperity and was ranked second.

Kamaraj as All India Congress President:

Kamaraj, who was elected three times as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, considered national service and party work more important than office and brought the "Kamaraj Project" known as "K-PLAN". Accordingly, the aim is that the senior leaders of the party should hand over the posts to the youth and do the party work. Kamaraj resigned as Chief Minister on October 2, 1963, handing over the charge to Bhaktavatchalat and went to Delhi. Later, on 9th October of the same year, he took over as the President of the All India Congress Party. This plan was not only accepted by great leaders like Nehru, but also by Lal Bahadur Shastri, Morarsi Desai Sekasiganram, S.K. Patel and others abdicated and handed over to the youth. Thus, he became a respectable person among the party members, volunteers and people and became a role model for all. In 1964, after the death of Jawaharlal Nehru, Lalbatur Shastri proposed him as the Prime Minister of India. Then, to cope with the sudden death of Lalbatur Shastri in 1966, Kamaraj made Nehru's daughter Indira Gandhi, who was 48, the next Prime Minister of India.

Death:

Kamaraj, who devoted his entire life to social philanthropy, died on October 2, 1975 at the age of 72. The following year, he was awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest award by the central government. He lived without getting married till the end, thinking about social life. Even when he was the chief minister of a state, he lived in a rented house till the end. The property he saved for him was a few khadar vests, shirts, books and 150 rupees. Is it doubtful that not only the history of Tamil Nadu, but also the history of the world will meet another such noble and honest leader?

Having produced two respected Prime Ministers of India and being the 'Kingmaker of India', Lord Kamaraj was a 'character respected by his enemies', an 'uneducated genius', a 'hero of education' and an 'embodiment of humanity'. He lived like a true hero in real life, unlike the heroes we see in cinema. He was not only a gentleman who taught honesty, wisdom, purity and currency in politics, but he was also a guiding leader for the whole of India.

"There is no politician like you in the world, and surely there is no one like you!!!"