K. Kamaraj

K. Kamaraj
K. Kamaraj
	Portrait of Kamaraj from a 1976 commemorative stamp
3rd Chief Minister of Madras State
	In office; 13 April 1954 – 2 October 1963
Governor	Sri Prakasa; A. J. John; P. V. Rajamannar (acting); Bishnuram Medhi;
Preceded by	C. Rajagopalachari
Succeeded by	M. Bhaktavatsalam
Constituency	Gudiyatham (1954–1957) and; Sattur (1957–1963);
Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
	In office; 9 January 1969 – 2 October 1975
Prime Minister	Indira Gandhi
Preceded by	A. Nesamony
Succeeded by	Kumari Ananthan
Constituency	Nagercoil
	In office; 13 May 1952 – 12 April 1954
Prime Minister	Jawaharlal Nehru
Preceded by	position established
Succeeded by	U. Muthuramalingam Thevar
Constituency	Srivilliputhur
President of the Indian National Congress (Organisation)
	In office; 12 November 1969 – 2 October 1975
Preceded by	position established
Succeeded by	Morarji Desai
President of the Indian National Congress
	In office; 1964–1967
Preceded by	Neelam Sanjiva Reddy
Succeeded by	S. Nijalingappa
President of the Tamil Nadu Pradesh Congress Committee
	In office; 1946–1952
Succeeded by	P. Subbarayan
Member of the Madras State Legislative Assembly
	In office; 6 August 1954 – 28 February 1967
Constituency	Gudiyatham (1954–1957); Sattur (1957–1967);
Personal details
Born	Kumaraswami Kamaraj; 15 July 1903; Virudhunagar, Madras Presidency, British India; (present-day Virudhunagar district, Tamil Nadu, India);
Died	2 October 1975 (aged 72); Madras (present-day Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India)
Resting place	Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Ninaivagam
Political party	Indian National Congress (O) (1969–1975)
Other political; affiliations	Indian National Congress (until 1969)
Residences	Kamarajar Illam; 1/10, Thyagaraya Nagar, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India;
Profession	Freedom fighter; Activist; Politician;
Awards	Bharat Ratna (1976) (posthumously); Copper Bond Award (1972);
Signature
Nicknames	Karmaveerar; Perunthalaivar; Kingmaker;

Kumaraswami Kamaraj (15 July 1903 – 2 October 1975), popularly known as Kamarajar was an Indian independence activist and politician who served as the Chief Minister of Madras State (Tamil Nadu) from 13 April 1954 to 2 October 1963. He was the founder and the president of the Indian National Congress (Organisation), widely acknowledged as the "Kingmaker" in Indian politics during the 1960s. He also served as the president of the Indian National Congress for two terms i.e. four years between 1964–1967 and was responsible for the elevation of Lal Bahadur Shastri to the position of Prime Minister of India after Jawaharlal Nehru's death and Indira Gandhi after Shastri's death. He was the Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha during 1952–1954 and 1969–1975. He was known for his simplicity and integrity. He 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.

As the president of the INC, he was instrumental in steering the party after the death of Jawaharlal Nehru. As the chief minister of Madras, he was responsible for bringing free education to the disadvantaged and introduced the free Midday Meal Scheme while he himself did not complete schooling. He was awarded with India's highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, posthumously in 1976. US Vice-president Hubert Humphrey, referred to Kamaraj as "one of the greatest political leaders in all the countries of the free world" in January 1966.

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