K. Kamaraj

Why is in news? PM pays homage to Thiru K. Kamaraj on his Jayanti

Kumaraswami Kamaraj was an Indian independence activist and politician. He was known for his simplicity and integrity.

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

His name was originally Kamatchi, later changed to Kamarajar.

He served as the Chief Minister of Madras State (Tamil Nadu) from 1954 to 1963.

He was 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.

As the president of the INC, he was instrumental in steering the party after the death of Jawaharlal Nehru.

He joined in the Indian National Congress in 1919. He participated in the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1920.

S. Sathyamoorthy, a Congress leader, who was his Political Guru.

He participated in the Vaikom Satyagraha (1924) and Susindram Temple Entry Movement.

He became a member of the Madras Provincial Congress Committee in 1925.

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

He worked hard to alleviate poverty and human suffering. He also focused on improving health and education.

K Kamraj was responsible for bringing free education to the disadvantaged and introduced the free Midday Meal Scheme.

Kamraj Plan:

In 1963, he suggested to Nehru that senior Congress leaders should resign from ministerial posts to take up organisational work.

This suggestion came to be known as the Kamaraj Plan, which was designed primarily to dispel from the minds of Congressmen the lure of power, creating in its place a dedicated attachment to the objectives and policies of the organisation.