Rattibha

Today is Jayanti of Kalvi Thanthi K. Kamaraj, one of Tamil Nadu's longest serving CMs and it's best IMO, who laid the foundation for it's educational and economic growth.
A school dropout, who set up a network of schools all over Tamil Nadu, introduced the mid-day meal scheme in schools for poor students, and played a role in making it one of the more literate states.
And the King Maker who played a crucial role in the establishment of two Prime Ministers- Lal Bahadur Shastri and Indira Gandhi.

This great man born on July 15, 1903 in Virudhunagar to Kumaraswamy Nadar, a merchant and Sivakami, was originally named as Kamatchi, after the family deity. With his mother affectionately calling him as Raja, he began to be called as Kamarajar later on. #Kamaraj

Enrolled in a traditional school in 1907, he would join the Yenadhi Narayana Vidhya Sala the next year. However with the sudden death of his father, when he was just 6 years old, he had to drop out to support his mother, working in his uncle’s provision shop.
It was these childhood experiences, that made him realize the importance of education when he later became the Chief Minister. #Kamaraj

At a very young age itself, he was drawn in by the speeches of Dr. Varadarajulu Naidu, George Joseph and Kalyana Sundar Mudaliar about the Home Rule Movement. Deeply affected by the Jallianwala Bagh masacre, he began to participate in the freedom movement.
He became a full time member of the Indian National Congress in 1920. He soon began to organize meetings for the Congress arund Virudhunagar in 1921, and met Gandhiji at Madurai when he visited there.
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When Congress boycotted Prince of Wales visit in 1922, he actively participated in the protests in Madras, and later took part in the Nagpur Flag Satyagraha between 1923-25.
He took active part in the 1930 Salt Satyagraha under leadership of Rajaji at Vedaranyam and was arrested, serving time in prison for two years. On release he was once again arrested for leading protests against Gandhiji’s detention in 1932. #Kamaraj

Falsely accused in the Virudhunagar bomb case in 1933, he was defended in court by Varadarajulu Naidu, George Joseph, and acquitted of the charges later. When his mentor Satyamurthy became the Congress President in 1936, Kamaraj was appointed as the Secretary.

And in 1937,he entered the Assembly winning from the Sattur constituency in Virudhunagar. He was again arrested in 1940 when he led protests asking people not to contribute to the War funds during WWII, under the Defense of India Act, and was imprisoned at Vellore. #Kamaraj

On his release nine months later, he once again took active part in the 1942 Quit India movement, and was arrested. Finally released in 1945, he had been imprisoned around six times during the British rule.
However his mentor Satyamurthy passed away before independence itself, and when India became independent in 1947, Kamaraj first hoisted the national flag at his mentor’s house only. #Kamarajar

In 1953, Rajaji as Chief Minister of Madras State, came up with a Modified Scheme of Elementary education policy, which reduced schooling for students from five hours per day to three hours.
And suggested that boy students would spend the next two hours, learning about their family craft from their fathers. However his rather unilateral action, in introducing the policy, without consulting his cabinet colleagues, resulted in wide spread criticism .

On the other hand the Dravidian parties, protested strongly against what they felt was an attempt to perpetuate the caste system calling it Kula Kalvi Thittam( Hereditary Education Policy).
The rising protests and Rajaji’s unpopularity, forced Kamaraj to withdraw his support to the Government and in the 1954 election as he beat Rajaji’s nominee, C.Subramaniam hands down becoming President of Madras Legislature Congress Party. #Kamaraj

Rajaji had to step down in April 1954, as Kamaraj was sworn in as Chief Minister. As CM, he took in C.Subramaniam and M.Bhaktavatsalam both of whom had contested against him earier, into his cabinet, a very wise move, considering their ability and experience.
He scrapped Rajaji’s hereditary education policy, and began to open up schools all over the state, so that students would not have to walk more than 3 km to the nearest school.
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He ensured that every village had a primary school, and every panchayat had a high school. He provided free and compulsory education till high school, introduced the mid-day meal scheme for poor students, so that they would not have to drop out.
He also introduced free school uniforms to ensure there was no distinction on class, caste basis among students. It was not just increasing the number of schools, steps were taken to improve the quality too.
#Kamaraj

Unnecesary holidays were scrapped, number of working days increased and a syllabus that could make the best use of ability was introduced. He was also the main force in establishing IIT Madras in 1959, along with the then Governor Bishnuram Medhi.

Thanks to his efforts, the literacy rate shot up from a mere 7% to around 37% in Tamil Nadu. He also laid the foundation for major irrigation projects like Bhavanisagar Dam in Erode district, that irrigated around 840 sqkm of land, while Mettur Dam benefited around 180 sqkm. #Kamarajar

Vaigai Dam in Theni district, Sathanur near Thiruvannamalai, facilitated cultivation of thousands of acres in Madurai, Theni and Northern Tamil Nadu. Aroun 1700 tanks were de silted between 1957-61, 2000 wells dug, farmers got long term loans with 25% subsidy.
Many major industries like Neyveli Lignite Corporation, BHEL(Trichy), Hindustan Photo film factory at Ooty and the Perambur Integral Coach factory were started by him.
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He went on to become one of the longer serving CMs in Tamil Nadu, serving two more back to back terms in 1957 and 1962. However noticing that the Congress party was slowly losing it’s hold over the state, with the rise of the Dravidian parties, he resigned in 1963. #Kamaraj

On Gandhi Jayanti day, he suggested the Kamaraj Plan, where he proposed that all senior Congress leaders should resign from their posts and devote their energy to the party’s revitalization.
Impressed by his call, many leaders and ministers like Lal Bahadur Shastri, Biju Patnaik, Jagjivan Ram, S.K.Patil responded to his request.
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Nehru felt that Kamaraj’s services would be needed now more at the Center and made him the Congress President in October 1963. When Nehru passed away, it was Kamaraj who succesfully managed the transition period, as he managed to bring to power both Lal Bahadur Shastri and Indira Gandhi later.

His political management skills earned him the title of King Maker, and he refused to become the Prime Minister. When Indira split the Congress in 1969, Kamaraj was among those who quit, heading the Congress(O) in Tamil Nadu. However the party failed badly in the 1971 elections as Indira swept to power following India’s victory in the war.

Kamaraj finally passed away in 1975 on a Gandhi Jayanti, leaving behind some books, 2 pairs of sandals, 4 pairs of shirts,dhotis and just 130 rupees.
He never married, had no descendants, had no property in his name, dedicated his entire life for the country, development of Tamil Nadu and his beliefs.
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His memorial on Marina Beach, and the statue showing him with two school kids, was the most fitting tribute to him. Kalvi Thanthi meaning Father of Education, was a title that suited him really well.
He was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1976, the Marina beach road in Chennai as well as the domestic terminal in Chennai Airport have been named after him. #Kamarajar

Today if Tamil Nadu is one of the more developed, educated states in India, the credit goes to the foresight of #Kamarajar who laid the foundation with his initiatives in education, industry, which subsequent Governments built upon. #Naman to a great soul on his Jayanti today.

My article and podcast on #Kamarajar on occasion of #KamarajarBirthday do check out and share.
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