Kumaraswamy Kamaraj

July 15, 1903 - October 2, 1975 Kumaraswamy Kamaraj belongs to the galazy of selfless, dedicated and intrepeid freedom fighters whose sacrifice and service won us independence from alien rule. Kamaraj was born on July 15, 1903 in a trading family of Virudhunagar, Ramajathapuram District in Tamil Nadu. He had his early education in the Nadar Vidyalaya High School at Virudhunagar and left the school at the age of eleven to assist in his uncle's cloth shop. His inquistitiveness for understanding national affairs earned him a host of young friends who, infused with burning love for the country, tries to analyse with burning love for the country, tried to analyse in depth the social, economic and political plight of the nation.His interest in politics was accentuated when he heard of the 'Jallianwala Bagh massacre'.Kamaraj participated in the famous Vaikom Satyagraha, and , following Mahatma Gandhi's appeal for non-cooperation, he started propaganda for khadi and prohibition. Kamaraj was first jailed in 1921 for two years for participation in "Salt Satyagraha' Thereafter, he had been to prison several times in the course of the national struggle from freedom. He was elected as Chairman of Viridhunagar Municipal Council while he was in jail and after release he took up the post for one day and resigned. He took an active part in individual satyagraha and the 'Quit India' movement. Kamaraj was elected to the Madras Legislative Assembly in 1932 unopposed. He was again elected to the Assembly in 1946 and served as Member of the Constituent Assembly of India, 1946. In 1957 he organised the historic Avadi Session of the Indian National Congress which adopted a resolution of far-reaching importance ushering Democratic Socialism as a political concept. An ableand arch organiser an dedicated worker, kamaraj had great vision and the sterling quality of leadership which earned him the Presidentship of Tamil Nadu Congress committee from 1940-1954. Kamaraj was elected to the Lok Sabha in 1951.He resigned his Lok Sabha membership when the mantle of Chief Minstership of Tamil Nadu fell on him in 1954. He continued in this post till 1963 when he voluntarily relinquished office under the 'plan' named after him to work for the party. During the period of his stewardship , State made rapid strides of progress particularly in the field of education. Kamaraj had been a member of the Congress Working Committee or a special invitee from 1947. He was elevated to the high office of the President of the Indian National Congress in 1964 and held the post for two terms. He was a member of the Lok Sabha from 1969 till his death. As a strange and apt coincidence, Kamaraj, who was considered to be an ardent follower of Gandhiji, passed away in Madras on October 2, 1975, the anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi's birthday. He was posthumously conferred 'Bharat Ratna', the highest national award in 1976.