Kamarajar Death Anniversary
Kamarajar Death Anniversary: Learn about his life, political career, achievements, Kamarajar Plan, education reforms and important facts for TNPSC exams.
Kamarajar Death Anniversary
- Perundhaivar Kamaraja’s memorial day (death anniversary) is October 2, 1975.
- His memory is observed daily along with Gandhi Jayanti on 2nd October every year.
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Kamarajar – Facts
- Full Name = Kumaraswami Kamaraj (popularly known as Perunthalaivar, Karma Veerar, Kalvi Thanthai, and Kingmaker).
- Birth = July 15, 1903 (Virudhunagar, Madras Presidency). Celebrated as Educational Development Day (Kalvi Valarchi Naal) in Tamil Nadu.
- Death = October 2, 1975 (Madras, Tamil Nadu) at the age of 72.
- He passed away on Gandhi Jayanti, a leader whose ideals he followed throughout his life.
- Memorial (Samadhi) = Kamarajar Ninaivagam, Guindy (Gandhi Mandapam complex), Chennai.
- Highest Civilian Award = Bharat Ratna (awarded posthumously in 1976).
Kamarajar – Basic Facts
- Full Name = Kumaraswami Kamaraj
- Popular Name = K. Kamarajar / Perunthalaivar Kamarajar
- Born = 15 July 1903
- Birthplace = Virudhunagar, Tamil Nadu
- Parents = Kumarasamy Nadar and Sivakami Ammal
- Died = 2 October 1975
- Place of Death = Chennai, Tamil Nadu
- Age at Death = 72
- Political Party = Indian National Congress
- Important Position = Chief Minister of Madras State
- Chief Ministerial Period = 1954–1963
- Bharat Ratna = Posthumously in 1976
Kamarajar as Chief Minister
- Kamarajar served as the Chief Minister of Madras State from 1954 to 1963.
- His tenure is particularly associated with the expansion of school education in Tamil Nadu.
- He worked to increase access to education, especially in rural areas.
- Numerous new schools were opened during his administration.
- Kamarajar Death Anniversary
Freedom Struggle & Early Political Career
- Political Guru = S. Satyamurti. Kamaraj later named the Tamil Nadu Congress headquarters Satyamurti Bhavan in his honor.
- Participated in the Vaikom Satyagraha (1924).
- Took part in the Vedaranyam Salt Satyagraha (1930) led by C. Rajagopalachari; arrested and imprisoned in Alipore Jail.
- Arrested during the Individual Satyagraha (1940) and spent three years in Vellore Jail during the Quit India Movement (1942–1945).
- President of TNCC = Served as President of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee from 1940 to 1954.
Tenure as Chief Minister of Madras State (1954–1963)
- Kamaraj served three consecutive terms as Chief Minister (sworn in on April 13, 1954, succeeding C. Rajagopalachari).
- Educational Revolution = Scrapped Rajaji’s controversial Modified Scheme of Elementary Education (Kula Kalvi Thittam).
- Introduced the historic Free Midday Meal Scheme (1956) to tackle childhood malnutrition and eliminate school dropouts.
- Mandated free, compulsory education up to the 11th standard and opened thousands of primary schools to ensure a school was available within a 1 km radius of every village.
- Earned the title “Kalvi Thanthai” (Father of Education).
- Kamarajar Death Anniversary
The “Kamaraj Plan” (K-Plan)
- Kamaraj proposed that senior Union ministers and Chief Ministers resign from executive office to dedicate full-time effort to grassroots party organizational work.
- Kamaraj resigned as Chief Minister on October 2, 1963.
- Six Union cabinet ministers (including Lal Bahadur Shastri, Morarji Desai, Jagjivan Ram) and six Chief Ministers resigned under this plan.
Role as “Kingmaker”
- Elected President of the Indian National Congress in October 1963 (presided over the historic 1964 Bhubaneswar Session).
- Successfully facilitated the peaceful democratic transitions to elect Lal Bahadur Shastri as Prime Minister in 1964, and Indira Gandhi in 1966.
- Kamarajar Death Anniversary
Important One-Liners for TNPSC
- Kamarajar was born on – 15 July 1903.
- Kamarajar was born at – Virudhunagar.
- Kamarajar’s popular title – Perunthalaivar.
- Kamarajar served as Chief Minister of Madras State – 1954–1963.
- Kamarajar resigned as Chief Minister under – Kamaraj Plan.
- Kamaraj Plan was introduced in – 1963.
- Kamarajar became Congress President – 1964.
- Kamarajar died on – 2 October 1975.
- Kamarajar died at – Chennai.
- Kamarajar was awarded Bharat Ratna – 1976, posthumously.
- Kamarajar is closely associated with the expansion of – School education in Tamil Nadu.
- Kamarajar’s birth anniversary is observed as – Educational Development Day (Kalvi Valarchi Naal) in Tamil Nadu.
- Kamarajar’s death anniversary – 2 October.
- Kamarajar belonged to – Indian National Congress.
- Kamarajar Death Anniversary