WILL WE EVER SEE ANOTHER
KAMARAJ ?
"Public figures cannot afford
private life", Jawaharlal Nehru is reported to have lamented
once. But there was one figure in Indian politics in the recent
past who willingly merged his private life into his public life.
The former Chief Minister of Tamilnadu and All-India Congress
President, K. Kamaraj was one such personality. July 15, 2003
marks his birth centenary. A life-long bachelor, this freedom
fighter had only aspired for his mother-land’s freedom from foreign
rule and to serve its people afterwards.
Kamraj’s life
story had been stranger than fiction for its unbelievable incidents
and turn of events. Almost an illiterate with no formal education
and born in a poor family in a remote village, he rose to great
heights of eminence in the political arena.
K. Kamaraj was
born on July 15,1903 to the couple Kumarasamy and Sivakami in
Virudhunagar, Tamilnadu, in the southern-most part of India. His
father Kumarasamy had a small coconut shop to support his family.
While Kamaraj was studying in the primary school, the family was
struck with a misfortune. His father, the only breadwinner of
the family, succumbed to a massive heart attack. This put an end
to the education of Kamaraj. He had to take up all kinds of odd
jobs including that of a street vendor to support his widowed
mother and sister. The Independence struggle was in full swing
in the country at that time. Kamraj was eager to contribute his
mite to the freedom movement pioneered by Mahatma Gandhi. Inspired
by the patriotic leader Satyamurthi’s fiery oratory against British
atrocities, Kamaraj plunged headlong into the movement. From then
on there was no looking back for him. He became an able organiser
in mobilizing people for public meetings addressed by patriots.
Appreciating his skill, Satyamurthi took him under his fold. In
due course, Kamaraj, by his selfless devotion, rose in stature.
Starting as Satyamurthi’s personal assistant he ultimately rose
to become the President of the Indian National Congress.
A pre-Independence
party like the Congress which had nothing to offer to its cadres
except suffering and imprisonment under the British rule, became
the home for Kamaraj. With terrific energy and dedicated service
Kamraj converted the Congress into a formidable organisation in
Tamilnadu. Himself a grass-root level worker, he became very popular
among his party rank and file. He was imprisoned for the first
time when he took part in the Salt Satyagraha undertaken by Mahatma
Gandhi. Later, participating in almost all the agitations he courted
arrest and underwent long periods of imprisonment. His association
with stalwarts in prison helped him broaden his outlook. He grew
fond of books and through interactions with intellectuals in prison
Kamaraj developed his leadership skills that proved a valuable
asset to him as an administrator in later years of his life.
Kamaraj succeeded
C.Rajgopalachari, another great stalwart, as the Chief Minister
of Tamilnadu on April 13,1957. Undoubtedly, this was a great achievement
for him as he was the unanimous choice for the high office. He
was honest and selfless to the core. Almost half a century has
passed since he administered Tamilnadu. But his pivotal role in
the State’s all-round development is still remembered. Keeping
pace with Nehru’s visionary efforts at the national level, Kamaraj
was instrumental in building many irrigation dams, linking the
villages by all-weather roads and constructing hospitals in remote
places. Today he is talked about for making primary education
completely free. Perhaps he might have felt that the asset of
education which he was deprived of due to poverty should not befall
similarly placed children. In fact, he felt that a major part
of his life’s mission was fulfilled by this one act. Kamraj had
also introduced the mid-day meal scheme for the poor students
at school. It helped arrest dropouts. It is now being replicated
at the national level. Even the Supreme Court in one of its recent
judgments has asked every State to implement the scheme besides
instructing the Central Government to release foodgrains from
its godowns for this purpose. The President, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul
Kalam, while inaugurating a similar scheme under ‘Akshaya Patra’
at a function in Bangalore recently, acknowledged the pioneering
work done in this field by Kamaraj.
The result of
Kamaraj’s work was there for all to see. There was an all-round
development with village as the nucleus. By inducting colleagues
like Shri R. Venkataraman and C. Subramaniam in his Ministry he
paved the way for the growth of industrial, agricultural and educational
sectors.Tamilnadu set itself as an example for other States to
emulate.
Well impressed
by the achievements and acumen of Kamraj, Prime Minister Jawaharlal
Nehru felt that his services were needed more at the national
level. In a swift move he brought Kamaraj to Delhi as the President
of the Indian National Congress. That Nehru should have lent his
ears to a little-educated leader like Kamaraj on party and national
issues amazed everyone. Nehru realised that if he had wide learning
and vision, Kamaraj possessed enormous common sense and pragmatism.
This was amply proved when Kamaraj suggested to Nehru to seek
the resignation of some of his senior cabinet colleagues to draft
them for party work. Kamaraj had realised that the Congress party
was losing ground among the people due to the absence of dedicated
leaders. Nehru promptly accepted his suggestion and some of his
Cabinet ministers resigned.
Kamaraj’s political
maturity came in full view when Nehru died in 1964. How he settled
the succession issue for the Prime Ministership was amply proved
by his choice of Lal Bahadur Shastri and Indira Gandhi in succession.
Though later
in life Kamaraj had to lose his political power and sit in the
opposition, he still remained a respected national figure both
among his colleagues and opponents. He had no enemies in politics
and remained endeared to the masses as before. This was evident
when a multitude surged to bid the final farewell to Kamaraj on
October 02,1975 after he died of a massive heart attack. Countless
condolences came in from various parts of the country. But the
one that came from Justice Krishna Iyer said it all: "A common
man’s man with an uncommon common sense".
Contributed
by M.K. Santhanam Information Officer, PIB, Bangalore
