K. Kamaraj - Early Life

Early Life

Kamaraj was born on 15 July 1903 to Kumarasamy Nadar and Sivakami Ammal at Virudhunagar in Tamil Nadu. His real name was Kamakshi and his mother affectionately called him Raja and later his name became Kamaraj(Kamatchi + Raja). His parents were from a trading family. His father Kumarasamy Nadar, was a coconut merchant. In 1907, four years after the birth of Kamaraj his sister Nagammal was born. At age 5 (1907), Kamaraj was admitted to traditional school(called 'Thinnal Palli' in Tamil which was a system of school available in the past) on the next day of "Saraswathy Pooja". In 1908, he was admitted in Yenadhi Narayana Vidhya Salai. In 1909 Kamaraj was admitted in Virudupatti High School - Kshtriya Vidhyasala which is the only high school in Virdhupatti. Kamaraj's father died when he was six years old and his mother was forced to support her family by selling her jewellery. In 1914, Kamaraj dropped out of school to support his family. After that he worked in his uncle's clothshop as a salesboy.

During this time, he started joining processions and attended public meetings about Home Rule Movement and British Rule addressed by orators like Dr. Varadarajulu Naidu, V.Kalyana Sundara Mudaliar and George Joseph. Kamaraj developed interest in prevailing political conditions by reading newspapers daily.

Punjab Massacre was the decisive turning point in his life and at this point he decided his aim is to fight for the National freedom and to bring an end to foreign rule. In 1920, at the age of 18 he became active political worker and joined Congress as full time worker. In 1921, Kamaraj was organising public meetings at Virudhunagar for congress leaders. He was eager to meet Gandhi and when Gandhi visited Madhurai on september 21, 1921, Kamaraj attended Gandhi's public meeting and met him for the first time in person. He visited villages carrying Congress propaganda .

In 1922, Congress was boycotting the visit of Prince of Wales as part of Non-cooperation movement. Kamaraj came to Madras and took part in this event. Kamaraj participated in the famous Vaikom Satyagraha led by George Joseph against the atrocities of the higher caste Hindus on the Harijans. In 1923-25, Kamaraj participated in Nagpur Flag Satyagraha . In 1927, Kamaraj started Sword Satyagraha in Madras and also he was chosen to lead the Neil Statue Satyagraha but it was given up later in view of Simon Commission boycott . Kamaraj lead almost all the agitation and demonstartion against the british rule.

Kamaraj was first jailed in June 1930 for two years in Alipore Jail, Calcutta for participation in "Salt Satyagraha" led by Rajagopalachari at Vedaranyam and was released earlier in 1931 in consequence of Gandhi-Irwin Pact before he could serve full term imprisonment .

In 1932, Section 144 was imposed in Madras prohibiting the holdings of meetings and organising procession against the arrest of Gandhi in Bombay. In Virdhunagar under Kamaraj leadership everyday processions and demonstartions happened. Kamaraj was arrested again in Jan 1932 and sentenced for 1 year imprisonment.

In 1933, Kamaraj was falsely implicated in the Virudhunagar bomb case. Dr. Varadarajulu Naidu and George Joseph argued on Kamaraj's behalf and proved the charges to be baseless .

Kamaraj was doing a vigourous campaign throught the state asking people not to contribute to war funds when Sir Arthur Hope the Madras Governor was collecting contributions to funds for Second World War. In Dec 1940, he was arrested again at Guntur under the 'Defence of Indian Rules' for speeches opposing contributions to the war fund and sent to Vellore Central Prison while he was on his way to Wardha to get Gandhiji's approval for a list of Satyagrahis. While he was in jail, he was elected as Municipal Council of Virudhunagar. He got released 9 months later in Nov 1941 and he resigned from his post as he thought he had greater responsibility for the nation . His principle was "One should not accept any post to which one could not do full justice".

In 1942, Kamaraj attented All India Congress Committee in Bombay and returned to spread propaganda material for the "Quit India Movement" called by Gandhiji. The Police issued orders to all the leaders who attented this Bombay session. Kamaraj did not want to get arrested before he takes the message to all district and local leaders. He decided not to goto Madras and decided to cut short his trip and saw large number of policemen waiting for the arrest of congress leaders in Arakonam. He managed to escape from the police and went to Ranipet, Tanjore, Trichy, Madurai and informed local leaders about the Programme. He reached Virdhunagar after finishing his work and sent message to the local police that he was ready to be arrested. He was arrested on August 1942. He was under detention for 3 years and was released on June 1945. This was the last term of his prison life

Kamaraj was imprisioned six times by british and spent nine years in jail for his Pro-Independence activities