K. Kamaraj

Kumarasami Kamaraj, better known as K. Kamaraj (15 July 1903 – 2 October 1975), was an Indian politician from Tamil Nadu widely acknowledged as the "Kingmaker" in Indian politics during the 1960s.

He was the chief minister of Tamil Nadu during 1954–1963 and a Member of Parliament during 1952–1954 and 1967–1975. He was known for his simplicity and integrity.

He was involved in the Indian independence movement. As the president of Indian National Congress, he was instrumental in navigating the party after the death of Jawaharlal Nehru and bringing to power two Prime Ministers, namely Lal Bahadur Shastri in 1964 and Indira Gandhi in 1966. In Tamil Nadu, his home state, he is still remembered for bringing school education to millions of the rural poor by introducing free education and the free Midday Meal Scheme during his tenure as chief minister. He was awarded India's highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, posthumously in 1976. The domestic terminal of the Chennai airport is named "Kamaraj Terminal", Chennai's Beach Road renamed "Kamarajar Salai", Bangalore's North Parade Road as "K. Kamaraj Rd." and the Madurai Kamaraj University in his honour.

K. Kamaraj (politician)

K. Kamaraj is the AIADMK candidate from the Kallakurichi constituency in the April 2014 Indian Lok Sabha parliamentary elections.

Kamaraj was born on 7 June 1966 at Somandargudi village in Sankarapuram circle, Villupuram district in Tamil Nadu, India. His father S. Kalitheerthan, was a two-time Member of the Legislative Assembly (1980 and 1985) representing the Sankarapuram constituency in the government headed by Chief Minister M. G. Ramachandran. His mother is Picchayi ammal.

Kamaraj completed his schooling in the Government primary school in Madoor and went to high school at the Government High School at Somandargudi before joining the Sir M.C.T.M Chettiar Higher Secondary School in Chennai to complete his school education. Joining the Madras Medical College in 1984, he graduated in 1989 as a medical doctor with the M.B.B.S. degree.

Following a one-year stint as senior house surgeon in General Surgery, Kamaraj secured admission to postgraduate course at Madras Medical College in 1992 and received a Master's degree in General Surgery (M.S.) in 1994. He also underwent an MILT Leadership course conducted by the McGrath Institute of Leadership Training in Kolkata in 1987.