Overview

• On July 15, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid homage to K. Kamaraj on X, praising his noble ideals and leadership in India’s freedom struggle.
• Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge acknowledged Kamaraj as “a true son of India” and lauded his pioneering social welfare initiatives.
• Known as the “Kalvi Thanthai,” Kamaraj’s midday meal scheme and school expansion as Madras chief minister brought education to millions of underprivileged children.
• In 1963, Kamaraj proposed the Kamaraj Plan to refresh Congress leadership and later played a decisive role in selecting Lal Bahadur Shastri and Indira Gandhi as prime ministers.
• Celebrated for his Gandhian principles and grassroots connect, Kamaraj’s reforms and strategic vision remain influential in India’s political and social landscape.