Kamaraj

History has few parallels, if any, in which a person with no advantages of birth, status, wealth and education rose to high positions of trust and responsibility as Kamaraj has done. -R. Venkatraman, the eighth President of India To many, Kumarasami Kamaraj's story is the stuff of legends. His political career afforded him many roles, and he is recognized till today for his accomplishments as a freedom fighter, Congress party boss, chief minister, national leader, kingmaker and opposition leader. Of his many achievements, the ones that Kamaraj is remembered most for are 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 of Tamil Nadu, and the role he played in bringing to power as prime minister first Lal Bahadur Shastri and later Indira Gandhi. Known for his integrity and his modesty in conduct, Kamaraj exercised his political power for the benefit of the masses and was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award, in 1976.