Kamaraj was an Indian politician who served as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu from 1954 to 1963. He was born in 1903 in Virudhunagar, Tamil Nadu and had to drop out of school at a young age to support his family after his father's death. As a young man, he became involved in India's independence movement. He was elected to the legislative assembly in 1937 and imprisoned multiple times for pro-independence activities. As Chief Minister, Kamaraj helped establish many schools and hospitals and declined special privileges for himself. He died in 1975 at age 72 and was posthumously awarded India's highest civilian honor, the Bharat Ratna, for his contributions to public service and India's independence

1. Perunthalaivar Kamarajar
Born: Kumaraswami Kamaraj; 15 July 1903;
Residence: Kamarajar Illam; 1/10, Thyagaraya
Died: 2 October 1975 (aged 72); Madras
Resting place: Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Ninai

2. Early life
 Kamaraj was born on 15 July 1903 in Virudhunagar, Tamil Nadu, to
Kumaraswami and Sivakami Ammal.
 His name was originally Kamatchi, later changed to Kamarajar. His father
Kumaraswami was a merchant. Kamaraj had a younger sister named
Nagammal.
 Kamaraj was first enrolled in a traditional school in 1907 and in 1908 he was
admitted to Yenadhi Narayana Vidhya Salai.
 In 1909 Kamaraj was admitted in Virudupatti High School. Kamaraj's father
died when he was six years old, his mother was forced to support the family.
 In 1914 Kamaraj dropped out of school to support his mother

3. Politics
As a young boy, Kamaraj worked in his uncle's provision shop
and during that time he began toattend public meetings and
processions about the Indian Home Rule Movement
At the age of 34, Kamaraj entered the Assembly winning
the Sattur seat in the 1937 election.
Kamaraj was imprisoned six times by the British for his pro-
Independence activities, that added up to more than 3,000 days in
jail.

4. Chief Minister
• On 13 April 1954, Kamaraj became the Chief Minister of Madras
Province. To everyone's surprise, Kamaraj nominated C.
Subramaniam and M. Bhakthavatsalam, who had contested his
leadership, to the newly formed cabinet.

5. Electoral history
• YearPostConstituencyPartyOpponentElectionResult1937MLASatturINCUnopposed
• 1937 electionsWon1946MLASattur-
• AruppukottaiINCUnopposed1946 electionsWon1952MPSrivilliputhurINCG. D. NaiduIndian
General Elections, 1951Won1954MLAGudiyathamINCV. K. Kothandaraman
• By ElectionWon1957MLASatturINCJayarama Reddiar1957 Madras legislative assembly
electionWon1962MLASatturINCP.
• Ramamoorthy1962 Madras legislative assembly electionWon1967MLAVirudhunagarINCP.
Seenivasan1967 Tamil Nadu state assembly electionLost 1969MPNagercoilINCM.
• MathiasBy ElectionWon1971MPNagercoilINC(O)M. C. BalanIndian General Elections,
1971Won

6. Personal life
• During his tenure as Chief Minister, when the municipality of
Virudhunagar provided a direct water connection to his house in his
hometown, Kamarajar ordered it to be disconnected immediately as he did
not want any special privileges. He refused to use the Z-level security that
was provided to him as the CM of Tamil Nadu and instead travelled with
just one police patrol vehicle.
• He did not marry, did not own any property and was never tempted by
power. When he died, he left behind 130 rupees, 2 pairs of sandals, 4 shirts,
4 dhotis and a few books

7. Death
• Kamaraj died at his home, on Gandhi Jayanti day (2 October
1975), which also was the 12th anniversary of his resignation.
He was aged 72 and died in his sleep due to a heart attack.

8. Legacy
• Kamaraj was awarded India's highest civilian honour,
the Bharat Ratna, posthumously in 1976.
• The domestic terminal of the Chennai airport is named
"Kamaraj Terminal". Marina beach road in Chennai was
named as "Kamarajar Salai".
• North Parade Road in Bengaluru and Parliament road in New
Delhi were also renamed after Kamaraj.
• Madurai Kamaraj University is named in his honour.
• In 2003, the Government of India released a commemorative
coin on his birthday.

9. THANK YOU