Kamaraj: The Life And Times Of K. 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 Kamarajs 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 Indias highest civilian award in 1976. Dealing with significant phases of Kamarajs life Bala Jeyaraman explains his actions in a larger historical context. A concise yet comprehensive biography this book unravels for the reader the story of this exceptional visionary and leader.