Netizens recall Kamaraj’s contributions on death anniv

CHENNAI: Gandhi Jayanti and the death anniversary of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Kamaraj were observed on Friday. In the pandemic situation, the observance was largely restricted to the cyberspace.

Social media was awash with messages detailing the teachings and philosophy of both the leaders. Twitter trended with #KamarajMemorialDay and social media users noted his contributions to the development of modern Tamil Nadu.

Known for his simplistic lifestyle, Kamraj was called the Kingmaker of Indian politics in the 1960s. Many highlighted his contribution to the education sector and the policies he implemented to support children from underprivileged communities. “On Kamaraj Memorial Day, we must remember that mid-day meal scheme, which was implemented during his tenure as CM, helped children from poor families to get educated,” said a Twitter user, Ruban.

Coincidently, Kamaraj also played a crucial in the election of Lal Bahadur Shastri during his tenure as the president of the Indian National Congress between 1964 and 1967, whose birth anniversary also fell yesterday. One Twitter user noted, “He is a legendary freedom fighter and Congress leader. He was the man behind the selection of Lal Bahadur Shastri and Indira Gandhi as PM when the nation was in crisis at that time.”

Posthumously, Kamaraj was awarded the Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian honour, in 1976. Many users posted pictures of themselves putting garlands on the statesman’s statues across the State, and others posted videos recounting his political career.