Launching the expanded nutritious noon meal scheme for school children on the 104th birth anniversary of Kamaraj, Mr. Karunanidhi said the day would also mark the celebration to perpetuate his memory by offering floral tributes to his portrait in all schools, besides expressing gratitude for his contribution to developing education.

Under the expanded nutritious noon meal scheme, eggs would be provided twice a week to the beneficiaries, he said.

Justifying the proposal to bring forward a Bill in the Assembly, rather than issuing a Government Order to celebrate Kamaraj’s birth anniversary as Educational Development Day, he said the move would make it difficult for successive Governments to modify or abandon the scheme, as it would evoke stiff resistance from the Opposition in the Assembly.

He accused the erstwhile All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) Government of modifying or withdrawing many good schemes implemented by the previous Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) Government. These schemes included the marriage assistance programme named after Moovalur Ramamirtham that had benefited about 2.50 lakh women and the scheme to provide eggs once in two weeks along with the nutritious meal, he said. It became possible for the AIADMK Government to abandon these schemes as they were implemented on the basis of GOs, he added. Tracing the evolution of the noon meal scheme, Mr. Karunanidhi said the programme was introduced after Kamaraj pointed out that it would be impossible for hungry children to attend school. The late Chief Minister M.G. Ramachandran converted it into a nutritious meal scheme implemented by the Government instead of leaving the responsibility to teachers.

The Government’s decision to provide eggs twice a week would improve the health of the students, he said, adding that the expanded nutritious meal programme would reflect on their efficiency to learn.

Mr. Karunanidhi launched the scheme by serving eggs to 200 children at the Chennai Corporation Middle School in Chepauk constituency. He distributed prizes to the winners of oratorical, painting and essay writing competitions held by the school. He also handed over assistance to students and other beneficiaries under different schemes.

Social Welfare Minister Poongothai said the Chief Minister had added one more feather to his cap by implementing the scheme. Minister for School Education Thangam Thennarasu said the decision to celebrate Kamaraj’s birth anniversary as Educational Development Day showed Mr. Karunanidhi’s affection for the late leader. Whip of the Congress Legislature Party Peter Alphonse thanked the Chief Minister for his gesture. Chief Secretary L.K.Tripathy welcomed.

Inspired by the Independence Movement and the Mahatma, the young, not very educated Kamaraj rises from humble beginnings to emerge as the Chief Minister of the State, a man of the masses and a king maker of repute. His simple living and high thinking that ought to make each of us proud is presented with a visionary touch by director A. Balakrishnan. Kamaraj’s corruption-free rule as Chief Minister, his sensitivity that made him do his utmost to educate the poor, his anger at injustice from any quarter, the elections in which the Congress was trounced, the period when Indira Gandhi declared a state of Emergency, and the effect that such events had on Kamaraj have been well brought out. Besides documenting the life of the leader till the end, the film also traces the history of the nation and the State in an interesting manner. Kamaraj’s interaction with his mother, the people who come to see him and the bureaucracy and his calm acceptance of the highs and lows of life are unforgettable facets of the film. And finally as you watch the funeral procession of the man, you are choked with emotion.

All the characters have been chosen to suit the roles they play. Thus casting is a strong point of “Kamaraj.” Richard Mathuram has done a neat job as Kamaraj. M. S. Bhaskar who has dubbed for him deserves special mention. The bright eyes of Sampathraj, the man who plays the young Kamaraj, is more an indicator of the kind of man he portrays. Only the actor who plays Rajaji does not seem true-to-life in appearance and demeanour. Along with known faces such as director Mahendran, actors Vijayan, A. K. Veerasamy and V. S. Raghavan, are Sumanth as Jawaharlal Nehru, Kovai Ramasamy as Periyar, Aravamudhan as C. Subramaniam and Kanakaraj as Gandhiji. Well-known stage artiste, T. S. Anandhi is Indira Gandhi. The resemblance to the former PM, which is more because of her nose, makes her a reasonably right choice for the role.

The screenplay could have been moulded better and the sudden close-ups that come and go abruptly could have been avoided. Sembur Jayaraj and J. Francis Kripa take credit for the screenplay and dialogue. V. T. Vijayan has handled the editing. There are scenes that end too suddenly and thus give way to jerks in the narration. Rerecording is minimal in “Kamaraj”, and wherever it is heard, the maestro’s touch is evident. The “Naadu Parthathunda … ” number that Ilaiyaraja sings in the end makes a tremendous impact. Vaali’s lyrics for the same moisten your eyes.

“Kamaraj” has a docu-feel all right, but the insight it provides makes it a must-see film for all.

Writing in The New York Times, the late Pulitzer Prize winning journalist J.Anthony Lukas described Kamaraj thus:

“Kamaraj’s real achievement, then, has not been in remaking the party but in manipulating the diverse and disputatious elements within it. His genius lies in dealing with men as they are, not in changing them, and this ability is based on a realistc assessment of human nature.”

As Virudhunagar Chairman Sankarapandia Nadar was also arrested Chairman’s post was vacant. Regarding electing P.C.C. Madras state president Ubayathulla sent a telegram to Dhanushkodi Nadar. But a reply was sent to him stating that the election of Chairman would be amicably settled.

Vice-Chairman R.Gurusami fixed the date as 31st May 1941 for Chairman’s election. Kamaraj who was in the prison at Vellore was unanimously elected as Chairman.

Before this Bengal Lion Desabandhu Chittranjan Das was elected as Mayor when he was in the prison. Likewise Kamaraj too was elected as Chairman when he was in the jail. People were proud of this.

In the first week of March 1942 , a months after the Chairman’s election Kamaraj was released. He came to Virudhunagar in the 2nd week. A warm welcome was given to him.
Municipal council meeting was held on 16th of March under the presidentship of Vice-Chairman 90th item of Agenda was taken for consideration and recorded. Kamaraj as a Chairman came to the meeting and sat in the Chairman’s chair. He recorded 91st item. He addressed to Councilors thanking them for having elected him as Chairman . But as he had some other important affairs to look after he was unable to continue as Chairman and tendered his resignation.

A 9 months’ Chairman who conducted the council meeting for 9 minutes addressed like this ” A person who holds a post even if it is a honorary one ,should act properly. If he is not able to function properly he should not hold that post.”

Municipal election was conducted at Virudhunagar Congress contested in 24 wards and won in 22 wards. Kamaraj won from the 7th ward. All the 21 councilors compelled Kamaraj to be the Chairman but he refused. Sankarapandia Nadar became Chairman.

In 1940 election for T.N.C.P. President Sathyamoorthy nominated Kamaraj . Rajaji nominated Kovai C.P.Subbiah..
Kamaraj got 103 votes and won by 3 votes. Those 3 votes changed the history of Tamilnadu. A man who started his political life as a volunteer in 1919 became a President to the same party in 21 years. Once he was elected as a President public were interested in knowing his life history. They were attracted in his simplicity and sacrifice.

To help Kamaraj Sathyamoorthy took the post of Secretary.

During 2nd World War Aurther Hope , the Governor of Madras collected war fund from public. Kamaraj toured all over the state asking the public not to give war fund to foreigner. Hence war fund collection was disturbed . So Kamaraj was arrested under Security Act and sent to Vellore Jail. This was his 3rd Arrest.

People who come for Sathyagraha should have got the apporval of Gandhiji . When Kamaraj went to Gandhiji with one such list for Gandhiji’s approval he was arrested in the train at Gudur railway station.

According to the individual Sathyagraha started by Gandhiji all municipal chairman should go to jail by breaking the law. Accordingly Sankarapanida Nadar Chairman of Virudhunagar went to jail.

At the age of 16, Kamaraj enrolled himself as full-time worker of the Congress. He invited speakers, organized meetings and collected funds for the party. He also participated in the march to Vedaranyam led by C. Rajagopalachari as part of the Salt Satyagraha of March 1930.

Kamaraj was arrested and sent to Alipore Jail in Calcutta for two years. He was 27 at the time of his arrest and was released in 1931 following the Gandhi-Irwin Pact. Kamaraj was implicated in the Virudhunagar bomb case two years later. Dr. Varadarajulu Naidu and George Joseph argued on Kamaraj’s behalf and proved the charges to be baseless. Kamaraj was arrested again in 1940 and sent to Vellore Central Prison while he was on his way to Wardha to get Gandhiji’s approval for a list of satyagrahis.

While still in jail, Kamaraj was elected Chairman of the Municipal Council of Madurai. Nine months later, upon his release, Kamaraj went straight to the Municipality and tendered his resignation from his post. He felt that “one should not accept any post to which one could not do full justice.”

Kamaraj was arrested once more in 1942 and sentenced to three years in the Amaravathi prison for spreading propaganda material for the Quit India movement initiated by Gandhiji. While in prison, Kamaraj read books and continued his self-education.

Unfortunately his father died within a year of Kamaraj’s enrollment in school. Kamaraj’s mother sold all jewelry except her earrings and deposited the money with a local merchant and cared for the entire family on the monthly interest that the money earned.