Indian Leaders Honor K. Kamaraj on 124th Birth Anniversary

Indian political leaders commemorated the 124th birth anniversary of former Madras Chief Minister and Bharat Ratna recipient K. Kamaraj on July 15, 2026. Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India, used the social media platform X to describe Kamaraj as a "stalwart of India's freedom movement" and an "exceptional public figure" whose commitment to inclusive development and the underprivileged continues to guide generations.

In Chennai, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay honored the leader by garlanding his statue on Mount Road. Vijay praised Kamaraj's role in expanding industrial development and implementing the midday meal scheme. Governor R.N. Ravi Arlekar joined the tributes, along with other regional leaders including Udhayanidhi Stalin and Edappadi K. Palaniswami.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge described Kamaraj as a "great son of India" and a "staunch advocate of social justice and welfare." Kharge specifically credited the former Congress President with pioneering the Mid-Day Meal scheme to provide disadvantaged children with access to free education. To mark the occasion, the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee launched an anti-corruption awareness campaign and a week-long series of celebrations. Kamaraj is further remembered for the 1963 Kamaraj Plan, which urged senior leaders to resign from ministerial posts to focus on organizational work.