Kamaraj (1903–1975) Early Life K. Kamaraj was born on July 15, 1903, in Virudupatti (present-day Virudhunagar), Tamil Nadu. His parents were Kumarasamy and Sivakami Ammal. He was given the birth name 'Kamatchi' after the family deity. Role in the Freedom Struggle He joined the Indian National Congress in 1919. He participated in the Non-Cooperation Movement held in 1920. He became a member of the Virudhunagar Municipality in 1922. During this period, he met S. Satyamurti, who would later become his political mentor. He participated in the Vaikom Satyagraha (1924) and the Suchindram Temple Entry Movement. He became a member of the Madras Provincial Congress Committee in 1925. In 1927, he joined the 'Sword Satyagraha,' a protest against the British ban on Indians possessing weapons such as swords and spears. When the Simon Commission visited Madurai in 1928, he participated in the protest against it alongside George Joseph. He was arrested for participating in the Vedaranyam Salt Satyagraha in 1930. He was sentenced to two years of imprisonment in Alipore Jail; this was his first term of imprisonment. He was released following the signing of the Gandhi-Irwin Pact on March 5, 1931. In 1936, S. Satyamurti became the President of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee; Kamaraj was elected as its secretary. In the 1937 Madras Presidency elections, he was elected unopposed from the Sattur constituency. President of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee In 1940, Kamaraj became the President of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee. While traveling to Wardha to meet Mahatma Gandhi regarding the Individual Satyagraha movement, he was arrested in Karur and imprisoned in Vellore Jail. In 1941, while still in prison, he was elected Chairman of the Virudhunagar Municipality but later resigned from the post. Following the launch of the 'Quit India' movement in 1942, he was arrested again…
