(15-7-1903 to 2-10-1975)
Kumaraswami Kamaraj, better known as K. Kamaraj (July 15, 1903 – October 02, 1975) was an Indian politician widely known as a kingmaker in Indian politics, widely known for his honesty, integrity and simplicity. He was involved in the Indian independence movement and was a close ally of Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India. He was instrumental in bringing to power two Prime Ministers, Lal Bahadur Shastri in 1964 and Indira Gandhi in 1966. He was affectionately known as the Gandhi of the South, the Black Gandhi, and in Tamil Nadu, his home state he is still hailed for facilitating the spread of education to millions of the rural poor during the 1950s. He was awarded India’s highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, posthumously in 1976.