The Hindu : National : Follow `Kamaraj Plan' Manmohan tells partymen

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Oct 28, 2004

National

National

Follow `Kamaraj Plan' Manmohan tells partymen

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, OCT. 27 . The Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, today released commemorative coins of five and hundred rupee denominations to mark the birth centenary celebrations of the late Congress leader, K. Kamaraj, whom he hailed as "karamveera."

After formally releasing the coins — the five rupee coin for mass circulation and hundred rupee ones for collectors — at function at Vigyan Bhavan, Dr. Singh presented the first set of coins to the Congress president , Sonia Gandhi.

Former Presidents, R. Venkataraman and K. R. Narayanan, the Lok Sabha Speaker, Somnath Chatterjee, the Union Home Minister, Shivraj Patil and large number of Union Ministers and Members of Parliament attended the function.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Singh recalled the sacrifice and service of Kamaraj , abjuring the lure of power — an ideal that had been rediscovered and re-established by Ms. Gandhi (by not accepting Prime Ministership).

Pragmatic administrator

Hailing Kamaraj as a "pragmatic and effective administrator," he said his administration of the then Madras State was based on the simple advice — "face the problem, don't evade it. Find a solution however small. People will be satisfied if you do something."

Noting that this holds good even today , Dr. Singh said the real tribute to the leader would be if his followers and others follow the values he espoused in public life.

"Simplicity and humility characterised Kamaraj ... He spoke, walked, ate and dressed the way the common people did.

He overcame his initial handicap of the lack of formal education to acquire felicity in English and knowledge of both national and world affairs," the Prime Minister said, adding that he was correctly described as " a common man's man with uncommon common sense."

Noticing decline in vigour in the Congress, , Kamaraj resigned as Chief Minister of the Madras State in 1963 after three consecutive terms to take up party work, Dr. Singh said. He advocated the "Kamaraj Plan" for all senior Congress leaders to resign their posts and devote their energy to revitalise the party.

Humble background

Rising from a humble background, Kamaraj was an embodiment of simplicity, honesty and compassion for the poor — qualities which endeared him to the masses who reciprocated his affection for their `perunthalaivar' (a great leader).

The coins' release was a humble tribute of the Government to Kamaraj. The real tribute , however, would be for all his followers to follow the values he espoused in their conduct in public life.

The Union Finance Minister, P. Chidambaram and the Minister of State for Finance, S. S. Palanimanickam, paid glowing tributes to Kamaraj.

In a statement, G. K. Vasan, president of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee, thanked the Prime Minister for honouring the great Congress leader from Tamil Nadu.

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