Inaugurated
on 15th July 1978, by the then Chief Minister M G Ramachandran,
Kamaraj Memorial House is now a permanent gallery that showcases
photographs and personal effects of Kamaraj who rose out
of poverty to become the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu (elected to
the post thrice).
On the ground floor is the bedroom of this bachelor, whose austere
living comes across so clearly in the plain furniture that occupies
the room. Leaning over the railings, one can spot yellowed volumes
of 'Lok Sabha Debates', '100 Modern Lives', 'Churchill' and
'Doctor Zhivago' amongst the books lined up in the well-stocked
library. Obviously, having to discontinue his schooling did not
stop him from becoming a well-read man.
The
Black and White photographs that adorn the walls of the Dining Hall,
cover Kamaraj's life across all stages - Kamaraj at the age of five,
in his youth, in middle age and in the final years. Notable among
the collection are pictures of his 1954 swearing-in as Chief Minister
of Tamil Nadu, the first Kamaraj Ministry of 1954, the second of
1957 and the third of 1962. Photographs of Kamaraj's public life
show him rubbing shoulders with stalwarts like Jawarharlal Nehru,
Sarojini Naidu, Sathyamurthy, Dr S Radhakrishnan, Rajendra Prasad,
Lal Bahadur Shastri, Indira Gandhi, Periyar, M G Ramachandran,Govind Vallabh Pant, Martin Luther King and Queen Elizabeth.
Among the personal effects of Kamaraj that are on display are his
spectacles, pens, a spool tape player....even a Gillette Shaving
set used by him! Several pictures showcase the leader in different
moods: playing Cricket, hauling the rope in at a 'Tug of War' for
the Legislator's Sports Meet, drenched under the Courtallam falls,
supervising relief work for flood victims, chairing meetings etc.
The
second floor has displays of Kamaraj's several luxuriant Felicitation
Shawls. In marked contrast are the displays of his own simple attire,
his suitcases, timepiece, pens and utensils. Of special mention
is the prison coat worn by him while serving term in prison in 1942.
Photographs on the second floor show several personalities paying
homage to the dead leader. Among those pictured are Indira Gandhi
and veteran actor Sivaji Ganesan. Especially impressive is
the bird's eye view of the multitude, on Mount Road (Anna Salai),
who accompanied the body of their leader on his last journey.
Open 9.00 am to 6.00 pm.
Address: Kamaraj Memorial House, # 52, T. P. Road, T.
Nagar,
Chennai - 600 017
12:18:01 AM 
Inaugurated
on 15th July 1978, by the then Chief Minister M G Ramachandran,
Kamaraj Memorial House is now a permanent gallery that showcases
photographs and personal effects of Kamaraj who rose out
of poverty to become the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu (elected to
the post thrice).
The
Black and White photographs that adorn the walls of the Dining Hall,
cover Kamaraj's life across all stages - Kamaraj at the age of five,
in his youth, in middle age and in the final years. Notable among
the collection are pictures of his 1954 swearing-in as Chief Minister
of Tamil Nadu, the first Kamaraj Ministry of 1954, the second of
1957 and the third of 1962. Photographs of Kamaraj's public life
show him rubbing shoulders with stalwarts like Jawarharlal Nehru,
Sarojini Naidu, Sathyamurthy, Dr S Radhakrishnan, Rajendra Prasad,
Lal Bahadur Shastri, Indira Gandhi, Periyar, M G Ramachandran,
Govind Vallabh Pant, Martin Luther King and Queen Elizabeth.
Among the personal effects of Kamaraj that are on display are his
spectacles, pens, a spool tape player....even a Gillette Shaving
set used by him! Several pictures showcase the leader in different
moods: playing Cricket, hauling the rope in at a 'Tug of War' for
the Legislator's Sports Meet, drenched under the Courtallam falls,
supervising relief work for flood victims, chairing meetings etc.
The
second floor has displays of Kamaraj's several luxuriant Felicitation
Shawls. In marked contrast are the displays of his own simple attire,
his suitcases, timepiece, pens and utensils. Of special mention
is the prison coat worn by him while serving term in prison in 1942.
Photographs on the second floor show several personalities paying
homage to the dead leader. Among those pictured are Indira Gandhi
and veteran actor Sivaji Ganesan. Especially impressive is
the bird's eye view of the multitude, on Mount Road (Anna Salai),
who accompanied the body of their leader on his last journey.
