Kamarajar was a prominent Indian politician and freedom fighter who served as the Chief Minister of Madras State from 1954 to 1963. He was known as the “Kingmaker” in Indian politics and played a major role in the elevation of Lal Bahadur Shastri and Indira Gandhi as Prime Ministers.
Kamarajar was admired for his simplicity, honesty and integrity. He worked tirelessly for the welfare of the poor and is remembered for bringing education to millions in the state of Tamil Nadu through his Mid-Day Meal Scheme.
Though he lived a simple life, Kamarajar’s leadership and political acumen make him an intriguing figure about whom many stories and anecdotes can be told. Here are 99 riddles that provide cryptic clues about different aspects of Kamarajar’s life and personality. Solving these riddles will help shed more light on this iconic leader.
Riddles
1. I’m the small town where he was born, the seed that sprouted a mighty tree: Virudhunagar
2. I’m the language he loved, in which he made great oratory: Tamil
3. I’m his first name – simple and unpretentious: Kumaraswami
4. I’m his last name, inspired by a temple deity: Kamraj
5. I’m his nationality, the great motherland he served: Indian
6. I’m the party whose values and vision he upheld: Congress
7. I’m the position he attained before becoming CM: PCC President
8. I’m his alma mater, his launchpad to public life: St. Joseph’s College
9. I’m his first major political victory in his home district: Sattur
10. I’m the number of times he became Chief Minister of Madras State: Two
11. I’m his total years of service as Chief Minister: Ten
12. I’m the scheme that helped lakhs of children get an education: Mid-Day Meal Scheme
13. I’m the former CM who was his political mentor: Rajaji
14. I’m his reputation – his honesty and integrity were unquestioned: Incorruptible
15. I’m his marital status – dedicated wholly to public service: Unmarried
16. I’m his pastime, his way of relaxing his busy mind: Reading
17. I’m his favorite city, his home as CM for 10 years: Madras
18. I’m his political successor, who continued his policies: M. Bhaktavatsalam
19. I’m his worst electoral defeat, which made him briefly resign: 1952 General Elections
20. I’m his best electoral victory, with landslide wins in 1957 and 1962: Madras State Assembly Elections
Riddles about Kamarajar’s Personality
21. I’m his reputation – steadfast, plain speaking and pragmatic: Man of the soil
22. I’m his speaking style – simple words that touched hearts: Plain speak
23. I’m his lifestyle – austere and unpretentious despite power: Gandhian simplicity
24. I’m his diet – simple vegetarian fare, despite hosting lavish meals: Sattvic
25. I’m his dress style – always wearing khadi promoted by Gandhi: Khadi linen
26. I’m his favorite transport – used to travel to remote villages: Cycle
27. I’m his sleeping habit, even as CM he slept on the floor: Mat on the floor
28. I’m his guiding light – he was deeply influenced by his teachings: Mahatma Gandhi
29. I’m his nickname – for his uncanny skills as a political strategist: Chanakya
30. I’m his most admirable trait – he placed nation over self: Patriotism
Riddles about Kamarajar’s Politics and Governance
31. I’m his political leanings – deeply committed to secular democracy: Socialist
32. I’m his big achievement – bringing electricity to every village: Rural electrification
33. I’m his focus area – primary education to empower the poor: School education
34. I’m his growth mantra – investments in agriculture and infrastructure: Self-sufficiency
35. I’m the community he uplifted through education and jobs: Backward classes
36. I’m his major political move – resigning to rebuild Congress: Kamaraj Plan
37. I’m his leadership style – consultative and democratic: Consensus builder
38. I’m his political base – farmers and the working class: Masses
39. I’m his stance – champion of Tamil rights within Indian union: Tamil nationalist
40. I’m his negotiation skill – mediating conflicts and strikes: Conciliator
Riddles about Kamarajar’s National Role and Legacy
41. I’m his national impact – Kingmaker in Delhi through syndicate: Congress High Command
42. I’m his choice for PM – the mild mannered successor to Nehru: Lal Bahadur Shastri
43. I’m his choice for India’s first woman PM – daughter of Nehru: Indira Gandhi
44. I’m the dam that bears his name, irrigation lifeline of TN: Kamarajar Dam
45. I’m the honor he received – India’s highest civilian award: Bharat Ratna
46. I’m the university named for him, hub for Tamil studies: Kamarajar University
47. I’m his memorial, where his remains are interred: Kamarajar Manimandapam
48. I’m his political heir, who later became CM of TN: M.G. Ramachandran
49. I’m his birth anniversary, celebrated across TN as Education Day: July 15
50. I’m his legacy – service, simplicity and integrity in public life: Political ethics
Riddles on Anecdotes and Trivia about Kamarajar
51. I’m his morning routine – waking before dawn for a bath: Early riser
52. I’m his break from work – relaxing with cowboy films: Cowboy movies
53. I’m his evening habit – reading newspapers to stay updated: Reading newspapers
54. I’m his bedtime snack – a couple of bananas to end the day: Bananas
55. I’m his favorite flower he often wore on his coat: Jasmine
56. I’m his closest aide, managed his appointments as CM: R. Kothandaraman
57. I’m his meeting style – making decisions while pacing : Walking meetings
58. I’m his writing style – he dictated letters rather than writing: Dictation
59. I’m his wealth when he died – a few clothes and books: No personal assets
60. I’m his past political rivalry with another top TN leader: E.V. Ramasamy
61. I’m his multi-lingual skills – he knew English though avoided it: Trilingual
62. I’m his status – he declinedIndia’s second highest civilian honor: Padma Vibhushan
63. I’m his biggest regret – unable to learn Hindi fluently: Linguistic limitation
64. I’m the foreign dignitary hosted by him in Madras: Queen Elizabeth II
65. I’m his brush with scandal, when a statue was installed: Statue controversy
66. I’m his close friend in Delhi, confidante and advisor: K. Kamaraj
67. I’m the guilty verdict in a libel case he filed as CM: First defamation case victory
68. I’m his proposed honor he humbly declined as CM: Statue Installation
69. I’m his Hollywood connection – a biopic by an Oscar winner: Attenborough’s Gandhi
70. I’m his doppelganger, a look-alike comedian in Tamil films: Cho Ramaswamy
Riddles on Kamarajar’s Values and Beliefs
71. I’m his cherished possession – a statue of his mentor: Gandhi figurine
72. I’m his life philosophy – selfless work and simple living: Karma Yogi
73. I’m his daily habit – reading inspirational books before bed: Reading spiritual texts
74. I’m his religious background, he carried it lightly: Hindu
75. I’m his guiding principle – decisions to uplift the masses: Utilitarian
76. I’m his unfulfilled dream – educating India’s children: Visionary educator
77. I’m his attitude to wealth – indifferent, without greed: Detached
78. I’m his biggest concern – poverty and illiteracy: Social justice
79. I’m his emotional state – equanimous through ups and downs: Balanced
80. I’m his inspiration – Indian civilization’s ancient values: Roots
Riddles about Kamarajar’s Worldview
81. I’m his international outlook – alignment with progressive forces: Non-Aligned Movement
82. I’m the Cold War bloc he avoided – distrusting power blocs: Non-alignment
83. I’m his bond with another newly independent nation: Friendship with Ghana
84. I’m his welcome of outside technology and industry: Open door policy
85. I’m his opinion on English – pragmatic adoption with Tamil priority: Soft anti-imperialism
86. I’m his position on religion – tolerant but secular governance: Secularist
87. I’m his stance on landlords and capitalists: Wary
88. I’m his stance on communists and radical leftists: Intolerant
89. I’m his triumphal 1963 visit to the White House: Kennedy meeting
90. I’m the diaspora he engaged with on foreign trips: Indian community
Riddles on Turning Points in Kamarajar’s Life
91. I’m his launch into politics – standing for municipal election: Virudhunagar local body polls
92. I’m his first big break – elected Congress president in TN: TNCC President
93. I’m his political comeback – re-elected as CM in 1962: Landslide victory
94. I’m his act of sacrifice – resigning as CM to rebuild Congress: Kamaraj Plan
95. I’m his sudden demise – a loss for TN and India’s politics: Fatal heart attack
96. I’m his mentor’s salt march that inspired his patriotism: Dandi March
97. I’m his eye-opening exposure to pan-Indian politics: Attending INC sessions
98. I’m his formative influence – providing primary education: Headmaster father
99. I’m his national role model – leading the freedom struggle: Mahatma Gandhi
Conclusion
Kamarajar was a multi-faceted leader whose eventful life and varied experiences shaped his political journey. Solving these cryptic riddles provides glimpses into his humble roots, principled leadership, political shrewdness, governance achievements, selfless sacrifice and lasting legacy. His life story serves both as an inspiration and a guide for good governance even today. By unraveling these puzzles, we deepen our understanding of the forces and values that motivated this dedicated son of Tamil Nadu and great son of India.
