Born on January 5, 1902 in a farming family in Pudu Ramachandrapuram village of Srivilliputhur Taluk . Studied school upto 4th standard, then approached many scholars and learned through them. He is very much interested in musical and religious. He joined the Congress Mahasabha in 1922. He went to jail during the civil disobedience movement in 1930, individual satyagraha in 1940 and non-cooperation movement in 1942.
Freedom fighter. At the same time, when the Freedom Struggle Martyr Award was given, he refused to accept that there was no price for sacrifice and he should not get a pension also. Contested the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections thrice and won overwhelmingly. He was a member of the Legislative Assembly from 1952 to 1967 and a member of the Legislative Council from 1968 to 1973. He also rose to become the President of the Tamil Nadu Congress.
He has no own vehicle. He used to travel by bus with people. The important message of his life is the way that people involved in public life should spend public money. Kamaraj lauded Mahatma Gandhi as the successor of Gandhiji in spending frugally.
He donated his own land to the poor and downtrodden for Vinoba Bhave’s Bhumi Dhan policy. He also held many important positions in cooperative organizations.