Back in December 2025, YouTuber Mukthar Ahmed, said to be close to the Deputy CM of Tamil Nadu, DMK scion Udhayanidhi Stalin, had made a series of incendiary remarks targeting former Chief Minister K Kamaraj, widely revered as the “Kalvi Thanthai” (Father of Education).
Mukhtar’s statements, branding Kamaraj as a “caste leader,” alleging corruption in dam construction, and claiming he worked only for his own community, sparked massive backlash across districts, particularly in southern Tamil Nadu and the Cauvery delta belt.
In a video posted in December 2025, in an interaction with field coordinator of Tamil Nadu Toddy Movement, S Nallasamy, Mukhtar Ahmed made the following allegations:
- Kamaraj was not a universal leader, but merely a caste-leader
- The dams constructed during Kamaraj’s tenure are “leaking”
- Kamaraj indulged in commission-based corruption
- His legacy is deliberately mythologised to protect vote-bank politics
These remarks were made while accusing political parties of selectively shielding Kamaraj from criticism while freely attacking leaders like EVR, Anna, Karunanidhi, MGR, and Jayalalithaa.
Mukhtar’s claims were immediately countered by historians, political observers, and citizens who pointed out a basic factual problem – Kamaraj’s public life was among the most intensely scrutinised in post-Independence India.
From the petrol bills of his official car to his personal finances, Kamaraj was subjected to audits and political attacks even during his lifetime. No credible corruption charge ever stood.
More importantly, many of the dams Mukhtar casually dismissed, built in an era with limited technology, continue to serve Tamil Nadu’s agricultural backbone decades later, despite repeated floods and climate stress.
Following the comments made in the YouTube video, outrage expolded across the state and it was not confined to social media.
In Mayiladuthurai, Nadar community organisations staged a large protest on 7 December 2025, marching through major roads and submitting formal complaints at the police station and the DSP’s office. Protesters demanded immediate criminal action against Mukhtar Ahmed, FIR under IPC and IT Act provisions, removal of the defamatory video, and permanent blocking of his YouTube channel. Community leaders warned that such provocations threaten social harmony and could escalate if ignored.
However, a month later, the video still remains.
Kamaraj’s leadership went far beyond party or caste. He expanded free education and school infrastructure across rural Tamil Nadu, implemented mid-day meals before it became political currency, brought in top engineers to execute dam and irrigation projects with scientific planning, and lived an austere life that even political opponents acknowledged.
Had Kamaraj wanted to loot like today’s politicians, he could have. But he didn’t and that is why he still stands as a tall figure in TN politics.
Mukthar Ahmed, An Abusive Misogynist Who Objectifies Women Actors
Mukthar Ahmed, creates content that objectify and demean women. In one video, Mukthar shamelessly used a glamorous image of Kasthuri Shankar in his video thumbnail, accompanied by a caption that callously labeled her as a “pros*itute.”
In another episode, he along with Dravidian ideologue Sex Doctor Kantharaj objectify cine actresses gossiping about their personal lives.
How DMK Derogated Kamaraj
The DMK even made fun of his skin colour with nasty cartoons. Even recently, DMK MP Trichy Siva made an outrageous claim that Kamaraj would not sleep without air conditioning. He stated that Karunanidhi himself told him this, and that it inspired the DMK government to install air conditioning in all guest house in Tamil Nadu.
On 8 February 1957, in Murasoli magazine, Karunanidhi, serving as the chief editor at the time, published a controversial cartoon that depicted a derogatory portrayal. The cartoon featured a black woman undergoing makeup to resemble Kamaraj, with another figure representing Prime Minister Nehru as the makeup artist. The caption accompanying the cartoon read, “The true Tamilian is getting ready for vote hunting.” This portrayal aimed to ridicule Kamaraj for his deliberate decision not to marry. Karunanidhi ridiculed him by likening him to a woman dressed in a saree and wearing a nose pin. This has been widely condemned as one of the most disgraceful instances of mockery in political history, stemming from jealousy over Kamaraj’s effective governance.
In the same Murasoli magazine dated 8 November 1957, Karunanidhi portrayed Kamaraj wearing a saree in a cartoon. In this one cartoon depicted Kamaraj seeking favors by massaging the legs of EV Ramasamy. In a subsequent cartoon, Karunanidhi depicted Kamaraj forcefully driving away EV Ramasamy, with a caption titled “True Tamilans, True treachery.” Once again, he created a cartoon mocking Kamaraj by portraying him as a woman.
In the 1956 Pongal Malar edition of Murasoli, Karunanidhi featured a cartoon series titled ‘Kamarajar Puranam’ where he portrayed Kamaraj as prostrating before a Brahmin. This one was titled “A Brahmin Slave.”
Additionally, another cartoon depicted Kamaraj as a porter carrying the agendas of Prime Minister Nehru titled “Mere worker for North Indians“, which not only insulted both leaders but also demeaned the profession of the downtrodden who earn their livelihood through hard labor. Karunanidhi promoted a misleading narrative among the impoverished population of Tamil Nadu, portraying himself as a constructive force. However, in truth, Kamaraj held significant political sway as a kingmaker. His renowned “K plan” garnered praise, with even Prime Minister Nehru seeking counsel from Kamaraj. Following Nehru’s passing, Kamaraj played a pivotal role in determining who would assume the prime ministerial position in Delhi.
In 1970, amidst the Murasoli controversy surrounding the Pongal Malar, Karunanidhi published a cartoon that not only disrespected Kamaraj but also offended Hindu sentiments. In the cartoon, Kamaraj was depicted as a semi-clothed woman resembling a Hindu goddess, and Kakkan, another esteemed leader of the Congress known for his neutrality, was portrayed as a male Hindu deity. This portrayal was titled “A handmade dirty Pillayar,” adding insult to injury for many Hindus. Kakkan, hailing from a Scheduled Caste background, rose to the position of Home Minister. Despite his stature, even in his passing, he relied on a government hospital for his medical care. Surprisingly, he lacked financial resources at the time of his demise. The DMK, which boasts of advocating for social justice, ironically subjected such a man to derogatory caricatures, despite his significant contribution to the state.
Attempts to reduce him to caste caricatures or to casually accuse him of corruption have not only failed but have united communities across political lines in condemnation.
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