According to a post by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, January 23, socialist leader and former chief minister of Bihar, Karpoori Thakur, has been awarded the Bharat Ratna, the nation’s highest civilian honour.
“I am delighted that the Government of India has decided to confer the Bharat Ratna on the beacon of social justice, the great Jan Nayak Karpoori Thakur Ji and that too at a time when we are marking his birth centenary,” PM Modi wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
“[Karpoori Thakur’s] unwavering commitment to uplift the downtrodden and his visionary leadership have left an indelible mark on India’s socio-political fabric. This award not only honours his remarkable contributions but also inspires us to continue his mission of creating a more just and equitable society,” PM Modi said.
“This is a good decision by the Central Government…We have always demanded Bharat Ratna for the late Karpoori Thakur. That long-pending demand is fulfilled today,” Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar tweeted in Hindi.
In addition to serving as Bihar’s chief minister twice, Thakur was reputed for supporting the interests of the underprivileged. He died in February of 1988.
A independence warrior from a small village in the Samstipur area of Bihar, Thakur had been imprisoned in 1924 for his involvement in the Quit India Movement against the British.
Thakur was first elected to the legislature in 1952, and he would go on a winning streak in state elections until 1985. Warmly referred to as “Jan Nayak,” he led Bihar as chief minister twice: first, with the Samyuktha Socialist Party in 1970, and then, with the Janata Party, in 1977, according to an article published.
According to reports, Thakur strengthened the Panchayati Raj system, waived school fees, and promoted the Hindi language while serving as chief minister.
According to the article, during his administration, a quota of 12 percent was allocated to the Other Backward Classes (OBC) community, 8 percent to each of the Economically Backward Classes from the OBCs and higher castes, and 3 percent to women.
According to reports, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), and Janata Dal United (JD(U) have always hastened to claim Thakur’s legacy.
“The BJP was verbally abusing him [Karpoori Thakur] while he was alive and did not remember him for 9 years. Our party and leader Lalu Yadav were demanding Bharat Ratna for him continuously. Now that elections are near, they are remembering Karpoori Thakur and awarded him the Bharat Ratna. They are remembering him for votes,” RJD leader Mrityunjay Tiwari was quoted as saying by news agency.
