Posthumous Bharat Ratna Awarded to Karpoori Thakur, Bihar’s “Jan Nayak”

New Delhi: In a momentous occasion, the former Chief Minister of Bihar, Karpoori Thakur, was posthumously conferred with the Bharat Ratna, the nation’s highest civilian honour, by President Droupadi Murmu. The announcement comes 35 years after his passing on February 17, 1988.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his delight on Twitter, stating, “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.”

Known as “Jan Nayak” (People’s Leader) by many, Karpoori Thakur played a significant role in Bihar’s political landscape. He served as the Chief Minister of Bihar for two terms, from December 1970 to June 1971 and from December 1977 to April 1979.

Karpoori Thakur, a prominent socialist leader, dedicated his political career to championing the cause of the marginalized and working towards social justice and empowerment. Born on January 24, 1924, he actively participated in the Quit India Movement against British rule and was imprisoned for his efforts.

A remarkable aspect of his legacy is his pivotal role in introducing reservations for backward castes in government services in Bihar in 1978. This move set the stage for the eventual implementation of the Mandal Commission report in 1990, transforming the landscape of social and political representation.

Karpoori Thakur, who never lost an election in his career after winning for the first time in 1952, is remembered as a charismatic leader who tirelessly worked for the welfare of the backward castes. His contributions continue to shape Bihar’s socio-political narrative, and the Bharat Ratna recognizes his enduring impact on the nation.

The decision to award the Bharat Ratna to Karpoori Thakur fulfills a long-standing demand of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his Janata Dal United, marking a historic moment for the state’s first non-Congress Chief Minister.