The ‘Jan Nayak’ of Indian Politics and the former CM of Bihar Karpoori Thakur will be posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna 2024, announced Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday 23rd January. The announcement for the award came one day before his 100th birth anniversary.
Karpoori Thakur has served as Chief Minister of Bihar from December 1970 to June 1971 and from December 1977 to April 1979. He was the first non-Congress socialist Chief Minister of Bihar in 1970. Thakur’s political career also included a stint as the Deputy Chief Minister in Mahamaya Prasad Sinha’s government. Apart from politics Karpoori was also a teacher and a freedom fighter.
During his regime, he is known for banning alcohol in Bihar for the first time. Thakur has also earned a reputation as an advocate for the underprivileged. In 1978, he implemented a 26% reservation system in Bihar, specifically allocating government job opportunities to backward classes. Under this structured reservation system, the Other Backward Class secured a 12% quota, the Most Backward Class received 8%, women were granted 3%, and economically backward classes (EBWs) among the upper castes were allotted 3% reservation in state government jobs. His efforts earned him the title of a messiah for the backward class community.
Karpoori Thakur’s influence extended beyond his time in office, as he mentored prominent leaders in Bihar, including Lalu Prasad Yadav, Ram Vilas Paswan, Devendra Prasad Yadav, and Nitish Kumar.
While serving as education minister of Bihar, he removed English as the compulsory subject for the matriculation curriculum. A socialist leader, Thakur was close to Jaya Prakash Narayan. During the emergency in India (1975–77), he and other prominent leaders of Janata Party led the “Total Revolution” movement aimed at non-violent transformation of Indian society.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi acknowledged Thakur’s legacy, stating that the Bharat Ratna bestowed upon him is a recognition of his enduring efforts as a champion for the marginalized and a stalwart of equality and empowerment. While sharing the news on X PM wrote, “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. This prestigious recognition is a testament to his enduring efforts as a champion for the marginalized and a stalwart of equality and empowerment.”
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Modi for the Bharat Ratna Award, highlighting the positive impact it would have, especially among Dalits and the neglected sections of society. Bihar Deputy CM and Lalu Prasad Yadav’s son Tejashwi Yadav also expressed happiness and welcomed the announcement, emphasising the fulfilment of a long-standing demand. He noted the political implications and credited the decision to the caste census conducted by his party.
Welcoming the announcement of Bharat Ratna being conferred posthumously on Karpoori Thakur, however, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi criticized the central government for not releasing the Social and Economic Caste Census, emphasizing the need for substantive justice over symbolic politics. Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh appreciated the posthumous award but commented on what he perceived as the Modi government’s desperation and hypocrisy.
