Karpoori Thakur Profile: Karpoori Thakur, also known as the “Jan Nayak” or individuals’s hero of Bihar politics, has been posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna, the nation’s highest civilian honour. The announcement by the Centre, a day forward of Thakur’s one hundredth beginning anniversary, has evoked emotional responses from political leaders, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressing their sentiments.
Karpoori Thakur, the primary non-Congress Chief Minister of Bihar, served within the prime job from December 1970 to June 1971 and later from June 1977 to April 1979. His tenure witnessed the implementation of the Mungerilal Fee, which launched reservations for the economically deprived and backward sections of society.
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Karpoori Thakur Profile: From Collaborating In Stop India Motion To Difficult Congress Hegemony
Thakur, born in 1924 in a village in Samastipur district, performed a pivotal function in Bihar politics regardless of his comparatively short-lived tenures as Chief Minister. His legacy cuts throughout celebration traces, with events of assorted ideologies looking for to say his political heritage.
Describing Thakur’s journey, veteran socialist chief and RJD nationwide vice-president Shivanand Tiwary stated, “His time period in energy might not have lasted for lengthy. However, in these days, the rise to the best seat of energy was no imply feat for an individual coming from a poor household and the extraordinarily backward and numerically small caste Nai (barber)”, as per information company PTI.
Thakur started his political profession as a younger pupil throughout the Stop India motion, enduring a number of months in jail. Regardless of preliminary involvement in educating, he emerged victorious within the 1952 state meeting election from the Tajpur constituency as a candidate of the Socialist Social gathering, difficult the Congress hegemony.
Tiwary highlighted Thakur’s affiliation with leaders like Jayaprakash Narayan and Ram Manohar Lohia, noting, “His management qualities had been such that regardless of being from a so-called decrease caste, he was revered by these hailing from the higher castes.”
Karpoori Thakur: Bihar’s First Non-Congress Chief Minister
The socialist chief rose to prominence in 1967 when Bihar noticed its first non-Congress authorities. Thakur, serving as Deputy Chief Minister, is remembered for abolishing English as a obligatory topic in faculties, a transfer acknowledged as daring and progressive.
Regardless of his transient tenures as Chief Minister, Thakur’s affect was substantial. As per PTI, Tiwary emphasised, “It’s true that Thakur by no means loved a full five-year time period in energy. The entire length of his two tenures as Chief Minister would come to lower than three years. However his achievements have been far greater than the statistical determine suggests.”
Throughout Thakur’s management, the Mungerilal Fee’s suggestions had been applied, introducing quotas for backward courses. The Most Backward Lessons, now generally known as ‘ati-pichhda,’ had been acknowledged as a definite class. Tiwary identified, “The ban on alcohol, which the present Chief Minister counts as certainly one of his main achievements, was first experimented with in Bihar throughout Karpoori Thakur’s rule.”
Thakur, who handed away in 1988, is remembered as a frontrunner untouched by venality and nepotism. His son, Ram Nath Thakur, is a Rajya Sabha MP from JD(U). Regardless of political variations, each Nitish Kumar and RJD president Lalu Prasad regard Thakur as their mentor.
Declare For Karpoori Thakur’s Legacy
With the current enhance in quotas for disadvantaged castes in Bihar, each JD(U) and RJD goal to capitalise on Thakur’s legacy. Nevertheless, the BJP, with the Centre bestowing the Bharat Ratna, is prone to assert itself because the true champion of backward courses.
Expressing gratitude for the Bharat Ratna, Nitish Kumar, who considers Thakur his mentor, said, “It took Narendra Modi, a son of an ati-pichhda, to provide Bharat Ratna to Karpoori Thakur.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed delight over the announcement as he posted on X, “I’m delighted that the Authorities of India has determined to confer the Bharat Ratna on the beacon of social justice, the good Jan Nayak Karpoori Thakur Ji and that too at a time after we are marking his beginning centenary. This prestigious recognition is a testomony to his enduring efforts as a champion for the marginalized and a stalwart of equality and empowerment.”
“His unwavering dedication to uplift the downtrodden and his visionary management have left an indelible mark on India’s socio-political cloth. This award not solely honours his exceptional contributions but in addition conjures up us to proceed his mission of making a extra simply and equitable society,” he added.
I’m delighted that the Authorities of India has determined to confer the Bharat Ratna on the beacon of social justice, the good Jan Nayak Karpoori Thakur Ji and that too at a time after we are marking his beginning centenary. This prestigious recognition is a testomony to his enduring… pic.twitter.com/9fSJrZJPSP
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 23, 2024
It’s noteworthy that the demand for bestowing Bharat Ratna on Karpoori Thakur had been a long-standing one. Earlier, JD(U) chief Keshi Tyagi had not solely known as for conferring Bharat Ratna however had additionally urged for the institution of a college in his identify.