How former Bihar CM Karpoori Thakur, now awarded Bharat Ratna, is still relevant

He was often referred to as Jan Nayak. And now, one could even call him Bharat Ratna. On Tuesday (23 January), former chief minister of Bihar Karpoori Thakur was awarded the Bharat Ratna posthumously, two days before his 100th birth anniversary.

Shortly after the Rashtrapati Bhavan made the announcement of conferring upon Thakur India’s highest civilian honour, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the decision, saying he was “delighted”.

“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. This prestigious recognition is a testament to his enduring efforts as a champion for the marginalised and a stalwart of equality and empowerment,” tweeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar called the Bharat Ratna to Thakur a right decision. This will create a positive vibe among Dalits, deprived and neglected sections of society. We have been demanding this for a long time,” Kumar said.”

As we hail this honour for the two-time chief minister, let’s take a closer look at who was Karpoori Thakur and his legacy.

Life and career of Karpoori Thakur

Karpoori Thakur was born in a village known as Pitaunjhia, now referred to as Karpoori Gram in the Samastipur district of Bihar. He was a freedom fighter and had been imprisoned for his participation in the Quit India Movement against the British in 1942.

Thakur was born into the small Nai (barber) community that is listed as an Extremely Backward Class (EBC) among the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in the state.

In 1952, he made his electoral debut when he became a legislator — and continued to be one until 1988 when he died. The only exception to this was in 1977 when he became an MP and when he lost an Assembly election in 1984, amid the sympathy wave for Congress after Indira Gandhi’s assassination.

His career in politics saw him being education minister of Bihar from 5 March 1967 to 28 January 1968. Following this, Thakur, who was also popularly referred to as Jan Nayak, became the chief minister in December 1970 with the Samyukta Socialist Party, but his government fell after six months. However, in June 1977 he returned to the chief minister’s chair only to lose it in about two years.

Karpoori Thakur (standing) taking oath as an opposition leader of Bihar on 1 April 1985. Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons

It is said that Thakur lived a simple life. In fact, according to an Indian Express report when he first became an MLA in 1952, he was selected for an official delegation to Austria. However, he didn’t own a coat and hence, borrowed a torn one from his friend. When Josip Tito, the president of Yugoslavia, noticed the torn coat, he gifted Thakur a new one.

It is also reported that while Thakur was alive, he didn’t allow his sons to join politics, as he was anti-dynasty. It was only after his demise in 1988 that his son, Ram Nath Thakur was given a ticket, first by Lalu Prasad, and then by Nitish Kumar.

Currently, Ram Nath is a Rajya Sabha MP of the Janata Dal (United).

Thakur’s policies and legacy

Despite being in power for short periods, Thakur enacted and implemented policies with lasting effects. It is his policies and thinking that led to the rise of backward politics in Bihar. His work laid the foundation for the empowerment of backward classes, which later influenced the formation of regional parties like the Janata Dal (United) and the Rashtriya Janata Dal.

In 1970, Thakur enforced total prohibition of alcohol in Bihar. In fact, Nitish Kumar, who considers Thakur as his mentor also reinforced prohibition in the state in 2015.

Thakur also played a pivotal role in the fight against social discrimination and inequality, providing representation and opportunities to the poor, oppressed, exploited, and deprived sections of the country.

Thakur removed English as a compulsory subject for the matriculation examinations. He was also responsible for establishing several schools and colleges in Bihar, in an attempt to make education accessible to all, especially the marginalised and backward.

Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar considers Karpoori Thakur as one of his mentors and influences in politics. He has also implemented schemes that bear the hallmarks of Thakur’s socialist politics. File image/PTI

Perhaps one of his most important decision was that of implementing a reservation system that continues to impact Bihar as well as the country. In June 1970, the Bihar government appointed the Mungeri Lal Commission, which in its report of February 1976 named 128 “backward” communities, 94 of which were identified as “most backward”.

Thakur’s Janata Party government implemented the recommendations of the Commission after he devised the formula of providing 26 per cent reservation, of which OBCs got a 12 per cent share, the economically backward classes among the OBCs got eight per cent, women got three per cent, and the poor from the “upper castes” got three per cent.

As former deputy chief minister of Bihar, Sushil Kumar Modi told Indian Express, “Reservation for OBCs with a separate provision for EBC reservation was Karpoori Thakur’s masterstroke and his lasting legacy.”

The Department of Posts had issued a postal stamp commemorating Thakur. Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons

Thakur also was instrumental in strengthening the Panchayati Raj system by holding regular elections.

His policies, thinking inspired and influences the leaders of Bihar today, especially Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad Yadav. In fact, a few schemes rolled out by now Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also reflect Thakur’s politics — be it the waiving of fees for school girls until their post-graduation or providing a 50 per cent reservation to women in panchayats.

As PM Modi wrote in a touching tribute to Thakur for News18, “As a person belonging to the backward classes myself, I have much to thank Jan Nayak Karpoori Thakur Ji for. Unfortunately, we lost Karpoori Ji at a relatively young age of 64. We lost him when we needed him the most. Yet, he lives on in the hearts and minds of crores of people due to his work. He was a true Jan Nayak!”

With inputs from agencies

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