News Excerpt:
Former Chief Minister of Bihar Karpoori Thakur was conferred the nation's highest honour, Bharat Ratna, posthumously by the President of India Droupadi Murmu.
Why Bharat Ratna to Karpoori Thakur?
- He served as the Chief Minister of Bihar for a short while, from December 1970 to June 1971 and from December 1977 to April 1979.
- He was hailed as "Jan Nayak" by many in Bihar as he was synonymous with social justice and empowerment and was a prominent socialist leader who left an indelible mark on the political landscape of Bihar.
Karpoori Thakur’s contribution to Indian Socio-Political History:
- Born into the Nai (barber) community in 1924, Karpoori Thakur's journey from a marginal farmer's son to a revered political figure was a testament to his dedication and service to the cause of the backward classes.
- Several key milestones marked his political career. He served as a minister and Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar before making history as the first non-Congress socialist Chief Minister of Bihar in 1970.
- His tenure as Chief Minister was notable for the total prohibition of alcohol in Bihar, reflecting his commitment to social reform.
- He was instrumental in establishing numerous schools and colleges, particularly in the underdeveloped regions of Bihar, ensuring that education became accessible to those who had been historically marginalized.
- His influence extended beyond his administrative roles. As a leader, he was deeply concerned with the upliftment of the Other Backward Classes (OBC).
- His efforts were pivotal in setting the stage for the implementation of the Mandal Commission recommendations, which advocated for reservation for OBCs in the 1990s.
- In 1977, the Mungeri Lal Commission report, submitted during Thakur's chief ministership, recommended reclassifying backward classes into extremely backward classes and backward classes, including weaker sections of Muslims.
- This report was implemented in 1978, marking a significant step towards recognizing and addressing the needs of the most deprived among the backward classes.
- Thakur's legacy also includes the removal of English as a compulsory subject at the matriculation level when he was the education minister of Bihar, a move aimed at ensuring that the educationally backward did not suffer and could pursue higher education.
- The impact of Karpoori Thakur's policies and initiatives can be seen in the rise of backward politics in Bihar.
- His work laid the foundation for empowering backward classes, which later influenced the formation of regional parties like the Janata Dal (United) or JD(U) and the Rashtriya Janata Dal.
BHARAT RATNA
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