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.