Former Bihar chief minister Karpoori Thakur will be awarded Bharat Ratna posthumously, the Rashtrapati Bhavan announced on Tuesday.
Popularly known as ‘Jan Nayak’, Thakur was a prominent socialist leader known for his work towards the welfare of backward communities.
Born in Bihar’s Samastipur on January 24, 1924, he served as the state’s chief minister twice – from December 1970 to June 1971 and from December 1977 to April 1979.
Delighted by the announcement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed Thakur as a “beacon of social justice”.
In a social media post on X’, Modi said that the award is a testament to his efforts as a champion for the marginalised and a stalwart of equality.
“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 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…” Modi said.
“His unwavering commitment to uplift the downtrodden and his visionary leadership have left an indelible mark on India’s socio-political fabric. This award not only honours his remarkable contributions but also inspires us to continue his mission of creating a more just and equitable society,” Modi further added.
Thakur was also a votary of Hindi language, and as the education minister of Bihar, he removed English as the compulsory subject for the matriculation curriculum.
Before him, Bharat Ratna was awarded to Bharatiya Jana Sangh ideologue Nanaji Deshmukh, eminent Assamese poet Bhupen Hazarika and former president Pranab Mukherjee in 2019.