Former Bihar Chief Minister Karpoori Thakur will be posthumously awarded India’s highest civilian award, Bharat Ratna. The socialist icon is well-known for his efforts to uplift the backward classes in Bihar.

Politically, the announcement came as yet another masterstroke of Narendra Modi’s Government, countering the Opposition Bloc INDIA’s charge that the BJP Government is anti-OBC. To further the Congress agenda, a couple of non-BJP ruled States, including Bihar, had also announced plans for a caste census.

“The President (Draupadi Murmu) has been pleased to award Bharat Ratna to Karpoori Thakur (posthumously),” a one-line release from Rashtrapati Bhavan said.

The announcement of the Bharat Ratna award for him comes ahead of his 100th birth anniversary on January 24. Karpoori Thakur was a pioneer in providing the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) with the benefit of reservation, implementing the recommendations of the Mungeri Lal Commission during his tenure as Bihar CM from 1977 to 1979.

“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, especially 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,” the Prime Minister said in a statement on social media. 

“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 said.

Senior JD(U) leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressed his delight at the award bestowed on the greatest social reformer and politician of the State and country. “The Centre’s decision has to be appreciated, as this demand I had been making for several years,” Nitish said in a statement.

Coming ahead of the general election, it is seen as a move to please the Chief Minister of a State that has 40 parliamentary seats and has an on-again-off-again relationship with the BJP.

Nitish is now with the Congress-led INDIA Bloc, where he is playing truant on whether to continue with the bloc, which ideally was his own brainchild.

Nitish severed ties with the BJP and allied with his friend-turned-foe-turned-friend Lalu Prasad and the Congress to lead a Grand Alliance Government in Bihar. He now seems to be restless even in the present arrangement, as his party members allege that the entire Bloc has been hijacked by the Congress.

When the idea was conceived of a Congress-led Opposition Bloc, Nitish anticipated that he would be the Prime Ministerial candidate to counter Modi.

Several political leaders, including Cabinet Ministers Rajnath Singh and Nitin Gadkari, appreciated the Government’s efforts to award one of the tallest leaders of the country with the Bharat Ratna.

Born in the Samastipur district of Bihar, Karpoori Thakur became part of India’s freedom struggle from a young age. During the Quit India Movement, he was jailed with other freedom fighters but kept struggling to push the Britishers out of the country.

Following his initial triumph in 1952, he consistently emerged victorious in every subsequent election due to his widespread appeal arising from his modest lifestyle and unwavering commitment to promoting social justice.

Thakur actively advocated for the rights of marginalised communities, including Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and other Backward Classes. His commitment to social justice and inclusive development was a key aspect of his political ideology.”