Karpoori Thakur: A Champion of the Downtrodden
Early Life and Activism:
- Born: January 24, 1924, in Pitaunjhia village, Samastipur district, Bihar
- Belonged to the Nai (barber) community
- Influenced by Mahatma Gandhi and Satyanarayan Sinha
- Joined the All India Students Federation as a young man
- Active participant in the Quit India Movement, imprisoned for 26 months
- Completed his law degree after independence
Political Career:
- Entered politics through the Socialist Party
- Known for his fiery speeches and advocacy for the underprivileged
- Championed land reforms, minimum wages, and social justice
- Played a key role in merging the Socialist Party and Bhartiya Kranti Dal into the Janata Party
- Served as Bihar’s Chief Minister twice:
- 1970-71
- 1977-79
- Popularly known as “Jan Nayak” (People’s Hero) due to his dedication to the common people
Key Achievements:
- Introduced the “Karpoori Thakur Minimum Wages Act” to guarantee fair wages for agricultural workers
- Fought against corruption and championed a life of simplicity for politicians
- Strong advocate for prohibition in Bihar, although it wasn’t implemented during his tenure
- Led the first non-Congress government in Bihar after independence
Legacy:
- Remembered as a champion of the underprivileged and a symbol of resistance against injustice
- His life and work continue to inspire social activists and politicians in India
- Recently awarded the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honor, on January 23, 2024
Additional Information:
- You can find more detailed information about Karpoori Thakur on his Wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karpoori_Thakur
- Several books and documentaries explore his life and work, such as “Karpoori Thakur: A Biography” by Bimal Prasad and “Jan Nayak Karpoori Thakur: Ek Jeevan Gatha” by Upendra Nath Rai
I hope this information is helpful! Please let me know if you have any other questions.