- On January 23, the Indian government made a historic announcement: Karpoori Thakur, Bihar’s former chief minister, was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour.
- Thakur, widely known as ‘Jannayak’ or the people’s leader, leaves a legacy of long-term policy initiatives that continue to alter Bihar and the nation.
Karpoori Thakur’s Life and Career
- Thakur, born on January 24, 1924, in Bihar, rose to become the state’s leading backward caste leader despite being a minority nai (barber) caste member.
- Political Activism: He was an active participant in the freedom struggle, enduring imprisonment for his beliefs.
- Thakur was an MLA from 1952 till his death in 1988, with the exception of a brief period when he was elected MP in 1977.
- Respected Clean Image: Despite serving in public office for three decades, Thakur maintained a clean image and refrained from personal enrichment using government resources.
Landmark Policy Decisions
- Education Reform: To make education more accessible, English was removed as a compulsory subject for matriculation tests.
- Alcohol Prohibition: To address societal concerns caused by alcohol abuse, a prohibition on alcohol consumption was implemented.
- Engineer Job Opportunities: Introduced preferential treatment for unemployed engineers in government contracts, resulting in the hiring of around 8,000 engineers.
- Layered Reservation System: In June 1970, the ‘Karpoori Thakur Formula’ was implemented, offering 26% reservation, which included 12% for OBCs, 8% for economically backward OBCs, 3% for women, and 3% for economically disadvantaged higher caste persons.
Challenges and consequences
- Immediate criticism: Thakur’s reservation policy received strong criticism, particularly from upper castes, and his administration fell as a result of its execution.
- Despite his track record of good governance, his caste background has resulted in insulting slogans and polarisation in society.
- Political fallout: Some saw Thakur’s choice to prioritise the reservation policy as premature, in contrast to other leaders who solidified their power before implementing comparable programmes.
Karpoori Thakur’s Enduring Legacy
- Thakur’s legacy continues to have an impact on the current Mandal-Kamandal political environment.
- Recognition from Leaders: Nitish Kumar, Bihar’s chief minister, hails from a small EBC minority and has been strongly identified with Thakur’s legacy.
- Political Continuation: Thakur’s policies continue to influence the agendas of Bihar’s political parties, demonstrating the long-term impact of his commitment to social justice.
Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/socialist-icon-karpoori-thakur-awarded-bharat-ratna-a-day-before-centenary/article67769726.ece