Who was Karpoori Thakur? Biography, Wife, Children, Age, Family, Awards, Death Cause
Karpoori Thakur was a legendary figure in Indian politics, who rose from humble origins to become a two-time Chief Minister of Bihar and a champion of social justice. He was recently awarded the Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian honour in India, posthumously on his 100th birth anniversary. In this article, we will explore his life, achievements, and legacy, and find out why he is still revered as the Jan Nayak, or the People’s Leader.
Karpoori Thakur Wiki/Bio
| Name | Karpoori Thakur |
|---|---|
| Birth date | 24 January 1924 |
| Birth place | Pitaunjhia, Bihar and Orissa Province, British India |
| Death date | 17 February 1988 |
| Death place | Patna, Bihar, India |
| Cause of death | Heart attack |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Caste | Nai |
| Spouse | Phulmati Devi |
| Children | Ram Nath Thakur (son) and five daughters |
| Parents | Gokul Thakur (father) and Ramdulari Devi (mother) |
| Siblings | Ramsugat Thakur (brother) |
| Education | B.A. from Bihar Vidyapeeth |
| Occupation | Freedom fighter, teacher, politician |
| Political party | Socialist Party, Bharatiya Kranti Dal, Janata Party, Lok Dal |
| Awards | Bharat Ratna (2024, posthumous) |
| Nickname | Jan Nayak (People’s Leader) |
| Links | Wikipedia- @Karpoori_Thakur Homepage- Newsunzip |
Biography
Karpoori Thakur was born on January 24, 1924 (age: 64 years, as of 2023), in a small village called Pitaunjhia, now known as Karpoori Gram, in Samastipur district of Bihar. He belonged to the Nai community, which was considered as one of the most backward and oppressed sections of society. His father, Gokul Thakur, was a marginal farmer and a barber by profession, and his mother, Ramdulari Devi, was a homemaker. He had a brother, Ramsugat Thakur, who also became a politician later.
Karpoori had a difficult childhood, as he faced poverty, discrimination, and lack of opportunities. He had to walk several miles to attend school, and often worked as a farm labourer to support his family. He was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi and his ideals of truth, non-violence, and social service. He also came under the influence of Satyanarayan Sinha, a freedom fighter and a socialist leader, who mentored him and encouraged him to pursue higher education.
Thakur completed his matriculation from Samastipur High School in 1943, and then enrolled in the Bihar Vidyapeeth, a nationalist university founded by Rajendra Prasad, the first President of India. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1946, and then joined the Patna Law College to study law. However, he could not complete his law degree, as he was arrested for his participation in the Quit India Movement, a mass civil disobedience campaign launched by Gandhi against British rule in 1942.
Political Career and Achievements
Karpoori Thakur started his political career as a student activist, and joined the All India Students Federation, a left-wing student organisation affiliated to the Communist Party of India. He became the president of the Bihar unit of the federation, and led several agitations and protests against the colonial government and the feudal system. He was also associated with the Kisan Sabha, a peasant movement that fought for the rights of the farmers and the landless.
Karpoori was deeply influenced by the socialist ideology of Dr Ram Manohar Lohia, who advocated for the empowerment of the backward classes, the minorities, and the women. He joined the Socialist Party, which later became the Praja Socialist Party, and then the Samyukta Socialist Party. He contested and won the assembly elections from the Parbatta constituency in 1952, and became a member of the Bihar Legislative Assembly. He was re-elected from the same constituency in 1957 and 1962.
In 1967, Karpoori Thakur became the Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar, as part of the first non-Congress government in the state, led by Mahamaya Prasad Sinha. He also held the portfolios of Finance, Education, and Planning. He introduced several progressive measures, such as abolishing fees for students, eliminating the compulsory status of English in education, and granting reservation to the backward classes in government jobs and educational institutions.
In 1970, Karpoori became the Chief Minister of Bihar for the first time, after Mahamaya Prasad Sinha’s death. However, his tenure was short-lived, as he had to resign in 1971, due to internal conflicts within his party. He then joined the Bharatiya Lok Dal, a new political formation that emerged from the merger of various socialist parties. He was elected to the Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Indian Parliament, from the Rosera constituency in 1971.
In 1974, he played a prominent role in the Bihar Movement, a mass uprising led by Jayaprakash Narayan, a veteran socialist leader and a former close associate of Gandhi. The movement demanded the dissolution of the Congress government at the Centre and in the states, and the establishment of a “total revolution” to bring about political, social, and economic reforms. The movement was brutally suppressed by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, who declared a state of emergency in 1975, and arrested thousands of opposition leaders and activists, including Karpoori Thakur.
He was released from prison in 1977, after the emergency was lifted, and the Congress was defeated in the general elections. He became the Chief Minister of Bihar for the second time, as the leader of the Janata Party, a coalition of anti-Congress forces. He continued his pro-poor and pro-backward policies, and implemented a complete prohibition of alcohol in Bihar, a move that was widely appreciated by the women and the rural masses. He also faced several challenges, such as the Naxalite insurgency, the caste violence, and the factionalism within his party. He resigned in 1979, after losing the confidence of his allies.
Karpoori Thakur remained active in politics till his death, and was involved in the formation of the Janata Dal, a successor of the Janata Party, in 1988. He also mentored many young and emerging leaders, such as Nitish Kumar, Lalu Prasad Yadav, and Sharad Yadav, who later became prominent figures in Bihar and national politics. He passed away on February 17, 1988, due to a heart attack, at the age of 64. He left behind a legacy of honesty, simplicity, and commitment to social justice.
Height, Weight
- Height: 167 cm or 5’6″
- Weight: 86.1 kg or 190 lbs
- Eye color: Black
- Body measurements: Not available
- Skin color: Not available
Personal Life and Death
Karpoori Thakur was married to Phulmani Devi, who belonged to the same village and community as him. They had a son, Ram Nath Thakur, who also became a politician and a member of the Rajya Sabha. He was a simple and humble man, who lived a frugal and austere life. He had no property or wealth in his name, and left behind only a hut as his inheritance for his family. He was deeply religious, and followed the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia.
Karpoori Thakur died on February 17, 1988, at the age of 64, in Patna. He was suffering from cancer and kidney failure, and had been undergoing treatment at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Delhi. He was brought back to Patna by a special plane, and was given a state funeral at the Gandhi Maidan. Thousands of people, including his supporters, admirers, and political rivals, paid their last respects to him. He was cremated on the banks of the Ganges, and his ashes were immersed in the river.
He is remembered as one of the greatest leaders of Bihar and India, who dedicated his life to the service of the people. He is regarded as a symbol of honesty, integrity, and social justice. He is also considered as a pioneer of the backward class movement, and a mentor of many political leaders who emerged from Bihar. His birth anniversary, January 24, is celebrated as Karpoori Jayanti, and his death anniversary, February 17, is observed as Karpoori Smriti Diwas. Several institutions, awards, and schemes have been named after him, to honour his legacy and contribution.
Bharat Ratna and Legacy
The President’s office announced on Tuesday 23rd January 2023 that former Bihar chief minister Karpoori Thakur will be posthumously conferred with the Bharat Ratna, the country’s highest civilian honour, on his birth centenary. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi both praised the decision and paid tribute to Thakur, who was a prominent leader of the backward classes and a champion of social justice.
Modi spoke to Thakur’s son Ram Nath Thakur, who is a Rajya Sabha MP from Bihar, and congratulated him on his father’s nomination. Modi also wrote an article in which he hailed Thakur as a “Jan Nayak” (people’s leader) and a “symbol of simplicity and integrity”. Modi said Thakur belonged to one of the most backward sections of society, the Nai Samaj, and overcame numerous obstacles to achieve a lot and work for societal betterment.
Gandhi, on the other hand, welcomed the Bharat Ratna for Thakur, but also criticised the BJP-led government for allegedly hiding the results of the Social and Economic Caste Census conducted in 2011 and being indifferent towards a nationwide caste census. He said this was an attempt to weaken the movement for social justice and accused the government of doing “symbolic politics”. He said the country now needs “real justice” not “symbolic politics”.
Thakur, who was popularly known as Jan Nayak, served as chief minister of Bihar twice – from December 1970 to June 1971 and from December 1977 to April 1979. He was a key figure in the non-Congress government formed in Bihar after the 1967 elections, a period when socialist movements were gaining momentum across the country under the leadership of Dr Ram Manohar Lohia. Thakur’s political career was distinguished by his commitment to the welfare of the underprivileged. He abolished fees for students and eliminated the compulsory status of English in education, ensuring access to quality education for all. He also granted reservation to the marginalised and initiated complete prohibition of alcohol in Bihar in 1977.
Net Worth
| Year | Net Worth in INR |
|---|---|
| 1987 | Not available |
| 1986 | Not available |
| 1985 | Not available |
