Former Bihar CM Karpoori Thakur to be awarded Bharat Ratna posthumously

NEW DELHI: Karpoori Thakur, the former Chief Minister of Bihar and a front-line fighter of the downtrodden, will be awarded Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour, posthumously. Bharat Ratna was announced by President Draupadi Murmu on the occasion of Karpuri Thakoor's 100th birth anniversary. He is the first non-Congress Chief Minister of Bihar who served in the periods 1970-71 and 1977-79. When he became Chief Minister in 1978, he ensured 12 percent reservation for OBCs.

Karpuri Thakur was born to Gokul Thakur and Ramdulari Devi at Pitaunjhia in Bihar in British India in the Nai community. He entered politics through AISF. He left college to join the Quit India Movement and spent 26 months in prison for his involvement.

After independence, he became a teacher and then a public servant. In 1952, with the support of Jayaprakash Narayanan, he became a Socialist Party candidate in the Legislative Assembly from Tajpur constituency. He became deputy Chief Minister in 1967-68, Chief Minister from 22 December 1970 to 2 June 1971 and from 24 June 1977 to 21 April 1979. He introduced reforms like prohibition of liquor in Bihar and inclusion of English in matriculation syllabus.