Karpoori Thakur
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A brief profile
TNN, January 24, 2024: The Times of India
From: TNN, January 24, 2024: The Times of India
From: TNN, January 24, 2024: The Times of India
Karpoori Thakur, quota politics pioneer, awarded Bharat Ratna
Overture To EBCs To Counter Caste Census Demand?
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
New Delhi : Modi government has conferred Bharat Ratna, the country’s highest civilian decoration, on socialist icon Karpoori Thakur who, as chief minister of Bihar, was the first to implement an OBC quota with a sub-quota for MBCs in the north in 1978.
Thakur’s 26% package, that also had quotas for women and economically weaker sections, and which provoked violent protests, was implemented a year before the constitution of Mandal Commission.
If Modi government’s decision, which came a day ahead of Thakur’s birth centenary, marked the recognition of a leader who played a major role in organising the socially backward and the poor and was known for exemplary probity, it was also seen by many as an overture to the most/extremely backward castes in Bihar at a time when the opposition has raised the issue of ‘caste census’ to forge a coalition of OBCs. Belonging to the extremely backward Nai (barber) caste, ‘Jan Nayak’ Thakur was born into a poor family in north Bihar’s Samastipur district. He fought off the odds and obscene social prejudices to become an agent of change in the state which was synonymous with upper caste hegemony. An entire cast of OBC biggies — from Lalu Prasad to Bihar CM Nitish Kumar — owe their current prominence to him and have been competing for his legacy.
A staunch socialist, Thakur abolished English as a compulsory subject, liberating thousands of students from poor and rural backgrounds from the onerous burden of competing with their peers, rich and from the cities, who had the resources to learn the language. He also waived land rent on unremunerative holdings, which came as a huge relief to small and marginalised farmers. The accomplishments look even more impressive given the handicap that he was born into. His father, Gokul Thakur, worked as a barber in their village. The income from the traditional vocation and the tiny land holding was inadequate, but could not keep young Kar poori from developing an interest in politics.
He was drawn into the Independence struggle at a very early age and became active with the socialist wing of Congress, acquiring a prominence big enough to get an assembly ticket for Tajpur constituency in Samastipur district in 1952. He left Congress to join Socialist Party and remained with its different versions until his death in 1988 when he was only 64.
Thakur, with a legendary reputation for honesty, had appeal among all sections until 1978 when the upper castes, small in number but disproportionately in fluential, reacted to his quota policy with violence and vulgar vilification. Even the dominant OBCs were not happy with the fact that 12% of the 20% quota had been earmarked for the MBCs: a resentment that would find expression in the “kapati Thakur” slur used by one of the backward stalwarts who has profited by parading himself as Thakur’s legatee.
Yet, such was was his stature and commitment that Thakur remained an influential figure not just in Bihar but also in opposition politics. He refused to be cowed down and when many candidates of his party, Lok Dal, narrowly lost to Con gress candidates in the 1985 assembly polls in circumstances found to be suspicious, he responded by calling upon OBCs, Dalits and the poor to arm themselves.
