Bharat Ratna

• The President has recently announced that the late socialist leader, Karpoori Thakur, will be awarded the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award.

ABOUT KARPOORI THAKUR (JANUARY 24, 1924-FEBRUARY 17, 1988)

• Born on 24^th January, 1924 in Samastipur, Bihar; he was the son of a marginal farmer from the Nai (barber) community.
• Named Jannayak, or People’s Leader, Thakur was a freedom fighter, incarcerated during the Quit India movement in 1942, and has been seen as the architect of much of the social justice plank in Indian politics.
• The socialist icon went on to serve twice as Chief Minister of Bihar —
  • between December 1970 and June 1971 as part of the Bharatiya Kranti Dal and
  • between December 1977 and April 1979 from the Janata Party.
• Implemented the ‘Karpoori Thakur Formula’ in June 1970, providing 26% reservation, including 12% for OBCs, 8% for economically backward OBCs, 3% for women, and 3% for economically disadvantaged individuals from upper castes.
• He was part of the anti-Emergency movement, along with another great socialist leader, Jayaprakash Narayan.

ABOUT BHARAT RATNA

• ‘Bharat Ratna’, the highest civilian Award of the country, was instituted in the year 1954.
• Any person without distinction of race, occupation, position or sex is eligible for these awards.
• It is awarded in recognition of exceptional service/performance of the highest order in any field of human endeavour.
• The recommendations for Bharat Ratna are made by the Prime Minister himself to the President.
• No formal recommendations for this are necessary.
• The number of annual awards is restricted to a maximum of three in a particular year.
• On conferment of the award, the recipient receives a Sanad (certificate) signed by the President and a medallion.
• The Award does not carry any monetary grant.