Written by Aditya Anmol
On January 23, the village of Karpoorigram in Samastipur, Bihar, was filled with a sense of contentment and hope. After an insightful seminar on Jannayak Karpoori held at the college grounds with experts, professors, and his fellow companions as speakers, the air was filled with celebration and contemplation. As the day progressed, the news spread throughout the country: “Jannayak Karpoori Thakur awarded the Bharat Ratna on the eve of his birth centenary.”
The announcement of the Bharat Ratna for Karpoori Thakur became an occasion to remember his tireless efforts to challenge the entrenched feudal structures and political hegemony during his lifetime. The contemporary recognition of his political philosophy and conduct underscores the enduring impact of his ideals. However, amidst the jubilation surrounding the declaration of the Bharat Ratna and the centenary celebrations, the discourse shifted from reflecting on Karpoori’s struggles and achievements to the question of who had supported or opposed him during his lifetime. For the most part, the decision to confer the Bharat Ratna upon him went unquestioned, with both the recipient and the decision-makers receiving unanimous acclaim.
Amidst this euphoria, Ram Nath Thakur, son of Karpoori Thakur and my grandfather, received a call from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. As my grandfather expressed his heartfelt gratitude, PM Modi invited him to his residence. The PM’s invitation insisted on the presence of Ram Nath’s daughters and grandchildren.
I arrived at the gates of the Prime Minister’s residence on February 12, accompanied by my extended family.
The journey to the Prime Minister’s residence was not merely a physical one but a voyage into the heart of India’s leadership. The pristine house stood as a testament to the nation’s purity and belief in peace. The colours of the blossoming flowers danced in harmony with the fluttering Indian flag. Undaunted by the stature and power of the current occupant, a permanent resident – a majestic peacock – roamed carelessly on the SPG-controlled road and the manicured grass lawn.
As I ventured deeper into the sanctum, where figurines of Lord Buddha found solace beneath wise banyan trees, I felt a respite from the clamour of the outside world. Inside, I was greeted with a sumptuous feast that promised to nourish the body, tastebuds and soul. An array of local fruits mixed with the tantalising aromas of dhokla, kachori, pav bhaji, gulab jamun and much more, reflecting the diversity of India.
The room designated for our meeting was minimalist in its decoration but exuded elegance. Wooden carvings bore the tales of bygone eras. The room was devoid of hierarchy – every chair was the same and the PM sat among us. The egalitarian seating arrangement in the meeting reinforced the principle that every voice was valued and deserving of attention and nurtured collaboration.
We engaged in lively dialogue spurred by the Prime Minister’s approachability and attentiveness to detail. His surprising knowledge of our backgrounds, including our educational histories, demonstrated a level of preparation, curiosity, and understanding that further enhanced our sense of importance and inclusion.
In the discussion, the Prime Minister exuded confidence ahead of the no-confidence motion in the Bihar Assembly. Despite the political atmosphere, he did not forget to entertain children through jokes and distribute chocolates while talking to them in their languages. He acknowledged the challenges faced by political families in prioritising studies over power struggles and expressed appreciation for our dedication to education.
He expressed genuine interest in our perspectives and experiences. For example, he was curious about my experiences abroad as an Indian student.
The Prime Minister reminded us that India has a wealth of valuable ideas to share with the world, but sometimes we miss the chance to do so. He talked about Mahatma Gandhi, who changed how we think about politics. He reflected Gandhi’s belief in non-violence as a medium for transformative change. He lamented that despite its potential to serve as a beacon for hope and justice in an increasingly turbulent world, our attempts to share this transformative ideology have faltered since achieving independence.
The conversation then shifted towards the values of integrity and probity in public life, with the Prime Minister lamenting the decline in moral standards among politicians. He acknowledged Jannayak Karpoori Thakur’s unwavering commitment to serving others and the importance of leading by example. By mirroring Karpoori Thakur’s ideals, particularly in his egalitarian approach to seating, the Prime Minister underscored his commitment to dismantling birth-based inequalities.
Similarly, through my conversation, it is evident to me that the PM subscribes to the ethos of putting the individual at the centre of governance. For him, a citizen is not merely a number in the population registry of billions. During our meeting, he shared details of how eight Navy veterans were accorded justice in Qatar and brought back from the gallows to the arms of their families. This meticulous focus highlighted that for him, an Indian outside India is not merely one in tens of millions of persons of Indian origin with different passports; they are individuals representing Indian nationhood, aspirations, and Indianness.
As the discussions drew to a close, a palpable sense of optimism and unity lingered in the air, forming a bridge between the past and the present and illuminating the path toward a brighter future. There was a unanimous view that Karpoori Thakur transcends the confines of being merely a historical figure or a political leader. His is not merely the name of one great chief minister who brought free education and reservation but a symbol for the suppressed aspirations of the majority across the country. He offers hope in the face of daunting social, educational, and economic obstacles imposed by historical events.
PM Modi showed knowledge of Jannayak’s life philosophy and shared that “Karpoori ji parivar ko lekar nahi chalte the… par aapne (directed towards Ram Nath Thakur) apne poore parivar ko ek saath rakha (Karpoori Thakur would hardly find time for his family but it is good that you have been able to hold them together)”.
PM Modi asked me, “Tum to bahar rehte ho, batao Bharat ke bare me bahar kya view hai? Tumhe kaisa lagta hai? (You live outside India, tell me what is their opinion about India? What do you feel?”
I responded “From my experiences, people generally treat us with respect and think highly of us. Luckily, I have been in places and have met people where I feel respected and part of the group. Even in class, I am not hesitant about asking questions or speaking up. And when I do, I feel like people listen to what I have to say. But there are still areas where we need more people like us, more representation and inclusion. But, overall, the image is positive!”
On Ram Nath Thakur, my grandfather, extending a humble invite to the PM to visit Jannayak’s village, he responded by expressing gratitude and utmost respect for the village and said: “Mai zaroor aaunga aur Karpoori ji ki gaon ki paawan mitti ko apne sar pe lagaonga (I will surely visit Karpooriji’s village and apply its holy soil on my forehead)”.
The writer, great-grandson of Karpoori Thakur, is senior pricing strategy analyst at ServiceNow. He has a Master of Public Policy with Honors from the University of Chicago and a Bachelor of Arts in Quantitative Economics with Honors from New York University.
