Date – 24th January 2024
- Late Shri Kapoori Thakur, the two-time Chief Minister of Bihar and a socialist icon, is named to be awarded the Bharat Ratna award posthumously which is the highest civilian decoration in India.
Known as the Jan Nayak (People’s Hero), his electoral career began in the early 1950s. Since then, he became a force to reckon with in the legislative chambers, powerfully voicing the struggles of the working class, laborers, small farmers and youngsters. Education was a subject very close to his heart. Throughout his political career, he worked to improve education facilities for the poor.
He was a proponent of education in local languages so that people from small towns and villages can climb the ladder and attain success. As CM, he took many measures for the welfare of senior citizens as well.
Kapoori Thakur’s most significant contribution to India was his role in strengthening the affirmative action apparatus for the backward classes, with the hope that they would be given the representation and opportunities they deserved.
His decision was met with heavy opposition, but he did not bow to any pressure. Under his leadership, policies were implemented that laid the groundwork for a more inclusive society, where one’s birth did not determine one’s fate. He belonged to the most backward stratum of society but he worked for all the people. He had no trace of bitterness in him, which is what makes him truly great.
The Union government declared to award the Bharat Ratna to Late Shri Karpoori Thakur a day prior to his birth cemetery.
- India replaces Hong Kong as the 4th Largest Stock Market in the world. The global ranking is led by the US followed by China and Japan.
- Elon Musk, one of the world’s richest person and a public communicator, emphasized that India should be given a permanent seat in the security council of the United Nations. Africa collectively should also have a permanent seat. He also stressed that the United Nations bodies should be reformed but the problem is those with excess power do not want to give it up.
