26-12-2016: Karpoori Thakur Personality Series: Bihar A commemorative postage stamp

Karpoori Thakur was born in Samastipur District of Bihar. He was popularly known as Jan Nayak(“the people’s leader”). As a student activist, he left his graduate college to join the Quit India Movement and spent 26 months in prison while participating in the Indian independence movement. In the early days after Independence, shri Thakur served as a Teacher in the Middle School of his village. He was interested and involved in various public causes, particularly those relating to upliftment and social equality of weaker sections of the society. He became a member of the Bihar Vidhan Sabha in 1952. He was arrested for leading P & T employees during the general strike of the Central Government employees in 1960. In 1970, he undertook a fast unto death for 28 days to promote the cause of Telco labourers. Shri Thakur served as a minister and as Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar, before becoming the Chief Minister of Bihar in 1970.