New Delhi/UNI: Former Bihar Chief Minister and socialist leader Karpoori Thakur will be honoured with the country's highest civilian award, Bharat Ratna, posthumously, the President's Secretariat said in a press release on Tuesday.

The announcement has been made a day ahead of the veteran leader's 100th birth anniversary.

Karpoori Thakur was born in the Samastipur district of Bihar and was popularly known as Jan Nayak (the people’s leader).

Thakur served as a minister and as Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar before becoming the Chief Minister of Bihar from Dec 12, 1970-June 2, 1971, and from June 24, 1977-April 21, 1979.

In the early days after independence, Thakur served as a teacher in the middle school of his village. He became a member of the Bihar Assembly in 1952.

The veteran leader was a strong advocate of socialist ideology. He was involved with the Praja Socialist Party and the Samyukta Socialist Party, as well as with the Janata Party and the Bharatiya Lok Dal.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed delight over conferring Bharat Ratna on the former Bihar Chief Minister, saying that the recognition is a testament to the socialist leader's enduring efforts as a champion for the marginalised and a stalwart of equality and empowerment.

"His unwavering commitment to uplift the downtrodden and his visionary leadership have left an indelible mark on India's socio-political fabric. This award not only honours his remarkable contributions but also inspires us to continue his mission of creating a more just and equitable society," Modi wrote on X.

As a student activist, Karpoori Thakur left his graduate college to join the Quit India Movement and spent 26 months in prison while participating in the Indian independence movement.