Bhikhari Thakur Named in BJP MPs’ New Demand for Bharat Ratna in 2025
BJP MP Manoj Tiwari has formally request the Union Home Minister to posthumously award the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honor, to Bhikhari Thakur. He is famously known as the ‘Shakespeare of Bhojpuri’ and has contributed a lot to Bhojpuri literature, folk theatre, and social reformation.
The demand has gained support from all the other party’s as well unlike other instances where such demands for awards attract political controversy. Honouring Bhikhari Thakur would be a wide recognition to Bihar’s cultural richness and legacy of Bhojpuri literature and art. This demand is raised after the government awarded Bharat Ratna to Karpoori Thakur in 2024 posthumously. Let’s know more about this legendary Bhojpuri icon.
Table of Contents
About Bhikhari Thakur
Bhikhari Thakur was born in 1887 in the Saran district of Bihar. During his early years, he migrated to Calcutta (now Kolkata) in search of livelihood. He has experienced the pain of migration and the struggles of workers which is very well reflected in his works. He transformed rural theatre into a medium of awareness and social reform. He gained prominence as a icon of Bhojpuri folk, art and literature and got the nickname the “Shakespeare of Bhojpuri”. He was a self-taught artist and his learning came from observations and lived experience which added a sense of authenticity into his plays and works.
Works and Social Contributions
Let’s talk about the creative journey of Bhikhari Thakur now. He wrote 29 books, while his first work was named ‘Batohiya’. His plays were meant for entertainment but they addressed issues faced by the common man at the time.
He raised awareness about the given issues through his work :
- His work spotlighted the problems of child marriage and urged them into rethinking about the harmful tradition.
- He promoted equality, social justice and condemned caste discrimination.
- He highlighted the struggles of women in the rural society and voiced for gender equality.
- He highlighted the harmful impact of alcohol of families and communities.
- He also showed the pain of migration, displacement and separation.
His most celebrated plays are Bidesiya, Beti Bechwa, and Gabarghichor. In Bidesiya, he captured the pain of migration and the separation that families had to go through for survival. Beti Bechwa condemned the exploitation and sale of young brides. Gabarghichor questioned patriarchy and showed a story of maternal rights. All of these plays worked as a tool for social reform.
He used the Bhojpuri “Naach” folk theatre tradition, and combined it with music, dialogue, and humor to deliver powerful messages. This didn’t only entertain the audience but also educated them about the regressive practices.
Legacy of Bhikhari Thakur
The legacy of Bhikhari Thakur goes beyond his entertaining performances. He is the icon of social reform and Bhojpuri folk art. Even today, his plays are staged in villages and festivals are incomplete without his songs.
Also, sociology scholars go through his work to understand migration and role of folk art in social reform. He was able to achieve all this without any formal education or institutional support.
Conclusion
The story of Bhikhari Thakur is very inspiring to everyone. He blended story, humor and awareness into his plays and that’s how they turned into a power tool for social reform. From raising questions to celebrating their identity, the people experienced everything through his work. The demand for Bharat Ratna is very reasonable and important to honour the legacy of this extraordinary artist.
You can also read our coverage on a Bihar-origin scientist from Muzaffarpur who has invented a new drug for pneumonia here.
I’m a final-year engineering student with a deep interest in current affairs, politics, and international issues. Writing news is my part-time passion, where I focus on sharing credible and well-researched stories. Every article I publish is backed by verified sources and multiple levels of fact-checking to ensure accuracy and trustworthiness.
