Nitish Kumar’s Journey From ‘Munna’ To Bihar CM: Returned Dowry, Inter-Caste Marriage, & Wife’s Death

Nitish Kumar is a prominent Indian politician who has served as the Chief Minister of the Indian state of Bihar multiple times. He belongs to the Janata Dal (United) party. During his tenure as Chief Minister, he has been credited with bringing about significant developmental changes in Bihar. Nitish Kumar is popularly known as ‘Kingmaker’.

At present, Nitish Kumar is the Chief Minister of Bihar, during the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections, he turned out to be a major force. Before the recently concluded elections, most of the political analysts predicted that Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) would not win more than 4-5 seats in the state. However, when the results of the election came out on June 4, 2024, the Election Commission of India declared that NDA won 30 seats, while the opposition I.N.D.I.A. bloc secured just 9 seats. Nitish Kumar had a great victory.

You must be aware of his political achievements, but do you know anything about his personal life?

Here is all about Manju Kumari Sinha, the late wife of Bihar CM, Nitish Kumar

After the 2024 General Elections, there are reports that would be the next Deputy Prime Minister after forming the government with the BJP. In the coming weeks, the politician is getting alleged offers, the INDIA bloc is trying to draw Nitish.

Here we will be talking about his personal life, which brings forth a different side of the politician. His late wife, Manju Kumari Sinha, was his greatest strength. His love story ascertains that Nitish is a ‘loyal individual’ in his personal life.

According to a report in the Quint, the Chief Minister of Bihar, Nitish Kumar tied the knot with Manju Kumari Sinha on February 23, 1973. The marriage was fixed by their respective families, and it was an inter-caste marriage. Nitish is an OBC, and his wife, Manju is Kayastha. When Nitish Kumar took an interest in politics, his wife was working as a school teacher.

Nitish Kumar returned the dowry he received

Nitish Kumar has been against several societal customs like dowry and child marriage from an early age. During a wedding ritual, the tilak ceremony, Kumar’s parents accepted Rs. 22,000 from his in-laws, and when Nitish got to know about it, he got furious.

Nitish Kumar returned the money to his in-laws immediately and told his parents that he would never accept a dowry. Nitish Kumar married Manju Kumari Sinha in court without any grand arrangements. As the date and venue were altered, the wedding cards were printed again.

After 34 years of their marriage Nitish Kumar’s wife, Manju Kumari Sinha passed away

Reportedly, Bihar’s Chief Minister gave back Rs. 22,000 he got as a dowry and reprinted the wedding cards. After 34 years of their happy marriage, Manju Kumari died in 2007 due to pneumonia. Her death was a shock to both Nitish and their son.

Nitish Kumar’s political journey from almost quitting politics to Bihar’s longest-serving Chief Minister

Nitish Kumar aka ‘Munna’ was born in 1951, in Bakhtiarpur, Bihar. His parents were Kaviraj Ram Lakhan Singh and Parmeshwari Devi. Nitish pursued a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from Bihar College of Engineering (now NIT Patna), in 1972. Nitish Kumar got a job at the Bihar State Electricity Board after completing his graduation.

Even after securing a job at BSEB, Nitish Kumar was inclined towards politics. For the unversed, Nitish Kumar participated in Bharat Ratna recipient, Jayaprakash Narayan’s movement from 1974 to 1977. Nitish Kumar joined the Janata Party after gaining some political knowledge and started learning from prominent political leaders like Satyendra Narain Sinha. When he was 26, Nitish Kumar fought in the 1997 Lok Sabha Elections from Harnaut but lost.

In 1980, Nitish once again lost in the elections. After losing the elections twice with the Janata party, Nitish planned to leave politics. However, he again took part in the 1985 elections after the persuasion of his close ones and won the state assembly from Harnaut. After that, he has become Bihar’s Chief Minister for nine times. Nitish Kumar is also Bihar’s longest-serving Chief Minister with 17 years and 288 days.

In his political career, Nitish Kumar also held a lot of other prominent positions. He has served as the Union Cabinet Minister, Railways, Agriculture to Union Cabinet Minister, and left his impact on every department he has worked in.

Nitish Kumar is one of the most well-known politicians in the country. It’s remarkable how a youngster from Bakhtiarpur nicknamed ‘Munna’ went on to become one of the most influential politicians in Indian politics.

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