Jai Ram Thakur turns 61. A look at lesser-known details from the life of the former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister, tracing his journey from poverty to public office
Mandi: As former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur turns 61, aspects of his personal and political life offer insight into a career shaped by gradual progression rather than rapid ascent. These lesser-known details provide context to his public journey, without straying into political messaging.
1. Childhood shaped by poverty
Jai Ram Thakur was born in Tandi village of Mandi district into a family of five children—two sisters and three brothers. His father, Jhethu Ram, worked as a mason, and the family lived below the poverty line, relying on daily-wage labour for sustenance.
2. Slept on the kitchen floor in childhood
The family lived in a small house with limited space. During his childhood, Jai Ram Thakur often slept on the kitchen floor, reflecting the modest living conditions of the household.
3. Brothers remain in manual professions
While Jai Ram Thakur moved into public life, his family members continued with manual occupations. His elder brother Anantram, now 63, still works as a mason, and another brother, Veer Singh, spent most of his working life as a tailor.
4. Stayed in the ancestral home until 2013
Despite entering mainstream politics, Jai Ram Thakur continued to live with his brothers in the ancestral home until 2013. He later shifted to a separate residence located about a kilometre away.
5. First election defeat at 26
At the age of 26, Jai Ram Thakur contested his first Assembly election from Chachiot, now Seraj, and lost. The defeat marked the beginning of his political engagement rather than a turning point.
6. Mother initially supported a rival
Political involvement was not unanimously supported within his family. His mother, Birku Devi, once backed his political rival, Moti Ram. Over time, her position changed, and she later expressed support for her son’s public role.
7. Met his wife during ABVP work
Thakur met his wife, Dr Sadhna Thakur, during their association with the ABVP in Jaipur. Before marriage, he discussed the uncertainties associated with political life, which she accepted.
8. Family keeps a low public profile
His wife and two daughters, both pursuing medical studies, have largely remained away from political and media attention. The family has maintained a private profile despite his public position.
9. Early political work in Jammu and Kashmir
Between 1989 and 1992, Jai Ram Thakur worked as an ABVP organiser in Jammu and Kashmir during a period of political instability. That phase is often cited as influential in shaping his political perspective.
10. First Chief Minister from Mandi district
Jai Ram Thakur became the first Chief Minister from Mandi district. During his tenure, he was generally regarded as accessible, even after assuming the state’s highest political office.
From a childhood marked by financial constraint to occupying a constitutional position, these lesser-known details outline a political journey rooted in steady involvement rather than sudden prominence.
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