Jagannath Mishra facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jagannath Mishra
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| 14th Chief Minister of Bihar | |
| In office 6 December 1989 – 10 March 1990 |
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| Preceded by | Satyendra Narayan Sinha |
| Succeeded by | Lalu Prasad Yadav |
| In office 8 June 1980 – 14 August 1983 |
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| Preceded by | President's rule |
| Succeeded by | Chandrashekhar Singh |
| In office 11 April 1975 – 30 April 1977 |
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| Preceded by | Abdul Ghafoor |
| Succeeded by | President's rule |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 24 June 1937 Supaul, Bihar, British India |
| Died | 19 August 2019 (aged 82) Delhi, India |
| Political party | Indian National Congress |
| Spouse | Veena Mishra |
| Residences | Patna, Bihar, India |
| Alma mater | Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Bihar University |
Jagannath Mishra (born June 24, 1937 – died August 19, 2019) was an important Indian politician. He served as the Chief Minister of Bihar three times. He was also a Minister in the central government and a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha.
He was a very influential leader in the Indian National Congress party. People sometimes called him "Doctor Sahib." He was also known as "Maulana" Jagannath because he was popular with Muslim communities. This was partly because he made Urdu the second official language of Bihar in 1980.
Mishra was known for supporting common people. For example, he helped teachers by taking over many private schools in 1977. Later in his career, he joined other political parties like the Nationalist Congress Party and the Janata Dal (United).
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Early Life and Career
Jagannath Mishra started his career as a teacher. He taught economics at Bihar University in Muzaffarpur. This background helped him understand how the economy worked.
In 1983, while he was Chief Minister, he spoke out about Bihar's share of mineral wealth. He said that Bihar produced a lot of minerals but didn't get enough money from them. He also felt that financial institutions were not fair to the state. This showed his independent thinking, even when it meant disagreeing with the central government.
Political Journey
Mishra first became Chief Minister of Bihar in 1975. His time in office was affected by a period called "The Emergency" in India. He became Chief Minister again in 1980 and for a third time in 1989.
During his second term, which was his longest, he was a very strong leader. He even criticized the central government's mining policies. In 1990, he was replaced as Chief Minister by Lalu Prasad Yadav. This happened during a time when new political alliances were forming in Bihar.
After leaving the Congress party, he joined the Nationalist Congress Party. Later, he became part of the Janata Dal (United) party, led by Nitish Kumar.
Challenges and Legal Cases
Jagannath Mishra's time as Chief Minister saw some challenges. His government was known for taking actions that were popular with many people. For example, he helped distribute extra land to Scheduled Caste communities.
He was involved in a major case about financial irregularities, known as the Fodder Scam. In 2013, a special court found him and others guilty in one part of this case. He was sentenced to four years in prison and had to pay a fine. However, he was later granted bail. He always said that his name was wrongly included in the case.
Later, in 2017 and 2018, Dr. Mishra was found not guilty in two other related cases. Appeals for two other cases are still being reviewed.
Bihar Press Bill
In 1982, Jagannath Mishra's government introduced a new law called the Bihar Press Bill. This bill aimed to control what newspapers could publish. It tried to stop the publication of anything considered "scurrilous" or "intended for blackmail."
Mishra believed that while a free press was important, it also needed to be responsible. He said that some news reports were unfairly attacking people's reputations. The Prime Minister at the time, Indira Gandhi, also supported the idea that the press should not misuse its freedom.
However, many journalists and newspapers across India strongly protested this bill. They felt it was an attempt to limit their freedom. In an unusual move, most of India's newspapers shut down for a day in protest. Exactly one year after it was passed, Jagannath Mishra withdrew the bill. This was a very rare event in India's legal history.
Years later, in 2017, Mishra said he regretted bringing the bill. He explained that he did it to please Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, who was upset about negative news reports at the time.
Making Urdu an Official Language
On June 10, 1980, during his second term as Chief Minister, Jagannath Mishra made an important promise. He said he would change the state law to make Urdu the second official language of Bihar, in addition to Hindi.
At that time, very few states in India had given Urdu such a high official status. On September 19, 1980, his government officially declared Urdu as the second official language of Bihar. This was a significant step that earned him support from many.
Research and Publications
Jagannath Mishra was not just a politician; he was also a scholar. He wrote many research papers and several books. He was known as an expert in economics and wrote books specifically about Bihar's economy. He was seen as a very knowledgeable person and a good administrator.
Personal Life
Jagannath Mishra lived in Patna, Bihar. His wife, Veena Mishra, passed away in 2018. They had three sons and three daughters.
His older brother, Lalit Narayan Mishra, was also a well-known politician. He served as the Railway Minister of India. Jagannath Mishra's son, Nitish Mishra, has also followed in his footsteps and become a politician, serving as a cabinet minister in Bihar. Jagannath Mishra also supported many social organizations.
Death
Jagannath Mishra passed away on August 19, 2019, at the age of 82. He had been ill for some time. After his death, the state of Bihar declared three days of mourning. He was cremated with full state honors in his ancestral village of Balua Bazar in Supaul district.
