Nitish Kumar: The Man Who Never Gives Up
Nitish Kumar’s life is a journey of struggle, reinvention, and survival.
Nitish Kumar was born on 1 March 1951 in Kalyan Bigha village of Nalanda district in Bihar. He grew up in a Kurmi community household. His father, Ram Lakhan Singh, was a Congress worker who dreamed of contesting elections but never got a ticket. Watching this taught Nitish how unpredictable and unfair politics can be.
Nitish studied engineering and worked at the Bihar State Electricity Board before entering politics. He admired socialist leader Ram Manohar Lohia. He got involved in the JP Movement during the Emergency declared by Indira Gandhi and was arrested under MISA. To contest his early elections, he used ?20,000 saved by his wife Manju, but he lost twice. In 1985, he finally won his first election from Harnaut. Later, he became an MP from Barh in 1989 and again in 1991. He also became Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Cooperation.
Nitish formed the Samata Party with George Fernandes in 1994. Later, Janata Dal (United) was formed. Nitish became Chief Minister of Bihar multiple times — sometimes with BJP, sometimes with RJD, and sometimes switching alliances. His major governance work included roads, education reforms, reservation for women, welfare schemes, and the liquor ban.
People admired his work and called him “Sushasan Babu.” But his political U-turns led many to call him “Paltu Ram.” On 20 November 2025, Nitish Kumar took oath as Chief Minister for the 10th time after the NDA won the 2025 Bihar elections.
His life shows struggle, survival, and never giving up.
