Jitan Ram Manjhi is a politician who belongs to a very poor family. He was so poor that during flood, when his family left with almost no food, the family had to kill a rat and eat it. But the time never stays the same.
Manji’s time also changes; the rat eater turns into the Chief Minister of Bihar, and then again time changes in such a way that he had to resign from his CM chair.
He is the first and the only politician from that community who rose up in the political ladder and is now a cabinet rank politician in the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) government.
In Today’s Article, we will explain about him. Let’s start with Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Quick information.
Quick Information
| Current Position | Lok Sabha MP |
| Previous Positions | Chief Minister of Bihar (2014-2015), MLA (2015-2024) |
| Age | Approximately 80 years old (as of 2025) |
| Cast | Musahar (Extremely Backward Class) |
| Birth Place | Mahakar Village, Gaya District |
| Birth year | 6 October 1944 |
| Family | Parents, Wife, two sons and 5 Daughters |
| Father | Ramjit Ram Manjhi |
| Mother | Sukri Devi |
| Wife | Shanti Devi |
| Criminal Cases | 6 |
Net Worth of Jitan Ram Manjhi
Jitan Ram Manjhi, former Bihar Chief Minister, declared assets of about ₹44 lakh in 2024.
Read More about his Wealth
Political Career
| Wins | Lost |
| Assembly Elections (MLA) 7 | 2-3 |
| Lok Sabha (Parliament) 1 | 3 |
Social Media Profiles of Manjhi
Twitter: @jitanrmanjhi
Instagram : jitanrmanjhi
Facebook- Jitanrmanjhi
Jitan Ram Manjhi has a solid multi-platform presence, with Largest audience on twitter, followed by facebook and twitter.
Jitan Ram Manjhi, the former Chief Minister of Bihar. Born in 1944, before India gained independence.
- In 1980, at the age of 36, he became MLA and there starts his political career began.
- Currently, he leads his political party and is a Lok Sabha MP from Gaya Constituency.
But things were not easy for him, being born into a cast and home which was socially and economically very backwards, where good and healthy food was just a dream for his family. Hunger was to the extent that his family had to eat mice.
In Today’s article, we will try to explore how this person became such a huge towering politician, how it happened, and how he managed to make it so far. Let’s start with his early childhood and background.
Jitan Ram Manjhi Early Life and Background
Manjhi grew up with extreme poverty in the Musahar Community, a community that is traditionally rat-catching and the lowest of all cast groups.
- He had a house whose roof was just 4ft in height, and when a flood hits, they all have to climb trees in order to survive.
- He had to work at a cow shelter, responsible for feeding and taking care of cows when he was a minor and due to his cast and the nature of work, he had to eat next to animals, near a pillar in a cowshed.
The Unseen Moment That Inspired Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Rise
One day, while working in a cow shed, he noticed the ox achieving cud. Manjhi gave it a thought that ‘An ox works tirelessly, but his work will never be recognised even after his death, making him realise that since he was born human, it must achieve something meaningful in life.’
Manji’s Family Tree
Jitan Ram Manjhi Educational Qualification
Manjhi completed his graduation in BA(Hons) from Gaya College of Magadh University.
- He did not attend his formal education in the initial year due to his cast.
- Later, he received tutoring till class 7th at the same time he was working in the field.
- Driven by ambition and enthusiasm, he completed his education in later years.
| Stage | Struggles | Outcome |
| Primary School | The teacher needed landlord’s permission to teach him | Started formal education late |
| High School | Constant caste-based humiliation | Studied till 7th grade under tough conditions |
| College (Magadh University) | Denied hostel entry; lived with addicts | Taught tuitions to pay fees; completed graduation |
| Moral Stand | Refused to pay bribes for grades | Chose integrity over marks |
Regardless of all the challenges, he continued to complete his education, which made him understand that education was not just about getting knowledge but also the way to get respect in society.
Jitan Ram Manjhi Struggles – From Poverty to Politics
In Indian soiety you will get one thing for sure that is the discrimination. Be it be gender, cast or class. Jitan Ram Manji belong from the most lowest cast in the ladder of Indian Society, so the first discrimination he faced that sook him was from his cast Musahar, the gift given by Indian Society.
- Just because he belong to perticular caste he was denied to stay in student hostels.
Regardless of challenges at every step of life, he got graduates, made his place in Indian Politics, and now you are reading his article on vitatales.com .
The Political Awakening- Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Political Journey
| Phase | Details |
| Job | Telephone exchange clerk (13 years) |
| Motivation | Witnessed systematic exclusion of his community |
| First Election | Contested from Imamganj, 1980 |
| Connection with Constituency | Representing Imamganj for 40+ years |
| Political Entry | Not welcomed initially by mainstream parties |
| Philosophy | “True representation is born from shared struggle, not birth privilege.” |
Jitan Ram Manjhi Political Career and Ministries
The best thing about democracy is that, at least gives a fair chance to every person the to step up in political leadership. Jitan Ram Manjhi is the best example of that.
He fought hard, even when every tide was against him. And now he is a successful politician. Below is the detail of his political career.
- 1980 – Jitan Ram Manjhi contested his first Assembly election from Fatehpur (Gaya) as a Congress candidate. Though he lost, it marked his political entry.
- 1980s–1990s – He served multiple terms as MLA from Fatehpur and Makhdumpur, continuing with the Indian National Congress.
- 1990–1994 – Became Minister for Welfare (SC/ST) in the Janata Dal government. During this period, he focused on Dalit welfare and social justice.
- 1996–2004 – Represented Makhdumpur constituency under the RJD government led by Lalu Prasad Yadav, and emerged as a strong Dalit face.
- 2005–2014 – Joined Janata Dal (United) and served under Nitish Kumar. Held important portfolios such as SC/ST Welfare, Minor Irrigation, Transport, and Tourism.
- May 2014 – February 2015 – Became the Chief Minister of Bihar after Nitish Kumar’s resignation. Focused on Dalit empowerment, education, and inclusive development during his tenure.
- 2015–2017 – Formed his own party, the Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) after leaving JD(U), and aligned with the NDA.
- 2017–2020 – Continued as MLA from Makhdumpur, supporting the NDA government under Nitish Kumar.
- 2020–Present – Serves as a Cabinet Minister in the Bihar Government under the BJP-led NDA alliance. Leads HAM(S) and remains an influential Dalit leader in state politics.
Formation of Jitan Ram Manjhi Party – Hindustani Awam Morcha
| Founded | 2015 |
| Ideology | Secular, inclusive, pro-marginalised |
| Symbolism | Represents communities historically excluded from politics |
| Current MLAs (2025) | 4 |
| Family in Politics | Son: Santosh Suman (Minister, Bihar Govt)Daughter-in-law: Deepa Manjhi (MLC, Imamganj) |
| Alliances | Currently aligned with NDA |
When the JD(U) high command asked him to resign so Nitish Kumar could reclaim the CM’s chair, Manjhi refused, much to the displeasure of his one-time mentor. In February 2015, facing a floor test, Manjhi resigned after it was certain that he would lose it.
In 2015, after resigning from the Chief Minister’s Chair and expulsion from the Janta Dal Unted party, he founded the Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) [HAM(S)]
The name of the party itself speaks of its secular, broad-based perspective in view of Indian society.
Shri Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Achievements and Contributions
| Aspect | Details (Updated) |
| Position (2025) | Union Minister, MSME; President, HAM(S) |
| Political Status | HAM(S) won 5 seats in 2025 Bihar election; strengthened NDA role |
| Alliance | Key NDA partner; strong support for PM Modi |
| MSME Growth | Sector expanded significantly; contributes ~30% to India’s GDP |
| Jobs Created | MSME sector generated 34 crore jobs since 2014 |
| Budget FY 2025–26 | ₹23,168.15 crore |
| Policy Focus | Rural entrepreneurship, skill training, digital MSMEs |
Life Lessons from Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Struggles and Success
Applying Manjhi’s Lessons to Modern Life – How Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Story Inspires Modern India
The uplifting tale of the village to CM of Jitan Ram Manjhi provides useful tips to anyone seemingly unable to cope with his seemingly overwhelming obstacles in life:
- Take on small steps toward a bigger goal.
- Keep to your origins: To become successful does not mean one should forget their roots–they can only increase their positive impact.
- Make other people fly.
- Endure institutional resistance.
FAQs
Who is Jitan Ram Manjhi?
An Indian politician from Bihar’s Mushahar community, former Chief Minister (May 2014–Feb 2015), and founder of Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular).
Who is Jitan Ram Manjhi in Bihar?
A veteran Dalit leader and mass mobilizer who has served as MLA, cabinet minister, and briefly as Bihar’s Chief Minister.
Which constituency is Jitan Ram Manjhi in?
He currently represents the Imamganj assembly constituency in Gaya district.
Which state is Manjhi in?
Jitan Ram Manjhi is from Bihar.
What is the HAM Party of Bihar?
The Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular), founded by Manjhi in 2015 to champion Dalit and extremely backward class welfare.
Why is Jitan Ram Manjhi an inspiration for youth?
He overcame extreme poverty and social exclusion to lead Bihar, highlighting resilience, education advocacy, and grassroots service.
How did Jitan Ram Manjhi rise from poverty to politics?
Born into the marginalised Mushahar caste, he began as a local activist, became MLA and minister, then rose to Chief Minister and formed his own party through persistent grassroots work.