- Actively involved in the Quit India movement in 1942, stayed underground for about 6 months in Raj Mahal hills of Santhal Parganas, Jharkhand
- Arrested and detained in Central Jail, Kolkata (Dum Dum) beacuse of participation in the national movement in 1942
- Active participation in health care, educational upliftment, social reforms and rural reconstruction activities particularly in Santhal Parganas, Jharkhand
- Worked as a Chartered Accountant in the 1950s
- Lecturer with City College, Calcutta University during 1955-60
- Visiting Professor, Department of Management Studies, Delhi University during 1960-73
- Actively involved in social welfare activities
- Founder Secretary of Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration as well as Rajiv Gandhi Sadbhavana Award
- Founder trustee of Hari Devi Memorial Fund set up in 1965
- Set up a 30-bedded Hari Devi Rural Referral Hospital at Godda in 1976
- Set up a 40-bedded Hospital for Cancer, Leprosy & T.B. in 2002 at native village, Thakur Gangti, Dist. Godda, Jharkhand
- Founder trustee of Gadadhar Mishra Memorial Fund established in 1965 at Gandhigram
- Gadadhar Fund engaged in Khadi & Village Industries, Rural Development Programmes in Godda District, Jharkhand
- ICAI Council member from 1964 to 1970
- President of Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (VIth Council) during 1966-67
- President of Indian Fellowship of former Scouts and Guides
- President of Indian Scouts and Guides from November 1998 to November 2001, and again after November 2004
- Chairman of Study Group on Banking Costs, Banking Commission, Government of India from 1978-82
- Former convener of Committee for Productivity, Efficiency and Profitability, RBI
- Chairman of Associated Journals Ltd. from 1987-91. (National Herald Group of Papers)
- Chairman of Thakur Research Foundation, New Delhi
- Chairman of Rajendra Bhawan Trust, New Delhi
- Former Director, Unit Trust of India (4 years)
- Director, Punjab National Bank from 1978 to 1982
- Former Director, Export Credit Guarantee Corporation of India (3 years)
- Former Director, Punjab-Haryana and Delhi Chambers of Commerce (3 years)
- Member of Board of Governors, Management Development Institute, Gurgaon, Haryana
- Member of Planning Commission Committee on Voluntary Participation in Rural Development (1978-79)
- Member of Central Direct Taxes Advisory Committee
- Member of Bihar State Planning Board
- Member of Uttar Pradesh State Planning Board
- Member of AICTE in Commerce
- Member of Governing Board, Peoples Action for Rural Development (Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India)
- Secretary of Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Trust, Amethi, Uttar Pradesh, since 1986
- Deputy Leader – Indian Parliamentary Union Conference, Geneva (1984)
- Group Leader of Indian Delegation to the World Congress of Scouts, Burssels (1964)
- Founder and Group Leader of the International Congress of Accountants, Mexico in 1982
- Leader of Fifteenth Asia Pacific Gathering, Colombo (1984)
- Leader of Indian Delegation to the 17th General Assembly Coventry, London (1987)
- Chairman, World Congress of Scouts & Guides Fellowship (1999)
- Senior Indian National Congress politician
- Elected to Rajya Sabha for the first time from April 1984 to March 1990
- Member of Committee of Privileges, Rajya Sabha during 1986-90
- Member of Public Accounts Committee during 1986-89
- Re-elected to Rajya Sabha from April 1990 to March 1996
- Union Minister of Finance (Revenue) and Rural Development and Parliamentary Affairs from June 1991 up to December 1994
- Apppointed Governor of Orissa on 17 Novemeber, 2004
- Handled additional charge of Governor of Andhra Pradesh from 29 January 2006 to 22 August 2007
- Apppointed 15th Governor of Karnataka on 21 August 2007
- Early education in Bhagalpur, Patna University
- Travelled to countries - Russia, Poland, Belgium, France, West Germany, Italy, England, Switzerland, Egypt,
USA, Mexico, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, Thailand, Middle-East countries, Singapore, Bangladesh, etc.
- Wife : Shrimati Narmada Thakur
- Children : Two sons and Two daughters
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