India’s highest civilian award, Bharat Ratna, is awarded for exceptional degree of national service, in the field of literature or arts or scientific achievement or even public service. But a civilian award title being conferred in a democratic country has been the target of controversy ever since its inception. Right from nomination of awardees, their validity to small technical misconceptions has plagued this award for more than 5 decades now.
40 such titles have been given away till now, but never to the Father of our Nation, Mahatma Gandhi! After 38 years of its inception it was finally conferred on Subhash Chandra Bose (posthumously), only to be withdrawn due a PIL claiming that his death cannot be proved! Since the criterion does not require the awardee to be an Indian citizen, in 1992 it was even given to Nelson Mandela. It’s a matter of thought what this great man has done for Bharat in particular (to be eligible to be its Ratna or Gem)? And in that case why all other great leaders of the world were left behind?
Questions have also been raised on its validity to be nominated by our political powers, as in that case it is bound influenced by the power group in Delhi. Many a times the nominations are labeled as politically bend.
The last recipients of this award were classical maestro Ustad Bismillah Khan and playback singer Lata Mangeshkar, in 2001. But this year its has been a race among our political parties to suggest the nomination of leader of their interest for these awards, even though some names are never heard of while others have scores of charges pending against them of corruption, extortion and murder.
It all started with the Congressman Veerappa Moily rallying the name of veteran CPI(M) leader Jyoti Basu, though his party is maintaining safe distance from all the hype. Then came the much highlighted letter of LK Advani to the Prime Minister suggesting the name of Atal Bihari Bajpayee for Bharat Ratna. This kicked off the race.
Navin Patnaik from BJD is suggesting his father’s name Biju Patnaik, BSP’s Mayawati wants her mentor Kanshi Ram to be Bharat Ratna this time, RJD demanded the award for Karpoori Thakur, Assam unit of the Samajwadi Party put forward the name of Mulayam Singh Yadav, RLD’s choice is Chawdhury Charan Singh.
Ms Mayawati said “Kanshi Ram should also be conferred Bharat Ratna for his invaluable contributions in the uplift of dalits and the oppressed”. SP’s Ratul Kumar Choudhury wrote about Yadav that "He is the only secular leader of our country who has worked with Mahatma Gandhi, Jai Prakash Narain and Ram Manohar Lohia and he is the only leader who can save the nation and its people in the coming years". It should be noted here that neither Gandhi nor Lohia have been honoured with Bharat ratna yet. RLD’s spokesman Anil Dubey said, "Charan Singh did a lot of works for the poor and backwards besides devoting his life for the cause of farmers. He deserves the award".
Feeling quite left out of it Union minister Ramvilas Paswan said it should be given to Jagjivan Ram, Mohammed Rafi and Jyotiba Phule, the reasons being simple that it should not be given to a political person.
This is sheer mockery of this award. Is our ruling body the right one to choose the individual who has contributed most to India? This privilege should go a private body, away from political interference.
40 such titles have been given away till now, but never to the Father of our Nation, Mahatma Gandhi! After 38 years of its inception it was finally conferred on Subhash Chandra Bose (posthumously), only to be withdrawn due a PIL claiming that his death cannot be proved! Since the criterion does not require the awardee to be an Indian citizen, in 1992 it was even given to Nelson Mandela. It’s a matter of thought what this great man has done for Bharat in particular (to be eligible to be its Ratna or Gem)? And in that case why all other great leaders of the world were left behind?
Questions have also been raised on its validity to be nominated by our political powers, as in that case it is bound influenced by the power group in Delhi. Many a times the nominations are labeled as politically bend.
The last recipients of this award were classical maestro Ustad Bismillah Khan and playback singer Lata Mangeshkar, in 2001. But this year its has been a race among our political parties to suggest the nomination of leader of their interest for these awards, even though some names are never heard of while others have scores of charges pending against them of corruption, extortion and murder.
It all started with the Congressman Veerappa Moily rallying the name of veteran CPI(M) leader Jyoti Basu, though his party is maintaining safe distance from all the hype. Then came the much highlighted letter of LK Advani to the Prime Minister suggesting the name of Atal Bihari Bajpayee for Bharat Ratna. This kicked off the race.
Navin Patnaik from BJD is suggesting his father’s name Biju Patnaik, BSP’s Mayawati wants her mentor Kanshi Ram to be Bharat Ratna this time, RJD demanded the award for Karpoori Thakur, Assam unit of the Samajwadi Party put forward the name of Mulayam Singh Yadav, RLD’s choice is Chawdhury Charan Singh.
Ms Mayawati said “Kanshi Ram should also be conferred Bharat Ratna for his invaluable contributions in the uplift of dalits and the oppressed”. SP’s Ratul Kumar Choudhury wrote about Yadav that "He is the only secular leader of our country who has worked with Mahatma Gandhi, Jai Prakash Narain and Ram Manohar Lohia and he is the only leader who can save the nation and its people in the coming years". It should be noted here that neither Gandhi nor Lohia have been honoured with Bharat ratna yet. RLD’s spokesman Anil Dubey said, "Charan Singh did a lot of works for the poor and backwards besides devoting his life for the cause of farmers. He deserves the award".
Feeling quite left out of it Union minister Ramvilas Paswan said it should be given to Jagjivan Ram, Mohammed Rafi and Jyotiba Phule, the reasons being simple that it should not be given to a political person.
This is sheer mockery of this award. Is our ruling body the right one to choose the individual who has contributed most to India? This privilege should go a private body, away from political interference.
No comments:
Post a Comment