And The Bharat Ratna Goes To...

The current controversy among the different political parties of India on the issue of Bharat Ratna shows that how much our political leaders are aware about the image of the highest civilian award of the nation. Firstly, the letter of Lal Krishna Advani, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, to recommend the name of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee for the Bharat Ratna was an unusual way of recommendation.

According to the norms a high level committee decides that who should be conferred with the highest civilian award of the nation. This high level committee comprises the leader of opposition as a member with other members. So, the recommendation of A B Vajpayee by L K Advani is not an explicable step.

If a member of selection committee recommends a person and more importantly before the national media the trustworthiness of the selection committee itself comes under the suspicion. Generally, the names for the Bharat Ratna are announced on the eve of the Republic Day. For the last six years this award has been not conferred to any one. Noted playback singer Lata Mangeshkar and Shahnai maestro Ustad Bismillah Khan were the last persons, who were conferred with this highly prestigious award in the year of 2001.

It is expected that Advani’s remark that Vajpayee has a great contribution in the politics of the nation and that he has successfully handled a coalition government of National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) was aimed to get the favour of the highest regarded leader of the party. Moreover, it will also strengthen the candidature of Advani as the Prime Minister among the party workers by winning the hearts of the soft-liner of the organization.

On the other hand, apart from BJP all other political parties started to suggest a name for the award. Some leaders like Rambilas Paswan of the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) have suggested three names- Jotiba Phule, Jagjivanram and famous singer Mohammad Rafi. Similarly, former Bihar Chief Minister and the Rashtriya Janta Dal (RJD) supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav has also suggested the name of former Bihar Chief Minister Karpuri Thakur. Earlier he has given his consent on the name of veteran left leader Jyoti Basu for the same.

The campaign for name suggestion does not end here. Ajit Singh of Rashtriya Lok Dal demanded Bharat Ratna for his father and former Prime Minister Devi Lal. Chandrashekhar’s name is also in the race. Further Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Ms Mayawati has also demanded the Ratna for Kanshiram, founder of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and a great dalit thinker. Southern leader M. Karunanidhi’s name is also in the wish list.

It has been alleged by the different political parties that only congress leaders are not entitled to receive the prestigious award. In the past, many national leaders, who hail from the Congress Party, have been awarded with Ratna. In history, there are two Prime Ministers namely Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru and Indira Gandhi, who were conferred with the Bharat Ratna by their own signature.

Meanwhile, against the backdrop of various names being suggested for Bharat Ratna, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh said there is still time to take a decision on the issue. Now the time will tell us who will be conferred with the highest civilian award of the nation. But one thing is very clear here that politicization of such issue makes no sense and importantly the dignity and credibility of the award looses among the common people.

Thank God, till now our political leaders are not interested at the global level regarding the conferment of awards. But, no one knows the political parties of India may begin lobbying for the Nobel Prize for their leaders.

Published
MSN India
January 19, 2008