BHARAT RATNA - TOP HONOURS - BUT, DOES IT FOLLOW ADEQUATE PROCEDURE?

We are all Happy that Sachin is being conferred the BHARAT RATNA. He deserves it richly. I have no doubt about it. So does Shri C.N.R.Rao.

But, many people are aggrieved that Shri Dhyan Chand and Shri A.B.Vajpayee are not given Bharat Ratna. Their contentions cannot be faulted.

The award of any Great honour on any Individual must be preceded by adequate procedure, verification of competing claims, selection of the best, ensuring some sort of National Consensus, taking the Opposition Parties along - among various important criteria.

People from Glamourous walks of life are often preferred for such awards - to the exclusion of people who are doing yeoman services to the people of India, silently. The recent revelation that the previous awardees have recommended many of their own kith and kin for the Padma awards shows that much is wanting in terms of TRANSPARENCY in the selection of eligible persons for these TOP HONOURS of the country - which will tend to make them worthless, in course of time, in the eyes of the General masses. Are there none among Indians - other than these recommended people - who are better than the recommended people? Who is scanning the whole landscape for this?

One curious criterion for the award seems to be that the - awardee must not have criticized the Government or its Policies. Is this a final, clinching criteria, above all others? C.N.R.Rao and Lataji may make small criticism - but only after the award. Such feeling must be avoided and complete Transparency must be introduced in the selection.

Let us take an example : Here are the awards received by Shri Amitabh Bacchan (Source :wikipedia etc ) here :

France's highest civilian honour, the Knight of the Legion of Honour, was conferred upon him by the French Government in 2007 for his "exceptional career in the world of cinema and beyond".

In 2011, actor Dilip Kumar blogged that Black should have been nominated for an Oscar. Kumar added: "If any Indian actor, in my personal opinion, deserves the world's most coveted award, it is you." 

• In 1999, Bachchan was voted the "Greatest Star of stage or screen of the Millennium" in a BBC Your Millennium online poll.
• In 2001, he was honoured with the Actor of the Century award at the Alexandria International Film Festival in Egypt in recognition of his contribution to the world of cinema.
• Many other honours for his achievements were conferred upon him at several International Film Festivals, including the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2010 Asian Film Awards.
• In 2003, he was conferred with the Honorary Citizenship of the French town of Deauville.
• In October 2003, he was conferred with the Medal of Honour of Morocco, given to him by King Mohammed at the Marrakech International Film Festival.
• In October 2003, TIME magazine dubbed Bachchan as "the Undisputed Godfather of Bollywood".
• In April 2005, The Walter Reade Theater of Lincoln Center in New York honored Amitabh Bachchan with a special tribute, retrospective—titled "Amitabh Bachchan: The Biggest Film Star in the World".
• In March 2010, he has been named the list of CNN's "top 25 Asian actors of all time".
• In June 2000, he became the first living Asian to have been modelled in wax at London's Madame Tussauds Wax Museum.
• Another statue was installed in New York in 2009, Hong Kong in 2011, Bangkok in 2011 and Washington, DC in 2012.
• These apart, I find that Amitabh Bachchan has been honoured with the Global Diversity Award 2013 at the State Room of Britain's House of Commons in London. Speaker of the House of Commons, Rt Hon John Bercow MP presented the ornately sculpted glass Award to the 71-year-old actor describing him as "a Bollywood icon and the most famous Indian film star of all time."

ead more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/amitabh-bachchan-presented-with-global-diversity-award-2013/1/309399.html

These are apart from all the filmy awards in India.

Of course,the Government of India awarded him the Padma Shri in 1984 and the Padma Bhushan in 2001.  Between 2001 to 2013 - long period with so many great achievements by the actor - the actor did not come up for any further Higher awards from the Government Of India. For some reason, he is not (yet) found fit for Padma Vibhushan, leave aside, Bharat Ratna. If you don't find the Greatest ACTOR, acknowledged so by the world in general, for even Padma Vibhushan, it looks a little strange.

This is nothing. There are others like Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev and Sri Sri Ravishankar, who are creating peace, who are revolutionizing Education, who are stewards of Green revolution in a very Big way. There is also Baba Ramdev, who has created a revolution in India with his Yog and Ayurved. I am a direct beneficiary of his Yog and Ayurved both. I practice both - and can confirm to anyone who is willing to listen that his methods and medicines work. Forget his Political affiliations. See his work and service to the Nation.

If you forget that they also preach spirituality - you will find  that they have already rendered extraordinary service to the people around them - irrespective of caste or creed - and the beneficiaries run into crores of people. 

Why do you think, crores of young and old Indians, educated and uneducated both, are flocking to them. They give them peace, solace, progress, education and many things which the average Politician can, unfortunately, not even comprehend. Until you taste the reality that they can unravel before you, you will never know the unreality in which you are living. Who else deserves Bharat Ratnas better than these Greats, who are transforming crores of lives to the better in many, many ways.

But, how will the Babus and the Politicians sitting in Delhi and judging people for these awards - even understand their impact on the social life around them.

Can we imagine that persons who do not even possess a Padma Sri are the ones who are judging who should be Bharat Ratna or Padma Vibhushan - and worse, judging people as unfit for Padma vibhushan and other Padma awards, despite their glorious contribution.

I am not blaming or ridiculing the awards given so far. Definitely Not so. I am not blaming the current panels also. Anything can be bettered. Therefore, I am stating that there is huge need to make the Panels much better qualified for Judging people of such High standards.

Future awards can be more meticulous and Transparent than at present. They must involve Opposition parties, persons from different walks of life etc - apart from babus and Ministers. Rather - exclude Babus and Ministers from the Panel. Make it a Highly distinguished panel.

I personally feel - those who are serving the Poor and the suffering in a Big way - must come first in the list of Padma awards. People from other walks of life must come thereafter. Recognize the Real Heroes of India - who are transforming lives. Then, recognize people in all other walks of life. This should be the PRIORITY.

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BHARAT RATNA = WHO DESERVES THE AWARD = LET GREAT SERVICE TO NATION BE THE CRITERION

BHARAT RATNA

WHO DESERVES THE AWARD

Bharat Ratna, which means, the Jewel / Gem of India - is India's highest civilian award, for the highest degree of national service. This service includes artistic, literary, and scientific achievements, as well as "recognition of public service of the highest order." In 2011, the Government of India has also agreed to change the eligibility criteria to allow sportspersons to receive the award.

This latest change seems to be – taking into consideration the achievements of Sachin Tendulkar in Cricket. Tendulkar is undoubtedly, India’s and the world’s Best cricketer. A good and lovable Individual who is free from  the usual controversies that sportsmen get into, Sachin is fit for receiving any award that a world class sports person must get. I particularly like his statement, I am an Indian first – because, even most politicians in public life in India do not say that today. Identification with their own state, community, religion or language - is making our Politicians – less than staunch nationalist Indians at heart. We see many of them actually emitting hatred towards people of other states/communities/ religions / languages. In that context, Sachin’s statement and his conduct are certainly exemplary.

Inclusiveness and strong nationalist spirit have to be searched for, with a beacon light in India today. In such a context, Sachin comes out as a refreshing Contrast.

Yet, in my strong opinion, a Bharat Ratna is a little premature for Sachin. He played well in cricket; surpassed most masters; endeared himself to all cricketers; and by and all large, all cricketing legends accept him as the greatest ever Cricketer. That said, it is also to be admitted that Cricket rewarded him very richly already in terms of money, name, fame and everything that a sportsman could wish for. But, his service to Nation, or even his lasting service to cricket is yet to come in future. It will; but, India can wait a little more to award him Bharat Ratna.

Bharat Ratna – as we have already seen, is for the highest degree of national service  or public service of the highest order.

But, India is completely IGNORING to reward its Great People who are doing exemplary “"public service of the highest order."Sports, arts, music, dance etc should come next. Public service of the Highest order should come first.

The trouble in India seems to be that – Government and Politicians are coming in conflict with many of the people who are doing the highest degree of national service and public service of the Highest order. So, on this ground, many of these illustrious sons of India are not even considered for this Highest award.

Annaji, Swami Ramdev etc – belong to this category. Annaji is a tireless crusader against Corruption. It would be wrong for the Government or the Parties in power to assume that he is against them. He is against Corruption. Had the Lok Pal Bill been passed with a little more enthusiasm by Government, his opposition to Government would have evaporated.

Swami Ram Dev’s greatest contribution is in promoting  Health consciousness through Yog and Ayurved among the most common people of all castes and religions. The prayers at his Yog Sibirs are perfectly religion-neutral. Diseases which are declared as incurable in Allopathy are in fact made curable through Ayurved and Yog – by  Swami Ramdev. His method of teaching both these sciences is highly effective. I have personally taken coaching at one of his Sibirs (at Hyderabad) and I am now a regular practitioner of his method of Yog and his method of Ayurved both. I am a personal beneficiary from his medicines and I am sure lakhs (or crores of people) will vouch for their effectiveness, from their personal experience – as I do here. If ensuring the health of so many crores of people is not public service, what else can be? Yes, of course, he does talk of Black money curbing in his own style, sometimes overshooting words. But, Government cannot overlook his extraordinary contribution to the Indian sciences of Yog and Ayurved and the achievement of health of crores of Indians of all religions, through his methods and medicines.

Some Industrialists like Infosys founder, N.R.Narayana Murthy, Wipro Chairman, Azim Premzi, have done extraordinary service to India by lifting the life standards of their employees to international levels and forcing other employers also to do likewise. But for NRN, the salary levels of Software Engineers would be at around Government salary levels in India. And, the charity work of these Industrialists is commendable. These people have benefitted lakhs of Indians through employment, through charity and so on. Is the Government at all watching their contribution to India? Or, is it stung by some advices that they need to give some times to the Government?

There are some Yoga Gurus – chiefly Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev and Sri Sri Ravishankar whose tireless service to India and the world at large is immensely benefitting Crores of people. Sadhguru Jaggi’s contribution to the spread of Yog and spirituality  especially in Tamilnadu is extraordinary. It is absolutely wrong for Politicians to assume that spirituality connotes religion. It does not.  Spirituality’s sole focus is on the Individual and knowing oneself. Only Indian religions like Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism have spread this science. It is true. But, knowing the self – is an absolute, fantastic science. It is not a religious contribution at all. You don’t go to a heaven or hell by knowing yourself. But, you become the most joyous Individual. Unfortunately, in India, where this science was born millennia ago, India’s own Politicians and even Media is almost totally ignorant about Yog and spirituality. 

Jaggi Vasudev and Ravishankar also are totally RELIGION-NEUTRAL. Anybody can go to them FREELY. In fact, both these Giants are already at work in many foreign countries with great success. Sadhguru Jaggis’ contribution in the afforestation and planting of trees in Tamilnadu has been commendable and has invited applause from all quarters including Government of India. His organization is also with UNO in an advisory capacity. 

Sri Sri Ravishankar  emphasizes service to people – to all his disciples and followers. They have done yeoman service to suffering people at all times. Ravishankarji recently visited Pakistan – met various people  and strove to bring the people on both sides into friendly embrace. Many in Pakistan showered praise on him for his extraordinary initiative, which none else is able to do, in current times, including the two Governments. He has also established schools in Naxalite infected areas, to wean away young Boys and Girls from this dangerous movement. Yes, it is true, that he also talks against Corruption in India. But, Government and other Politicians must see that this ANTI-CORRUPTION MOVEMENT is actually a service to India, not anything against Governments. I only wish that the Government had entrusted the task to these eminent people to bring about a commonly and mutually acceptable law on corruption, after discussions with various Political Parties. Government must be on their side – not against them.

We should not see religion as a bar for this honour to be conferred on such people. In any case, we have given Bharat Ratna to Mother Theresa, for her great service to the Indian poor, though some people, justifiably claim that she was indulging in religious conversions also all the time. Conversions may be there; but Extraordinary service was also there – and Bharat Ratna is well deserved for her.

I have mentioned only a few well known names from Industry and from service to society angles.

Let us look from the side of fine arts, which is one of the first mentioned – after Greatest service to nation.

In earlier years,  we find names of illustrious persons like  (i) Pandit Bhimsen Gururaj Joshi , Arts : 2008 : Karnataka (ii) Kumari Lata Dinanath Mangeshkar , Arts : 2001 : Maharashtra (iii)   Late. Ustad Bismillah Khan, Arts : 2001 : Uttar Pradesh (iv) Pandit Ravi Shankar ; Arts : 1999 : United States and (v) Smt. M.S. Subbulakshmi, Arts : 1998 : Tamil Nadu. These are Great Artists of India and the award to them is richly deserved. They sang beautifully or played beautifully.

Is there someone today doing extraordinary service to Music, deserving a Dadasaheb phalke award or even a Bharat Ratna? In my view, SPB (S.P.Balasubramaniam) has been doing such excellent work in bringing up music in young minds in three southern states (AP, T’Nadu and Karnataka).He has sung in all these languages and several others, and He is the only playback singer in India to have won National Film Awards across four languages. He has won several awards – perhaps the most in south India. His name finds place in Guinness Records. 

But, these are not the only reasons for considering him for the highest film / National civilian award. His REALTY PROGRAMME  in Telugu,styled “Padutaa, theeyagaa” is an absolute treat for music lovers and musicians both. The way he moulds young minds into music lovers is extraordinary. He says, he is zero in classical music, but, he can find the slightest, absolutely slightest mistakes in the participants’ singing of classical music too and correct them so marvelously. His encouragement and his suggestions and goading have brought out the most innate skills in many young people. Most people who watch this program agree that this is perhaps the only REALITY PROGRAM in India, which is so close to REALITY. I add, this is the best reality program which tests, teaches and transforms. The service to people involved here is immeasurable and immense. His own songs in all south Indian Languages and Hindi are loved by people of all these languages. His Hindi Language songs, small in number, are yet some of the most popular numbers in North India. Well, if there is to be a Bharat Ratna for Arts, I feel SPB would be the most deserving one for that.

For literary achievements- we are not considering any one at all! It was Prof.Amartya sen who was awarded Bharat Ratna for Literature and Education in 1999. Much earlier to it, it was Dr. Bhagwan Das from UP, who was awarded the honour for Literature & Education in 1955. Prof.Sen’s contribution is basically to Economic literature. So, why are we not having life-changing literature in India which all sections can like. The ancient saying is – literature and arts flourish only if the king protects and promotes them. Government must give greater emphasis to literature than at present.

So, is the case with Scientific Achievements – (i) Dr. Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman , Science & Engineering. : 1954 : Tamil Nadu and (ii) Shri (Dr.) A.P.J. Abdul Kalam ,  Science & Engineering. : 1997 : Delhi are the only two awardees under this category. Unless we honour men of science for their Great achievements – where will great achievements come from? The point is – is the Government watching the Best scientific contributions happening in India? Say, like Agni Missiles. Like the Agrarian revolution. Or, anything life-changing happening in Indian science laboratories.

The awardees list at present is full of awardees for “public affairs” – people who talk in Parliaments and legislatures. I do not deny that the awardees in this categories are eminently deserving. If we are to think of a likely awardee in Public affairs today - I think, with all his problems in UPA II (first 3 years), Dr. Manmohan Singh is still the best in Public affairs - especially for his contribution in UPA I.The Economic Growth Rate of India, when the rest of world was in troubled waters, was just FANTASTIC. Even today, if only all allies and his own Party men listen to him and follow him - I think, India can solve many of its Policy problems and achieve well in economic front with excellent Growth.

But, I do think, India must now look beyond its Politicians – for Bharat Ratnas, for some time. Specifically, Politicians in Government must create unbiased, fail-safe methods for recognizing service in other areas.

The point of this Article is – all these, which are pointed out in this article, are life-changing achievements, positively affecting lakhs and crores of people. But, these stupendous Efforts may not be as glamourous as those on a Cricket field, which is at best temporary and a good entertainment. Without in anyway downgrading sports, I suggest that India must honour people who are changing the LIVES  of lakhs and crores of people first. The names in this article are based on my perception. I have studied these Individuals to a considerable extent – and I think, that they deserve much better recognition by India. 

Readers may be able to suggest more names of equally illustrious people serving India. I will be grateful for all readers comments, suggestions and support.

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