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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