M.Z.ZULFI

Mr. Lal Krishan Advani, the clever politician from Bhartiya Janta Party was first to spark the controversy by writing a letter to Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh suggesting him the government should confer Bharat Ratna on BJP robust and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee because of his (Atal ji’s) sincerity, dedication and matchless service to the nation. He had no idea that his letter to government would prove to be the guiding light for other political parties to come forward and seeking recognitions for their own party icons. If we look back, every time, Bharat Ratna - the highest civilian award of the nation has been conferred on recipients mostly by reason of sheer politics rather dirty politics. Mr. Jai Prakash Narayan was conferred on the award in the year of 1999 when AB Vajpayee was Prime Minister and VP Singh government offered Bharat Ratna to Dr.BR Ambedkar in the year of 1990. It was coincidentally also the year of Dr. Ambedkar’s birth centenary as such portrait of Dr. Ambedkar was also installed in Parliament. Not only this, a movie was also shot on Ambedkar’s life. In reality, both the leaders had their evil eye on vote bank of other castes in the subsequent elections.

Every political party has its icon and demand of highest honor for him is their right. No one can stop them if they ask for the award for their deserving leader. But writing a letter to Prime Minister by any political leader of high stature and demanding an award for their boss is a new trend. About the letter, Prime Minister Dr. Man Mohan Singh had also said, “It’s not our tradition and there is still a time to take decision (on Vajpayee)”. I am personally of the view point that unlike LK Advani, Mr. Atal Bihari Vajpayee has always been a wonderful secular leader who has fully believed and respected democratic values of the country. Moreover, he has been an orator of par-excellence credited with a spotless political career. But, is this the actual reason Mr. Advani has proposed the name of Vajpayee for decoration?

It is believed that he deliberately has raised the issue at the time when Lok Sabha elections seem to be around the corner and nearly 10 states are going to poll this year too. Mr. Vajpayee has projected Advani as the prime ministerial candidate for the next general elections, as such, Mr. Advani proposed Vajpayee’s name to show his respect (sycophancy?) towards him. In other words, it is the best example of the ‘give and take’ policy of BJP. I must say that it’s proving to be another instance of the highest civilian award falling prey to ugly politics- may not be an exaggeration.

Earlier, at the time of VP Singh, when country was going through a new wave of communal politics, Dr. BR Ambedkar was selected for the Bharat Ratna, although; he had been fighting for the empowerment of Dalits of India for several years backs. Why he was not given the award earlier, is a question which verifies political parties’ narrowness and prejudice towards the right person. On 2nd January 1954, the government of India had initiated four civilian awards- Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan and highest of all- Bharat Ratna. According to its original statutes, there was no provision of conferring the award posthumously that year. So, Mahatma Gandhi who was then the most deserving candidate due to his contribution to the nation was not offered the award. In its inaugural year, Bharat Ratna was given to three recipients- Dr. Sarvapalli Radha Krishan, Great Scientist CV Raman and C Rajagopalachari. In the year of 1977, at the time of Morar ji Desai government; it was stopped because Morar ji Desai began to feel its irrelevancy due to politicization of the honor. After three years, when Mrs. Indira Gandhi became Prime Minister of India for her second term, Bharat Ratna was restored. And then it was conferred on Mother Teresa (Mary Taresa Bojaxhiu) for her unmatched social service towards leprosy-ridden victims.

To date, forty persons (see chart) have been honored with the prestigious award including five Prime Ministers -J.L Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shashtri, Indira Gandhi, Morarji Desai and Rajeev Gandhi. Among them, four belonged to Congress, and one Morarji Desai hailed from non-congress party. Mrs. Gandhi was the first woman recipient of the award. Apart from politics, there are several other fields such as social sciences, environmental Studies, art, literature, Journalism in which Bharat Ratna is conferred on right candidate.

Last, in the year of 2001, it was jointly given to singing Queen Lata Mangeshkar and shennai maestro Ustad Bismillah Khan. Vajpayee government was not able to announce a fit candidate as they believed would be a political clamor over it. So, government each year decided to defer the award avoiding any kind of embarrassment on its part. In truth, the top honor has invited bitter political controversies over the last few decades. Bharat Ratan is generally announced on the eve of Republic Day. Although, it is not mandatory yet Mr. LK Advani had calculated UPA government’s mood of announcing the award this year. He took no time scripting a letter to Prime Minister Dr. Man Mohan to pay his obligation towards Vajpayee. After his letter, there was a flood of nominations. Kanshi Ram, Simranjeet Singh Maan, Jyoti Basu (later CPM rejected the proposal), Biju Patnaik, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Chowdhary Charan Singh, Mahatma Phule, Babu Jagjivan Ram, M. Karunanidhi, former Prime Minister Chander Shekhar, Kapoori Thakur, Social reformer Jyotibha Phule, Playback singer Mohammad Rafi, Rattan Tata, Mata Amritanandamayi and even Delhi’s Assembly’s Deputy Speaker Shoaib Iqbal whimsically opened a new debate proposing the name of last Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar who was ousted by British Empire after the revolt of 1857 and died in exile in Myanmar.

As the days passed more and more names surfaced, getting the nation mocked with. Mr. Ghulam Nabi, a shopkeeper says- it’s an unfortunate trend in politics. It seems that our all political parties have completely lost the essence of this one of the greatest award. So, politician should be excluded from the list. Is political sycophancy the criterion of this award, he questions, if so; then it is better to be discontinued forthwith. TV Anchor and actor Mr. Tabraiz Madani asks - Do these politicians really stand up to the highest level of national service with a selfless attitude? No, none deserve the award. Moreover, government awards including Bharat Ratna these days had become a political auction. He adds. Giving awards to the likes of APJ Abdul Kalam, Nelson Mandela, Mother Teresa, Indira Gandhi, Jawahar Lal Nehru and Amartya Sen is justified but now politicians do not command public respect, he concludes. Mr. NA Khan, a lecturer at an Engineering College, is of the opinion that people like CV Raman should be given the greatest honor. He further says that former president APJ Abdul Kalam had once said at Punjab University Chandigarh on the eve of annual convocation that the scientist preferred to be by the side of his research student who was about to complete his thesis than attend a ceremony to receive Bharat Ratna in the year of 1954. Such great men are rare. On being asked now who deserve most for this year, he jubilantly votes for Ratan Tata, because, he says- today time is for Nano technology and for all right reasons; Ratan Tata is most deserving candidate for Bharat Ratna. Clamor for government awards is a not a new phenomenon but surprisingly this year it has become louder than ever before. Every time, it is mired in controversy over the choice of candidates. Mr. Suhail Khan, a Journalist by profession puts, in the year of 1988, it had erupted a big debate when AIADMK founder MG Ramachandran was bestowed on Bharat Ratna two years before Ambedkar, three years before Sardar Vallabbhai Patel and four years before Subhash Chandra Bose. Ambedkar, Vallabbhai Patel and Subhash Chandra Bose were seniors and deserve first but they were offered later. Mr. Sheikh Noor-ul-Hassan, a businessman surprises that it is shocking, India is a country of one billion people but has not produced even a single Bharat Ratna in the past six years. Perhaps, this year too is going to be a drought year due to clamor regarding the decoration. He further says that Bharat Ratna is awarded for exceptional service in the field of art, literature, social service, science and public service. Are celebrities like Sachin Tendulkar, Amitabh Bachhan, Vishwanathan Anand not eligible for this award?

Prominent singer of the kashmir valley Mr. Ajaz Rah questions in furiously, “Both Lata Mangeshkar and Mohammad Rafi were extraordinary playback singers. Lata ji has been awarded years ago but Md. Rafi Sahib is so far deprived of the citation. Where does it go to deserving candidate? I think Muslims have no right in India”. Mrs Rifat Khalida, a government teacher says, “We should never forget astronaut Kalpana Chawla’s contribution to the nation? She may be also a suitable candidate for this year if it is decided to off to anyone”.

CHART*

*Chart Source: Google