The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : Bharat Ratna

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Friday, Jan 18, 2008
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Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Bharat Ratna

The award of Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award, has become a contentious issue, thanks to the mindless and unabashed lobbying indulged in by the political class. Though Bharat Ratna has been awarded for politically expedient reasons in the past, the lobbying we see today is truly unprecedented and disappointing. It has brought the prestigious award into disrepute. This is another proof, if one was needed, of the fact that the Indian polity stands deeply divided. Unity of purpose among various political parties even on issues of national prestige looks impossible to achieve.

Shahabuddin Nadeem,

Bangalore

* * *

Bharat Ratna should come on its own, not through someone’s initiation. Realising the futility of civilian awards, Morarji Desai discontinued them during his brief tenure as the first non-Congress Prime Minister. Ironically, he was conferred with Bharat Ratna. He was, in fact, the only Indian to receive the highest civilian award of India and Pakistan — Nishaan-e-Pakistan.

I personally feel Atal Bihari Vajpayee should not compete for Bharat Ratna. Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Gandhiji, Subramania Bharati and many others did not get it.

V.E. Venkataramani,

Chennai

* * *

If the President confers Bharat Ratna on Mr. Vajpayee, it will appear as though he got it only because L.K. Advani wrote to the Prime Minister suggesting his name. On the other hand, if the President does not confer it on him, it would mean he was not found deserving enough. Either way, Mr. Vajpayee will be embarrassed.

C. Ranganarayanan,

Chennai

* * *

To avoid controversies and uphold the egalitarian values enshrined in the Constitution, it would be wise to abolish the civilian awards.

K.S. Sundaram,

Bangalore

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