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National Award
Bharat Ratna – National Award of India
Type | Civilian |
Category | National |
Description | An image of the Sun along with the words "Bharat Ratna", inscribed in Devanagari script, on a peepul leaf |
Instituted | 1954 |
Last awarded | 2008 |
Total awarded | 41 |
Awarded by | Government of India |
Ribbon | |
First awardee(s) | Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, Sir C.V. Raman, C. Rajagopalachari |
Last awardee(s) | Bhimsen Joshi |
The Republic of India confers its highest civilian award namely Bharat Ratna to those having performed extraordinarily in any human endeavor field through excellent performance. The eligibility for this award is for any individual having performed extraordinarily and is conferred this award without discriminating on the grounds of race, sex, position or occupation et al. Prime Minister of India though recommends the names for Bharat Ratna to the Indian President to confer this award. Those holding the Bharat Ratna title are on the 7th rank in precedence order of India but they still don’t have special type of title or honor.
History
Dr. Rajendra Prasad, first president of India established this order on January 02, 1954 to confer Bharat Ratna on the extraordinary performers. There was no provision for the posthumous awards in original statutes prepared in January 1954 henceforth such high esteemed decoration hadn’t been conferred to Mahatma Gandhi. It was in 1966 statute that such provisions were added in this award. Since then this award had been conferred posthumously for twelve time that also included conferring posthumous award to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in 1992 but it was withdrawn later because of some legal and technical constraints. It was the only such case of withdrawing this award due to technicalities involved.
Brief suspension of this award came from July 13, 1977 to January 26, 1980 due to specific reason. General assumption was that Bharat Ratna could be conferred on the citizens of India only although it was not the provision and recipients could be even foreign nationals. Out of the 41 awards conferred by now one has been awarded to a naturalized citizen of India, Mother Teresa in 1980 and furthermore two foreign nationals Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan and Nelson Mandela have been awarded in 1987 and 1990 respectively. It is ironic but the conferring of this honor has often remained in controversies of different types especially lawsuits that often questioned constitutional basis of awards conferred.
The original specification for this award was fixed for a gold medal in circular shape which carried the motto and state emblem besides other features. The fact about design developed as per the original stipulations is still not confirmed. Inscribed in Devanagari script the words "Bharat Ratna" are mentioned on the actual award that have been designed like a peepul leaf. Motto and state emblem can be seen in the medal’s reverse side. A 2-inch-wide or 51 mm ribbon is attached to this award which is decorated on the neck of a recipient in honor.
The Government of India introduced certain changes in the eligibility criteria for this award in 2011. It smoothened the way for sportspersons to receive such prestigious award. Equally was the focus on the broadening of criteria that was highest order performance in all the areas related to human endeavor instead of the earlier highest national service contribution of individuals. The focus is on specific service areas which are achievements in literature, art and science amongst others besides impactful service and recognition in the public services.
With receiving this award at the age of mere 54, former prime minister Indira Gandhi remains youngest ever Bharat Ratna recipient. In the list of youngest posthumous recipients, former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi was the youngest one whom this award was conferred at an age of 47 only. The eldest recipient receiving this award alive was Gulzarilal Nanda who was conferred this award at the age of 99 while the eldest posthumous award winner is Vallabhbhai Patel who was conferred this award at the age 116.
Specifications
Circular gold medal in a diameter of 35 mm having sun inscription and "Bharat Ratna" legend mentioned in Devanagari in upper portion while floral wreath in bottom side was original specification for award. Motto and state emblem was mentioned in reverse side of medal. Attached with white ribbon the award is worn around neck of a recipient for decoration. This design was altered one year after introduction so hardly is any sign of it being used ever. Today this decoration is designed from toned bronze of nearly 5.8 cm long and 4.7 cm wide peepal leaf whose thickness is 3.1 mm. Replica of 1.6 cm diameter sun is embossed on reverse side with the mention of “Bharat Ratna” in Devanagari. This script is also used to mention State emblem and motto in reverse side. Burnished bronze inscriptions and platinum used for emblem, sun and rim complete the medal.
Recipients
It was in 1954 that Bharat Ratna award was established. Eminent Indian scientist Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman wast the first recipient of this prestigious award. The award has been conferred on many personalities of repute from various professional fields who received this coveted award in recognition of their extraordinary merits.
Former president of India, Dr. A. P. J Abdul Kalam was conferred this esteemed award in the year 1997. It must be noted that there is no specific provision to confer Bharat Ratna to only Indians. Naturalized The award has been conferred to eminent naturalized Indian citizen, Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu, famously called Mother Teresa in the year 1980. Two foreigners Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan and Nelson Mandela have been conferred this award. Pandit Bhimsen Gururaj Joshi was the last recipient of this award conferred upon him in 2008. There is no time bounding for annual Bharat Ratna award conferring.