LK Advani : Bharat Ratna Recipient, Pinnacle of National Recognition

03 Feb, (VNI): The declaration of LK Advani being bestowed with the Bharat Ratna, India's preeminent civilian honor, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, highlights the enduring contributions of the seasoned statesman to the nation's progress. This recognition, marking him as the 50th awardee, underscores the weight of his influence on the country.

The Bharat Ratna ‘Jewel of India’ is the highest civilian award in the country, holds a revered position in the spectrum of national accolades. Its conferment is an acknowledgment of extraordinary service to the nation, encompassing a diverse array of fields such as science, arts, literature, and distinguished public service. Notably, this prestigious award can be granted posthumously, a feature exercised seven times since its establishment.

Instituted on January 2, 1954, by former President Rajendra Prasad, the Bharat Ratna initially lacked provisions for posthumous awards. The subsequent amendment in January 1966 rectified this, allowing the recognition of individuals posthumously. The inaugural recipients in 1954 were Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan, Sir C.V. Raman, and Chakravarti Rajagopalachari. Over the years, the award has transcended various fields, even embracing sports with Sachin Tendulkar as the youngest and first sportsperson to be honored.

The Bharat Ratna medallion, forged in bronze, mirrors a fig tree leaf with a central sunburst, bearing the emblematic 'Bharat Ratna' inscription. The reverse side proudly showcases the national emblem with 'Satyameva Jayate' inscribed in Devanagari script. Worn with a white ribbon around the neck, this symbol of distinction carries no financial endowment.

Initially restricted to literature, science, arts, and public service, the Bharat Ratna's eligibility criteria expanded in 2011 to encompass "any field of human endeavor." Notably, there exists no stipulation that confines the award to Indian citizens exclusively. Recent modifications in guidelines have further broadened eligibility, particularly in the realm of sports.

The selection process entails the Prime Minister recommending candidates to the President, with a cap of three awards annually. The roster of past awardees mirrors a diverse panorama of individuals who have etched an indelible mark on the nation's history, spanning political leaders, social reformers, scientists, artists, and sports icons.

The impending recognition of LK Advani with the Bharat Ratna prompts contemplation on the award's rich history and its profound significance. Beyond being a commendation of individual accomplishments, it stands as a beacon illuminating the collective progress and excellence of the nation across myriad fields. As Advani joins the esteemed ranks of Bharat Ratna recipients, his legacy becomes intricately woven into the fabric of India's relentless pursuit of excellence.

Bharat Ratna Recipients from 1954 to 2024:

Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan (1954) - Indian philosopher and statesman, first Vice President of India
C.V. Raman (1954) - Indian physicist, Nobel Laureate in Physics
Chakravarti Rajagopalachari (1954) - Indian politician, independence activist, lawyer, writer, historian, and statesman, last Governor-General of India
Bhagwan Das (1955) - Indian Theosophist and a member of the Central Legislative Assembly of British India
M. Visvesvaraya (1955) - Civil Engineer and Statesman
Jawaharlal Nehru (1955) - Indian independence activist, first Prime Minister of India
Govind Ballabh Pant (1957) - Indian freedom fighter, one of the architects of modern India
Dhondo Keshav Karve (1958) - Social reformer in India in the field of women’s welfare
Bidhan Chandra Roy (1961) - Eminent Indian physician, educationist, philanthropist, freedom fighter, and politician, Chief Minister of West Bengal
Purushottam Das Tandon (1961) - Freedom fighter from Uttar Pradesh, India
Rajendra Prasad (1962) - First President of India
Zakir Husain (1963) - Third President of India
Pandurang Vaman Kane (1963) - Indologist and Sanskrit scholar
Lal Bahadur Shastri (1966) - Second Prime Minister of India
Indira Gandhi (1971) - The only female Prime Minister of India
V.V. Giri (1975) - Fourth President of India
K. Kamaraj (1976) - A leader of the Indian National Congress
Mother Teresa (1980) - Albanian-Indian Roman Catholic nun and missionary
Vinoba Bhave (1983) - Indian advocate of nonviolence and human rights
Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan (1987) - Pashtun independence activist
M.G. Ramachandran (1988) - Indian actor, filmmaker, and politician, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu
B.R. Ambedkar (1990) - Indian jurist, economist, politician, and social reformer, part of the Dalit Buddhist movement
Nelson Mandela (1990) - South African revolutionary, political leader, and philanthropist, President of South Africa
Rajiv Gandhi (1991) - Indian politician, 6th Prime Minister of India
Vallabhbhai Patel (1991) - The First Deputy Prime Minister of India
Morarji Desai (1991) - Indian independence activist, 4th Prime Minister of India
Abul Kalam Azad (1992) - Indian scholar, independence activist, and a senior leader of the Indian National Congress
J.R.D. Tata (1992) - Chairman of Tata Group
Satyajit Ray (1992) - Indian filmmaker, screenwriter, music composer, graphic artist, lyricist, and author
Aruna Asaf Ali (1997) - Indian independence activist, the first Mayor of Delhi
Gulzarilal Nanda (1997) - Indian politician and economist specializing in labor issues
Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam (1997) - Missile Man of India
M.S. Subbulakshmi (1998) - Indian Carnatic singer from Madurai, Tamil Nadu
Chidambaram Subramaniam (1998) - Indian politician and independence activist
Jayaprakash Narayan (1999) - Indian independence activist, theorist, socialist, and political leader
Amartya Sen (1999) - Indian economist and philosopher
Gopinath Bordoloi (1999) - First Chief Minister of Assam
Ravi Shankar (1999) - Indian musician and a composer of Hindustani classical music
Lata Mangeshkar (2001) - Indian playback singer and music director
Bismillah Khan (2001) - Indian musician credited with popularizing the shehnai
Bhimsen Joshi (2009) - Indian vocalist from Karnataka
C.N.R. Rao (2014) - Currently, the Head of the Scientific Advisory Council to the Prime Minister of India
Sachin Tendulkar (2014) - Former captain of the Indian national cricket team and one of the greatest batsmen in the history of Cricket
Madan Mohan Malaviya (2015) - Indian educationist and politician
Atal Bihari Vajpayee (2015) - Indian politician, statesman, and poet, served three terms as the Prime Minister of India
Pranab Mukherjee (2019) - 13th President of India
Nanaji Deshmukh (2019) - Social Activist
Bhupen Hazarika (2019) - Indian playback singer, lyricist, musician, poet, and filmmaker from Assam
Karpoori Thakur (2024) - Politician and former Bihar Chief Minister
LK Advani (Year not specified, as mentioned in the input) - Indian statesman and politician