Bharat Ratna, not for commoners

Government of India announced the Bharat Ratna to be conferred on the former Prime Minister Mr. AB Vajpayee and late educationist Pt. MM Malviya. Up till now India has conferred this prestigious award to 45 people of which 26 have been active politicians rest were renowned people who contributed to arts, science and social reforms. Six of our Prime Ministers and four of our Presidents have been honored with Bharat Ratna.

I have no reservations regarding the choice of recipients but for the criteria and process. First, why is it so easy for the politicians to qualify for the awards where they never seem to qualify for awards sponsored by any non-government or International committee? Whereas the Bharat Ratna awardees besides the politicians have many such acclaims to their names. Second, if this is the way to express our gratitude to our politicians who have toiled hard to make us a nation then the awards should be rechristened to Raajneetigya Ratna for them. Third, we are a nation of 1.2 billion and does no common man has the ability and contribution that can make him a Bharat Ratna.

Strategically the selection committee should also consider the people from amongst the common man who dedicate their lives to the social cause. Rather it prefers to select from amongst the recognised faces, with its reservation for politicians. People who work without garnering media attention have no or rather lean possibility to be a Bharat Ratna. If I may say, a person living in Patna who chooses 30 unprivileged students and coaches them to be a part of the prestigious IIT’s, is he, not a Bharat Ratna? International media appreciates his efforts, but here in his own country government makes no effort to recognize him. Or Bharat Ratna is not for the common man?

The award is presented in “recognition of exceptional service/performance of the highest order" or in "any field of human endeavour."  How many of our politicians fulfill this criterion? Owing to several reasons the dignity of the awards is challenged in the past. However, the award still holds an honor and an effort to encompass the common man into its fold will encourage the spirits of people who invest their lives for human upliftment. Let's not make it a feather that glorifies the cap that is already adorned with the Padma awards and several others.