Bharat Ratna
President of India Ramnath Kovind on 25th January 2019 conferred the Bharat Ratna on
- Pranab Mukherjee (former president)
- Social activist Nanaji Deshmukh (posthumous) &
- Bhupen Hazarika (Assamese musician) (posthumous).
Pranab Mukherjee
Nanaji Deshmukh
Bhupen Hazarika
PM TWEETS on Bharat Ratna Awardees
Pranab Da is an outstanding statesman of our times.
He has served the nation selflessly and tirelessly for decades, leaving a strong imprint on the nation’s growth trajectory.
His wisdom and intellect have few parallels. Delighted that he has been conferred the Bharat Ratna.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 25, 2019
Nanaji Deshmukh’s stellar contribution towards rural development showed the way for a new paradigm of empowering those living in our villages.
He personifies humility, compassion and service to the downtrodden. He is a Bharat Ratna in the truest sense!
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 25, 2019
The songs and music of Shri Bhupen Hazarika are admired by people across generations. From them radiates the message of justice, harmony and brotherhood.
He popularised India’s musical traditions globally.
Happy that the Bharat Ratna has been conferred on Bhupen Da.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 25, 2019
About Bharat Ratna
Bharat Ratna is the nation’s highest civilian honour.
Bharat Ratna award was instituted in 1954.
The recommendations for the Bharat Ratna are made by the Prime Minister to the President, with a maximum of three nominees being awarded per year.
Bharat Ratna is the highest civilian honour, given for exceptional service towards advancement of Art, Literature and Science, and in recognition of Public Service of the highest order.
It is also not mandatory that Bharat Ratna be awarded every year.
Recipients of Bharat Ratna receive a Sanad (certificate) signed by the President and a peepal-leaf–shaped medallion.
The recipients of Bharat Ratna rank seventh in the Indian order of precedence.
Politician C. Rajagopalachari, philosopher Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, and scientist C. V. Raman were the first recipients of the Bharat Ratna, honoured in 1954.
Former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri became the first individual to be honoured posthumously.
In 2014, cricketer Sachin Tendulkar became the youngest recipient of Bharat Ratna.
Bharat Ratna is usually conferred on India born citizens. But it has also been conferred to one naturalized citizen and to two non-Indians.
Bharat Ratna to Naturalized Citizen– Mother Teresa
Bharat Ratna to non-Indians – Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan (Pakistan national) also known as Frontier Gandhi & former South African President Nelson Mandela.
Bharat Ratna Naturalized citizen
Mother Teresa
Bharat Ratna to Non-Indians(Foreign National)
Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan (Pakistan National also known as Frontier Gandhi)
&
South African President Nelson Mandela.
Bharat Ratna award was briefly suspended two times in its history.
Some Quick Facts about Bharat Ratna Awards
First person awarded posthumously – Lal Bahadur Shastri
Youngest Receiver (after death at the age of 47) – Rajiv Gandhi
Youngest living Receiver (at the age of 40) – Sachin Tendulkar(Cricket)
Oldest receiver – Madan Mohan Malviya (after death, at 153 years)
Oldest living receiver – Dr. Keshav Karve (at the age of 100 years)
Foreign National – Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan (Pakistan National) (1987) Also known as Frontier Gandhi– He was a great freedom fighter.
Foreign National – Nelson Mandela (1990) – Former South African President
Questions & Facts about Bharat Ratna
Q. When was Bharat Ratna award has been started?
Ans: 2nd January 1954
Q.How many person can be awarded Bharat Ratna in a single year ?
Ans: 3 (It’s not necessary to award Bharat Ratna every year)
Q. Who awards Bharat Ratna to the recipient?
Ans: President
Q. Who returned Bharat Ratna award.
Ans: Family of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose freedom fighter
Q. Who was given Bharat Ratna award in 1954.
- C Rajagopalachari – Second governor general & first Indian governor general.
- Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan first Vice President of India
- Dr Chandrashekhar Venkat Raman – Indian physicist & got Nobel Prize in physics for his work, Raman effect.
Indira Gandhi was first women recipient of Bharat Ratna, Mother Teresa who was the second recipient of Bharat Ratna.
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was the first Prime Minister to get Bharat Ratna award.
Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri was the first recipient of Bharat Ratna posthumously.
First sports person to get Bharat Ratna is Cricketer batsman Sachin Tendulkar also he is the youngest to get the award.
Padma Awards
India’s second highest civilian honour Padma Vibhushan 2019 conferred on:
- Construction giant Larsen & Toubro’s(L&T) Chairman AM Naik.
- Spices maker MDH owner Mahashay Dharam Pal Gulati (95 years old) &
- John Chambers, former CEO of US technology giant Cisco Systems were chosen for Padma Bhushan.
Photoshop maker Adobe’s India born CEO Shantanu Narayen was conferred Padma Shri.
Padma Awards are announced on the eve of the Republic Day.
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