New Delhi: India may be shining on all fronts as an emerging global superpower, yet the country hasn't found a deserving person for the nation's highest honour, Bharat Ratna, in the last seven years.
And as countdown begins for this year's civilian awards, speculation is on as to whether the nation of more than one billion people will have an eminent person to call a jewel this time around.
The Bharat Ratna is awarded for exceptional service towards art, literature or science. It is also given in recognition of outstanding Public Service. State governments can recommend names for the award; however, the final decision rests with the Central Government.
With just three weeks to go for the Padma Awards, CNN-IBN has kicked off a debate as to whether it's time to honour a younger person like Sachin Tendulkar instead of just going in for the obvious. In response to a call to propose a name for the Bharat Ratna this year, hundreds of readers on IBNLive have written in with their nominations and begun a lively debate on who could be the best deserving candidate.
While a good number of readers backed the idea of conferring the honour on a young Indian icon like Sachin Tendulkar, others thought it’s not the right time to bestow him with this laurel.
Other names nominated for the supreme national honour included Tata Group head Ratan Tata, Infosys mentor NR Narayan Murthy, veteran politicians Atal Behari Vajpayee and Jyoti Basu, eminent sportspersons Viswanathan Anand and Kapil Dev, Bollywood badshah Amitabh Bachchan, social activist Medha Patkar and also posthumously for the great industrialist Dhirubhai Ambani among others.
But the proposal to nominate Sachin Tendulkar has drawn the maximum responses. "It's not about his centuries or money. It's about his impact on every Indian heart. He brings a smile on every Indian's face, he makes them feel proud. Sachin is the most deserving one," says Santosh.
Bharat Sarmalkar also feels Sachin can be a 'great choice'. "Sachin has served the biggest sport of India for a long time. He has single-handedly won India lots of matches. He's the biggest icon and idol for a lot of youngsters. So he should be an ideal choice for Bharat Ratna," he argues.
According to Gopinath, Sachin embodies the 'power of India' and hence the best choice among them all.
Inder, however, feels there are more deserving sportstars in the country that Sachin, who include Michael Peraira ( billiards ), Viswanathan Anand (chess ) , Pargat Singh (hockey), Prakash Pondokone (badminton) , and Milka Singh (athletics).
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Debargha Datta says while Bharat Ratna is indeed due to Sachin, this is not the right time to bestow him with this laurel. "He is still in action and let him go his way till he hang up his boots."
V Kavuri says Dhirubhai Ambani would be the best one as he was the one who revolutinised the investment policies in India and had a great role in turning the India into a business hub, kicking off an industrial resurgence.
Gobinda nominates either Ratan Tata or NR Narayan Murthy. Balaji Sagadevan also says Tata must be the next Indian Bharat Ratna.
Digvijay Ankoti says Ratan Tata deserves the honour "for making India count in the business world, for acquiring companies all over the world and for making an elephant (read Tata Group) dance!"
Raghava also proposes the name of Ratan Tata. "Because he has been the face of India Inc for long. He has been instrumental in providing employment and pride to many Indians. He has contributed directly and indirectly to an Indian's economic prowess," he says.
According to Shridhar, it would be extremely unfair if anybody other than Pandit Bhimsen Joshi gets the next Bharat Ratna.
Nilang Joshi says Atal Bihari Vajpayee is the best choice for the honour as he gave his life to the service of the nation, for the cause of betterment and prosperity of the country and its people.
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