Topic: Bharat Ratna
“Plaint against Dhoni, Bhajji “(Times of India 20th April 2009) brings home the truth that Cricket is no more a sport but a ‘business’, more ‘lucrative’ than a Padmashri. If the President of India who frequently visits Mumbai and Maharashtra found it fit to send a clerk to ‘deliver’ the highest award of this nation-Bharat Ratna- to the great Bhimsen Joshi why blame two ‘self auctioned’ cricketers for absenting from the award ceremony? It is time for the Government to introspect about its criteria for these awards. It has long since instituted national level awards for Sports and Sportsmen (Arjun), for literature (Gyanpeeth), Sanget Natak Academy awards for visual &performing arts, ‘Udyog shri’ for industry and National awards for Films & Film artists. It should therefore consider giving the Padma awards to a very select few whose life and works have truly brought glory to the country and not ‘distribute’ these to all and sundry as ‘Favours’ as the British did with ‘Raosaheb’ and Raobahudar’! Let Padma awards be a rare bestowal that the recipient will feel honoured to receive.