Bharat Ratna award is the highest civilian honour that is conferred by Government of India like the Presidential Medal of Freedom award in USA. The president of India awards the Bharat Ratna winner a medal and a sanand (certificate ) signed by president of India himself , but no monetary grant is awarded.
Mr. Lal Krishna Advani has been one of the most influential politicians who has changed Indian politics forever. He who instilled a sense a pride and glory in Hindutva ideology which has contributed to the rise of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP ) as a ruling power in Indian politics. In 1992 , he had played a pivotal role in demolition of Babri Masjid which was earlier built by Mughal ruler Babur in 1528 by demolishing a hindu temple. Mr. Advani led to the victory of his party BJP in general elections in 1996 under his party leadership to form goverment by led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee as Prime Minister . This was a defining moment in Indian politics as it ended the monopoly of congress party in Indian political arena.The iconic Ram Mandir in Ayodhya which has been recently inaugurated in 2024 where once Babri Masjid stood is by virtue of his political campaign and hard work as a prominent contributor and ideologue. He has served as the BJP’s party president for the longest period of time. He has played significant role in Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) as a top brass leader which is the main force behind BJP’s political campaign. He has been the political ideologue , philosopher and guide of Prime minister Narendra Modi .It was Mr. Advani who was main force behind Narendra Modi becoming chief minister of Indian state Gujarat for the first time. He was a staunch critic of Pakistan military and had adopted a hardline approach during India Pakistan Kargil war in 1999 when he was the deputy prime minister of India. He has been a strong public choice for the position of President of India , but never became so.
The other Bharat Ratna awardee Mr. Karpoori Thakur has been a BJP stalwart and has significant contribution to Indian politics. He was two time chief minister of Indian state Bihar in 1970s. In Bihar Hindu caste based politics plays a great role. Mr. Thakur has been a vocal critic of caste based politics as it is not in favour of social development and a great impediment in social justice. He in his vision has always advocated for social justice politics where all intermediate Hindu castes get better representation in all walks of life and no one is prejudiced.
Scientist MS Swaminathan (1925 -2023 ) has been awarded Bharat Ratna in 2024 along with others above for his contribution to plant genetics who led the green revolution in India . He introduced the high yielding varieties of wheat and rice which was key for India which was struggling for grains those days.
The former prime minister of India PV Narasimha Rao who was at the helm from 1991-1996 has been awarded Bharat ratna . Indian economy was liberalised from being a closed economy ending the era of license Raj by introducing liberalisation , privatisation and globalisation in Indian economy. The timely effort has led Indian economy to grow faster and to become one of the top 5 economies of the world.
Chaudhury charan Singh who was a freedom fighter , chief minister of Uttar Pradesh and the fifth prime minister of India in ( 28 july 1979 – 20 aug 1979 ) has been awarded Bharat Ratna for his contribution to social reforms , land reforms and empowering farmers in India .
The first time the Bharat Ratna award was conferred to any individual was in 1954 . Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan, Sir C.V. Raman, and Chakravarti Rajagopalachari together were the first ones to be awarded Bharat Ratna in 1954 . Bharat Ratna can be awarded to any number of persons in recognition of their exceptional service or performance of highest order in any field of human endeavour as recommended by the Prime Minister of India to the President of India .
Bharat Ratna award can be conferred to foreign nationals as well. Mother Teresa was awarded Bharat Ratna in 1980 , but she was a naturalised Indian citizen by then. Abdul Ghaffar Khan of Pakistan in 1987 and South African President Nelson Mandela in 1990 were the only two foreign nationals to have been awarded Bharat Ratna.