Bharat Ratna over the years

Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award of India was instituted on Jan 2, 1954. ‘Bharat Ratna’ means ‘Gem of India’.

It is awarded for exceptional service towards advancement of Art, Literature and Science, and in recognition of public service of the highest order.

The recommendations for Bharat Ratna are made to the president by the prime minister. No formal are necessary recommendations for this.

The number of annual awards is restricted to a maximum of three in a particular year. Initially, the Bharat  Ratna was conferred to only living persons and the award was  not intended to be given posthumously.

 

Here is the list of top ten Bharat Ratna Awardees over the years.

1. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was the first vice president of India, a philosopher belonging to Tamil Nadu whose birthday is commemorated as “Teachers’ Day”. He was conferred the award in 1954.

2. Jawaharlal Nehru was the first prime minister of India, an Indian freedom fighter and a writer who hailed from Uttar Pradesh. He was conferred the award in 1955.

3. Rajendra Prasad was the first president of India, a freedom fighter and a jurist belonging to Bihar. He was conferred the award in 1962.

4. Indira Gandhi, former and first and only lady Prime Minister of India was the daughter of Jawaharlal Nehru and hailed from Uttar Pradesh. She was conferred the award in 1971.

5. Mother Teresa was a Nobel laureate for Peace. A foreigner, belonging to the Republic of Macedonia, she dedicated her entire life to serve the sick people of India especially patients of Leprosy. She was conferred the award in 1980.

6. B. R. Ambedkar was an architect who played a key role in the formation of the Indian Constitution. He was a social reformer, economist and scholar belonging to Maharashtra. He was awarded posthumously. He was conferred the award in 1990.

7. Nelson Mandela was the second non-citizen and first non-Indian awarded the Bharat  Ratna. He was a prominent leader of the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa. He was conferred the award in 1990.

8. Rajiv Gandhi was a former prime minister of India and he was the son of Indira Gandhi, grand-son of Jawaharlal Nehru who belonged to New Delhi. He was awarded posthumously. He was conferred the award in 1991.          

9. Lata Mangeshkar is a legendary Indian playback singer who lent her voice for over 2,000 Indian films in a career spanning nearly six decades. She was conferred the award in 2001.

10. Sachin Tendulkar is a global sports icon and cricketing legend for his unsurpassable achievements and unbreakable records in the field of cricket, which earned good name and glory to India, in a career spanning 24 years. He was conferred the award in 2014.