Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on 9 February that former Prime Ministers PV Narasimha Rao and Chaudhary Charan Singh, alongside agricultural scientist MS Swaminathan, will be conferred the Bharat Ratna. Earlier, politician and former Bihar chief minister Karpoori Thakur, and politician and former deputy prime minister Lal Krishna Advani were announced to be conferred with India’s highest civilian honour.
Bharat Ratna For Farm Icon, Two Former PMs
Why In News
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on 9 February that former Prime Ministers PV Narasimha Rao and Chaudhary Charan Singh, alongside agricultural scientist MS Swaminathan, will be conferred the Bharat Ratna. Earlier, politician and former Bihar chief minister Karpoori Thakur, and politician and former deputy prime minister Lal Krishna Advani were announced to be conferred with India’s highest civilian honour.
- This year’s five recipients surpass the four awarded in 1999, marking the highest number of Bharat Ratnas awarded in a single year.
Pamulaparthi Venkata Narasimha Rao
- Former Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao has been conferred the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award.
- “As a distinguished scholar and statesman, Narasimha Rao Garu served India extensively in various capacities. His visionary leadership was instrumental in making India economically advanced, laying a solid foundation for the country’s prosperity and growth,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
- Pamulaparthi Venkata Narasimha Rao (1921–2004) was a prominent figure in Indian politics, serving as the 9th Prime Minister of India from 1991 to 1996 and earlier as the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh in 1971.
- Known as the Father of Economic Reforms, Rao was instrumental in dismantling the restrictive License Raj system, streamlining bureaucratic processes, and enhancing the competitiveness of Indian industries. He initiated measures to liberalize trade and integrate the Indian economy with global markets, particularly those in East Asia.
- In foreign affairs, Rao made significant strides by establishing diplomatic ties with Israel and thawing decades-long tensions with the United States. He also launched the Look East policy to strengthen ties with Asian nations.
- Recognized as the Father of the Indian Nuclear Program, Rao bolstered national nuclear security and ballistic missile capabilities, culminating in the Pokhran nuclear tests in 1998 under the Vajpayee-led NDA government. Despite the tests being planned during his tenure in 1996, they were postponed due to a change in the central government following the general elections.
- Rao’s tenure witnessed effective management of national security challenges, including addressing separatist movements in Punjab and Kashmir.
- His legacy also includes groundbreaking constitutional amendments, specifically the 73rd and 74th amendments, which empowered local governance during his premiership.
- However, Rao’s term was marred by the Babri Mosque demolition in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, under the tenure of BJP’s Kalyan Singh as Chief Minister. This event sparked communal violence, marking one of the most significant Hindu-Muslim conflicts in post-independence India.
- Rao’s political acumen earned him the moniker “Chanakya” for his adeptness in navigating economic and political reforms through a challenging parliamentary landscape, particularly during his tenure leading a minority government.
Chaudhary Charan Singh
- Another former Prime Minister and prominent Jat leader hailing from western Uttar Pradesh will be conferred with Bharat Ratna. He is known for playing a pivotal role in spearheading anti-Congress politics during an era when the party held dominant influence.
- “This honour is dedicated to his incomparable contribution to the country. His dedication to our farmer brothers and sisters and his commitment to democracy during the Emergency is inspiring to the entire nation (translated),” Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
- Born on December 23, 1903 in a peasant family in Noorpur village near Hapur, Charan Singh entered politics during the national movement. He was elected to the then United Provinces Assembly from Chhaprauli in 1937 on a Congress ticket.
- As a people’s representative, he took up issues concerning the village economy, building up a political position against the exploitation of peasants by big landlords.
- Prime Minister of India from 28 July 1979 to 14 January 1980.
- Being a proponent of rural and agricultural development he made continuous efforts for keeping agriculture at the centre of planning for India.
- He took a leading part in formulation and finalisation of the Debt Redemption Bill 1939, in order to give relief to the peasantry from moneylenders.
- He was instrumental in bringing about the Land Holding Act, 1960 which was aimed at lowering the ceiling on land holdings to make it uniform throughout the State.
- He was the author of several books and pamphlets, including ‘Abolition of Zamindari’, ‘Co-operative Farming X-rayed’, ‘India’s Poverty and its Solution’, ‘Peasant Proprietorship or Land to the Workers’ and ‘Prevention of Division of Holdings Below a Certain Minimum’.
MS Swaminathan
- Eminent agronomist will be the fifth person to be conferred with Bharat Ratna. Swaminathan is known for his significant contributions to agriculture and the welfare of farmers.
- He revolutionized Indian agriculture, ensuring both food security and prosperity for the nation.
- Monkomb Sambasivan Swaminathan, 98, passed away last year on September 28. Called the ‘Father of the Green Revolution’, he played a major role in the set of changes introduced in farming in the 1960s and ‘70s that helped India achieve food security.
- Dr. MS Swaminathan Ji, in recognition of his monumental contributions to our nation in agriculture and farmers’ welfare.
- He played a pivotal role in helping India achieve self-reliance in agriculture during challenging times and made outstanding efforts towards modernizing Indian agriculture.
- We also recognise his invaluable work as an innovator and mentor and encouraging learning and research among several students. Dr. Swaminathan’s visionary leadership has not only transformed Indian agriculture but also ensured the nation’s food security and prosperity. He was someone I knew closely and l always valued his insights and inputs,” the PM wrote in a post.
- He was awarded the first World Food Prize in 1987 and the prize money was used to set up the MS Swaminathan Research Foundation.
- He established the Nuclear Research Laboratory at the IARI and played a role in promoting the setting up of the International Crop Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics in India, the International Board for Plant Genetic Resources (now known as Bioversity International) in Italy, and the International Council for Research in Agro-Forestry in Kenya.
- Swaminathan co-chaired the United Nations Millennium Project on hunger from 2002 to 2005 and was head of the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs between 2002 and 2007.
- He was the chair of the National Commission on Farmers constituted in 2004. Was nominated to the Rajya Sabha by former (Late) President APJ Abdul Kalam, where he served from 2007 to 2013.
Karpoori Thakur
- The Bihar’s former chief minister and a well-known socialist leader will be posthumously honoured with Bharat Ratna. Popularly known as referred to as ‘Jan Nayak’ (people’s leader), Thakur will become the 49th recipient of this prestigious award.
- Served as the 11th Chief Minister of Bihar twice, from 1970-71 and 1977-79.
- Early Life and Political Foundation (1942-1967): He was a freedom fighter and a staunch socialist who worked under the guidance of stalwarts such as Jayaprakash Narain, Dr Rammanohar Lohia and Ramnandan Mishra.
- Represented the Nai community, listed as an Extremely Backward Class (EBC) among OBCs.
- Entered politics in 1952, serving as a legislator until 1985.
- In 1977, during his Chief Ministership, Mungeri Lal Commission recommended reclassifying backward classes into extremely backward classes (including weaker sections of Muslims) and backward classes.
- In 1978, he introduced a groundbreaking reservation model, allocating 26% of reservations with specific quotas for OBCs, EBCs, women, and economically backward classes among upper castes.
- This reclassification was also seen as a percussor of the Mandal Commission report, advocating for 27% reservations for Other Backward Classes.
Lal Krishna Advani
- The Bharatiya Janata Party stalwart and former deputy prime minister, has been associated with the party since its establishment in 1980. Apart from this Advani served as both the home minister and deputy Prime Minister under the leadership of Atal Bihari Vajpayee from 1999 to 2004.
- Current PM Narendra Modi disclosed that Advani would be bestowed with India’s highest civilian honour on 3 February, 2024. He served as the 7th Deputy Prime Minister of India from 2002 to 2004. He also served as a Home Minister and Information and Broadcasting Minister as well.
- Born in Karachi (present-day Pakistan) on 8th November 1927, he joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh in 1942 and relocated to Delhi from Sindh in 1947 during Partition.
