5 Bharat Ratnas this year: 2 fmr PMs and 3 others to get highest civilian honour

Earlier, PM Modi had named veteran BJP leader LK Advani and former Bihar Chief Minister Karpoori Thakur's name for the prestigious award

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today announced that former Prime Ministers PV Narasimha Rao and Chaudhary Charan Singh and agriculture scientist MS Swaminathan will also be conferred Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award.

Earlier, he had named veteran BJP leader LK Advani and former Bihar Chief Minister Karpoori Thakur’s name for the prestigious award.

Usually, three Bharat Ratna awards are given in a year. However, this year, the government has named five people for the award.

“Delighted to share that our former Prime Minister, Shri PV Narasimha Rao Garu, will be honoured with the Bharat Ratna. As a distinguished scholar and statesman, Narasimha Rao Garu served India extensively in various capacities. He is equally remembered for the work he did as Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Union Minister, and as a Member of Parliament and Legislative Assembly for many years. His visionary leadership was instrumental in making India economically advanced, laying a solid foundation for the country’s prosperity and growth. Narasimha Rao Garu’s tenure as Prime Minister was marked by significant measures that opened India to global markets, fostering a new era of economic development. Furthermore, his contributions to India’s foreign policy, language and education sectors underscore his multifaceted legacy as a leader who not only steered India through critical transformations but also enriched its cultural and intellectual heritage,” PM Modi posted on X.

Delighted to share that our former Prime Minister, Shri PV Narasimha Rao Garu, will be honoured with the Bharat Ratna.

As a distinguished scholar and statesman, Narasimha Rao Garu served India extensively in various capacities. He is equally remembered for the work he did as… pic.twitter.com/lihdk2BzDU

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 9, 2024

Announcing the prestigious award for former PM Chaudhary Charan Singh, PM Modi said that the this honor is dedicated to his incomparable contribution to the country. He had dedicated his entire life to the rights of farmers and their welfare. Be it the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh or the Home Minister of the country and even as an MLA, he always gave impetus to nation building. His dedication to farmers and his commitment to democracy during the emergency is inspiring to the entire nation.

“हमारी सरकार का यह सौभाग्य है कि देश के पूर्व प्रधानमंत्री चौधरी चरण सिंह जी को भारत रत्न से सम्मानित किया जा रहा है। यह सम्मान देश के लिए उनके अतुलनीय योगदान को समर्पित है। उन्होंने किसानों के अधिकार और उनके कल्याण के लिए अपना पूरा जीवन समर्पित कर दिया था। उत्तर प्रदेश के मुख्यमंत्री रहे हों या देश के गृहमंत्री और यहां तक कि एक विधायक के रूप में भी, उन्होंने हमेशा राष्ट्र निर्माण को गति प्रदान की। वे आपातकाल के विरोध में भी डटकर खड़े रहे। हमारे किसान भाई-बहनों के लिए उनका समर्पण भाव और इमरजेंसी के दौरान लोकतंत्र के लिए उनकी प्रतिबद्धता पूरे देश को प्रेरित करने वाली है।,” PM Modi wrote in Hindi.

हमारी सरकार का यह सौभाग्य है कि देश के पूर्व प्रधानमंत्री चौधरी चरण सिंह जी को भारत रत्न से सम्मानित किया जा रहा है। यह सम्मान देश के लिए उनके अतुलनीय योगदान को समर्पित है। उन्होंने किसानों के अधिकार और उनके कल्याण के लिए अपना पूरा जीवन समर्पित कर दिया था। उत्तर प्रदेश के… pic.twitter.com/gB5LhaRkIv

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 9, 2024

PM Modi also wrote on X, “It is a matter of immense joy that the Government of India is conferring the Bharat Ratna on 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.”

It is a matter of immense joy that the Government of India is conferring the Bharat Ratna on 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… pic.twitter.com/OyxFxPeQjZ

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 9, 2024

Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award of the country, was instituted in the year 1954.

Since then, the award has been granted to 50 individuals so far, with 17 posthumously.

However, only two from Assam– first Chief Minister of Assam Gopinath Bordoloi (1999) and late music maestro, the legendary Dr Bhupen Hazarika popularly known as the ‘Bard of Brahmaputra’ (2019) were given the award so far.

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