Missing in the list of Bharat Ratna awardees

We all know the Bharat Ratna is India’s highest award, and we all hope it is conferred after careful deliberation and close scrutiny. After all, you don’t want to scatter the most vaunted accolade like confetti. The English call that casting pearls before swine, but I won't use that phrase.

- Karan Thapar

Yet, that’s what seems to be the case. Consider these facts.

Of the 53 people awarded the Bharat Ratna starting with the first in 1954, by my count, 31 are politicians. That’s almost 60%. Doesn't this seem to suggest it’s been strategically given for political reasons rather than as recognition of merit? Sometimes, it has been given to Congress leaders by their worshipful colleagues. Doesn't that cheapen the award? It certainly diminishes it.

The other disturbing fact is that 18 awardees got the Bharat Ratna posthumously. It may have been remiss not to recognise them in their lifetime but to make up for that decades later seems foolish if not risible. For instance, Vallabhbhai Patel got it 41 years after his death. In fact, he died before the Bharat Ratna was established. BR Ambedkar and Maulana Azad got it 34 years after their death. Kar-poori Thakur 36 years after he passed away and Madan Mohan Malaviya was conferred the award an astonishing 69 years after he died. Actually, he died before India even became independent. So, if it was justified to give it to these worthies, why not Mahatma Gandhi?