Debate on Bharat Ratna to Nehru, Indira rekindled

When RTI enthusiasts sought records of the recommendations for awarding the Ratna to Nehru, Indira, Prasad, Giri and others, they were told by records and file notings were not available.

- RASHEED KIDWAI

Bharat Ratna to Karpoori Thakur and Lal Krishna Advani have B rekindled the debate and controversy surrounding the time when the highest civilian award was conferred upon prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi by their respective governments.

February 2024 has jogged memories of the summer of 1955.

That was when Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first Prime Minister, was conferred the Bharat Ratna by his own government.

Nehru was on a visit to Europe in June-July 1955, addressing heads of Indian missions in Europe at Salzburg and meeting the Chancellor of Austria, Julius Raab, in Vienna when the award was announced.

It was only the second year since the award, given for "exceptional service towards the advancement of art, literature and science and in recognition of public service of the highest order", had been instituted through a presidential notification.

The first recipients were C. Rajgopalachari, C.V. Raman and S. Radhakrishnan - all in 1954, the year the award was instituted.

President Rajendra Prasad, who had an uneasy relationship with Nehru following differences over several issues, took full responsibility for conferring the Ratna on Nehru.

"In doing so," Prasad said on July 15, 1955, "for once, I may be said to be acting unconstitutionally, as I am taking this step on my own initiative and without any recommendation or advice from my Prime Minister; but I know that my action will be endorsed most enthusiastically..." Nehru was honoured along with philosopher Bhagwan Das and technocrat M. Visvesaraya.