The quiz about a crown

THE GREAT INDIAN CIRCUS

It is an Indian tradition to respect elders. That an octogenarian, who has been active in public life for a good part of the century deserves to be honoured needs no elaboration. But then, it also happens to be an Indian tradition to overdo things a bit.

The latest recipient of the ‘coveted’ Bharat Ratna award is surely no stranger, not at least to the connoisseurs of the Indian political theatre and his contemporaries in politics who are familiar with the highs and lows of his long career. He is no stranger, also because he has managed to remain in the limelight, primarily through his ‘prompt’ reactions to issues of concern, while several of his peers, with identical or better qualifications have faded out. It is just a coincidence that all his averments have come singularly in favour of the present incumbents in office, both at the Centre and the State. As a matter of record we should say that he has quit politics long back. Not politicking, we may add.

We are told that the Bharat Ratna is the highest civilian honour presented to those who have made exemplary contribution to the nation. Supreme sacrifice and martyrdom automatically entitle one to this honour, though those who laid down their lives for the nation would not have had this in their mind. As a matter of fact, Bharat Ratna, could never be a target for anyone who has service to the people uppermost in his mind. Rather it is a recognition which comes naturally and the justification for its conferment comes from public acclaim.

It has always been a matter of dispute whether this honour could be bestowed on a politician, past or present, and this is primarily because politics has come to be associated purely with the pursuit of personal power and pelf and therefore excludes any claims of service to the people. Yet a Rajiv Gandhi or an MGR could be deemed exceptions owing to the supreme sacrifice of the former and a public acclaim that transcended politics, in the case of the latter.

It may certainly look out of context and even undignified to subject the life of the latest recipient to a critical scan. In fact such an exercise can be carried out only at the risk of inviting abuses from certain quarters, which besides the well wishers of the eminent person, may also include those who have benefited from his ‘fair’ comments on current political issues. The government, obviously has been conscious of the impending criticism and has taken pains to research the awardee’s past to come up with a justification that could pass muster. That it has picked out the rather obscure green revolution (which was really more amber than green), a much discussed and disputed subject even in the days of its implementation, reveals the absolute lack of credible reasons to support its decision. It certainly appears to be a case of choosing the person first and then looking for achievements to back it up. The awardee’s stint in various ministries cannot be termed an achievement for if so, there would be scores of such eminences and Bharat Ratnas have to be doled out by the dozens. The fact that the person was also a Minister during the notorious Emergency also seems to have skipped notice. Or probably, the man’s betrayal of Indira Gandhi when she lost power in 1977, had erased all his past sins, except, of course, the green revolution. It has also to be inferred that despite wallowing in the dirty world of politics, the awardee has managed to remain clean and above corruption. We are sure, the panelists would have done their home work well. But then we are a very forgiving nation, indeed.

The past is obscure. And it is always hallowed. Anything left over from the previous generation is sacred. And, perhaps on this count alone the award would befit the awardee. A decade-and-a-half of carefully cultivated greatness is more than adequate to shield several decades of dubious politicking from the probing eyes of those in the present.

The government’s decision also brings to the fore a vital question. Can a caretaker government which lacks credibility as well as authority be allowed to take a decision that may not only vitiate history but also render the most prestigious award wide open to political machinations?

A Bharat Ratna to Abdul Kalam represents an honour to the scientific community and acts as an inspiration to the most vital discipline in the modern world. The choice of M.S.Subbulakshmi did the award proud. The award to Shri C.S. has done only Shri.C.S. proud.

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