Honouring the highest civilians, Bharat Ratna awarded to three Gems of India

Delhi, January 25: In an official press release from Rashtrapati Bhavan, honourable President of India, Ramnath Kovind announced the awardees of India’s most prestigious Bharat Ratna award today.

Former President of India, Pranab Mukherjee, social activist Shri Nanaji Deshmukh (posthumously), and music maestro Dr Bhupen Hazarika (posthumously) are conferred with the gracious Bharat Ratna award, India’s highest civilian award.

Pranab Kumar Mukherjee served as the 13th President of India from 2012 until 2017. In a political career spanning five decades, Mukherjee has been a senior leader in the Indian National Congress and has occupied several ministerial portfolios in the Government of India. He was honoured with the Padma Vibhushan in 2008.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was among the very first to congratulate Bharat Ratna awardees, expressed, “Pranab an outstanding statesman of our times. He has served the nation selflessly and tirelessly for decades, leaving a strong imprint on the nation's growth trajectory. His wisdom and intellect have few parallels. Delighted that he has been conferred Bharat Ratna”.

Chandikadas Amritrao Deshmukh commonly known as Nanaji Deshmukh was a social activist from India. He has done immense work in the fields of education, health, and rural self-reliance. He was a leader of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh and also a member of the Rajya Sabha. He was also honoured with the Padma Vibhushan in 1999.

Praising late Nanaji Deshmukh for his contribution to the society, PM stated, “Nanaji Deshmukh’s stellar contribution towards rural development showed the way for a new paradigm of empowering those living in our villages. He personifies humility, compassion and service to the downtrodden. He is a Bharat Ratna in the truest sense”.

Bhupen Hazarika was an Indian playback singer, lyricist, musician, singer, poet and film-maker from Assam, widely known as Sudhakantha. His songs, written and sung mainly in the Assamese language by himself, are marked by humanity and universal brotherhood. Deeply popular among the people of Assam, besides West Bengal and Bangladesh, his songs were generally based on the themes of communal amity, universal justice and empathy.

Reminiscing in memory of the late music legend, Prime Minister congratulated him, “The songs and music of Bhupen Hazarika are admired by people across generations. From them radiates the message of Justice, harmony and brotherhood. He popularized India's music traditions globally. Happy that the Bharat Ratna has been conferred on Bhupen Da”.

Hazarika was awarded with India’s highest award in cinema, Dada Saheb Phalke Award in 1992 by the Government of India and also the highest award of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship in 2008. He has also been honoured with the Padma Vibhushan (posthumously), Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri awards previously.