Is the award worthy of the man?
Since we are an inexplicably insecure and hypersensitive nation, let me qualify above diatribe: I like the sitar fellow and agree that Lata ji sings well. I just don’t think she changed the course of our nation… and his successful philandering is something all men envy…. worthy of another national award in its own right, but he’s not in the same league as Vajpayee.
Yes, previous presidents and prime ministers of India have been given the Bharat Ratna…in their own terms. Like Nehru and Indira Gandhi. But let such “self-awarding” remain a legacy of the Congress.
Giving Vajpayee the Bharat Ratna at a time when his party is leaderless and a hopelessly caught-and-corrupt Yeddiyurappa is still in power in Karnataka is a classic distraction strategy that re-defines irony. As an aside, there is no need to ask the UPA to look statesmanlike.
Also, asking for an award, is kinda cheap. I doubt ABV would approve. When this country truly chooses to honor ABV it will have realized that its leadership cannot be treated as a regency by the unfortunate organization that still retains the name of the party that won India’s independence. ABV wasn’t perfect yet is surely worthy of this award. But he ruled the country for several years and his name in history will not be remembered for winning a prize like the Bharat Ratna, best suited for artists, non government employees and foreign dignitaries. This is like giving a PhD gold medalist an old certificate for 1st rank in 2nd standard. Comic. Bizarre. Unnecessary.
