The Indian Government has announced that the highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna, may now awarded to achievers in the field of sport. This has evoked mixed responses from various people. A The Hindu columnist rued the falling cultural standards of the nation, while chess ace Viswanathan Anand was pleased by the news, but being the man he is, not self-obsessed or target-obsessed, stated he was not aiming to earn the prestigious title just yet.
There are several people deserving of such an honour, though whether another title besides the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna is necessary is a question. The one we have to look furthest back in the history books to find is Dhyan Chand. Playing a then popular game at the time our independence stuggle was gaining steam, he was a key figure in India's triumph in three consecutive Olympics. Should he be awarded, it will be a very posthumous and highly deserved decoration.
Sachin Tendulkar is an inevitable option. Widely regarded as the best batsman in the world today, and controversially best ever by a certain economist, his successful record with the Indian national team and large number of unbroken records earn him the right to stake a claim to the award. Another attribute worth mentioning is that he has almost never been in a major controversy. This keeping in mind that any issue related to this larger-than-life Mumbai man will be blown into unbelievable proportions by the media.
Another cricketer suggested is Captain Cool - Mahendra Singh Dhoni. He has won two major tournaments - World Cups in different formats - and retained and regained many series. He is intuitive and level-headed - the kind of person who compels one to love him or hate him. Nothing in between. (Other such compellors include Virender Sehwag, TM Krishna, Kareena Kapoor and Kolaveri Di.)
Some other names which come to mind as people worthy of an honour like this are PT Usha, Abhinav Bindra, Leander Paes-Mahesh Bhupathi and Viswanathan Anand. But one must keep in mind while selecting candidates that these people will join the band of Jawaharlal Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri, MS Subbulakshmi, APJ Abdul Kalam and Nelson Mandela, one of only two foreigners to receive the honour. And sport being sport, any blemish on the player's name after the awarding will also be a blemish on the award. (Which is also why a posthumous awarding like Dhyan Chand would be safe.)
This is stirring up different emotions among sportspersons and sport lovers. Just take it in good sport.
There are several people deserving of such an honour, though whether another title besides the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna is necessary is a question. The one we have to look furthest back in the history books to find is Dhyan Chand. Playing a then popular game at the time our independence stuggle was gaining steam, he was a key figure in India's triumph in three consecutive Olympics. Should he be awarded, it will be a very posthumous and highly deserved decoration.
Sachin Tendulkar is an inevitable option. Widely regarded as the best batsman in the world today, and controversially best ever by a certain economist, his successful record with the Indian national team and large number of unbroken records earn him the right to stake a claim to the award. Another attribute worth mentioning is that he has almost never been in a major controversy. This keeping in mind that any issue related to this larger-than-life Mumbai man will be blown into unbelievable proportions by the media.
Another cricketer suggested is Captain Cool - Mahendra Singh Dhoni. He has won two major tournaments - World Cups in different formats - and retained and regained many series. He is intuitive and level-headed - the kind of person who compels one to love him or hate him. Nothing in between. (Other such compellors include Virender Sehwag, TM Krishna, Kareena Kapoor and Kolaveri Di.)
Some other names which come to mind as people worthy of an honour like this are PT Usha, Abhinav Bindra, Leander Paes-Mahesh Bhupathi and Viswanathan Anand. But one must keep in mind while selecting candidates that these people will join the band of Jawaharlal Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri, MS Subbulakshmi, APJ Abdul Kalam and Nelson Mandela, one of only two foreigners to receive the honour. And sport being sport, any blemish on the player's name after the awarding will also be a blemish on the award. (Which is also why a posthumous awarding like Dhyan Chand would be safe.)
This is stirring up different emotions among sportspersons and sport lovers. Just take it in good sport.
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