This refers to the report, “A tale of two demands for two Bharat Ratnas: Karunanidhi or Jaya” (August 13). The DMK has sought recognition of the service rendered by its departed leader, M Karunanidhi, by honouring him with the highest civilian award the ‘Bharat Ratna’. Immediately after the passing away of former Chief Minister, J Jayalalithaa, the AIADMK, too, had requested the Centre to honour her with the Bharat Ratna award.
Bharat Ratna, which was instituted in 1954, is the country’s highest civilian award and is given in recognition of exceptional service, performance of the highest order in any field of human endeavour without distinction of race, occupation, position or sex. The awards/rewards often act as a motivating factor. Hence, the award is indubitably an honour showered upon a person in recognition of his/her service and whoever receives such awards equally feels delighted.
Notwithstanding the merits and de-merits of the demands of the DMK/AIADMK, these must be given during one’s lifetime so as to make the award really prestigious and the awardee equally proud. There is no point in awarding the deserving ones when they are not around us since they are neither there to appreciate nor feel honoured. Conferring awards posthumously on someone amounts to honouring him out of sympathy. Hence, the Government must do away with conferring awards posthumously.