Table of Contents
Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Atal Bihari Vajpayee was born on 25 December 1924 in Gwalior. His was one of the longest political careers in India spanning almost six decades. He was considered as one of the great statesmen of the country; loved by the masses his oratory skills are exceptional.
Vajpayee ji started his public life when he joined the RSS in 1939 and remained committed to its ideology till date. He became the prominent member and President of the erstwhile Jana Sangha. During the Emergency, he was one of the prominent leaders of widespread protest against PM Indira Gandhi and got arrested. When the Jana Government took charge after the Emergency, Vajpayee was chosen as the Minister of External Affairs.
In 1980 he along with other Jana Sangha members founded the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). When the first BJP government came into power at the Centre, he became the Prime Minister of India, first for 13 days in 1996, then, for 13 months in 1998-99 and again for 5 years in 1999.
Under his leadership India conducted its second nuclear test in May 1998 after 24 years of its first test. During his tenure he initiated several nation building projects such as National Highway Development Project, Pradhanmantri Gram Sadak Yojana, etc.
Throughout his long political life, Atal Bihari Vajpayee got the love and affection of common people and even his political opponents were his admirers. In the year 2014, he was awarded with the Bharat Ratna for his distinguished public life. He died on 16th of August in 2018 due to the respiratory disease.
Bharat Ratna Award
The highest civilian award of the Republic of India is known as BHARAT RATNA. It came into existence on 2nd January 1954. The award was in recognition of extraordinary performance in the field of literature, science, public services, and arts only. This award belongs to all people of India without any discrimination of sex, race, and age. Previously award belonged to only limited criteria but in December 2011 the criteria were changed to include all fields of human endeavour.
Maximum 3 nominees may be awarded per year and recommendations for the same are specially made by the PM to the President. A Sanad (certificate) signed by the President and a medallion in the shape of a peepal leaf are the only two things being given to the recipients; no money is granted with the award.
In the Indian order of precedence, the Bharat Ratna award comes in the seventh position. But Bharat Ratna recipients are constitutionally prohibited to use the award name as the title as per Article 18 of the Constitution of India.
Since 1954, 44 distinguished individuals have been awarded this prestigious and highest civilian award in the country.
Get the list of Bharat Ratna Awardees by clicking here.
