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Jawaharlal Nehru
One of the most prominent leaders of India’s freedom movement and architect of the modern Indian nation, Jawaharlal Nehru was born on 14 November 1889. He studied at Trinity College, Cambridge and later was called on Bar to get trained as Barrister. After returning to India, Nehru ji got greatly involved in the freedom struggle. He was a great socialist and represented the left-wing wing within the Congress party. Gandhi ji was especially fond of him and mentored him as his most trusted ally. Nehru ji through his deep commitment and efforts quickly became the most important leader of the National movement after Gandhi ji. He became the Congress President for the first time in 1929 and declared that the Complete Independence from the British is the goal of national movement.
Nehru ji was a great believer in the modern thoughts of secularism, socialism and democracy; after Independence these visions were incorporated in the free India. He became the first Prime Minister of the independent India and governed the country till his death 27 May 1964. As the PM, he embarked upon to make India a modern, forward looking and progressive nation; several scientific and research institutions such as IITs and Atomic Energy Commission were founded; he gave great impetus to industrialization and started the mechanism of Five Year Planning for planned development of the country.
In foreign policy matters, he was one of the architects of Non-Aligned Movement and gave India a new direction which was of non-alignment from the power politics of two superpowers of the times, the US and USSR- this initiative made the newly independent nation free from Block politics and alignment. Non-align Movement is the great legacy of Nehru ji which is still one of the main foreign policy themes of the country.
Nehru ji’s health deteriorated after the war with China in 1962 and the debacle faced by Indian forces in the same. His health continued to decline and on 27 May 1964 he died of heart attack. The Bharat Ratna award was conferred to him in the year 1955.
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.
