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Lal Bahadur Shastri
Lal Bahadur Shastri, a very humble person with great resolve, was born on 2 October 1904 at Mughalsarai, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. From the early childhood he developed in himself virtues of honesty, service, brotherhood, courage etc. He was a man of principles; to oppose caste system he dropped his surname and when in Independent India he was the Railways Minister, he resigned on principles when a train accident happened in which 150 people died.
Shastri ji joined the freedom movement in the 1920s after getting inspired by Gandhi ji’s call. He was a great believer in Gandhian philosophy and also a great champion of socialism. After Independence, he served the country at various posts as minister and after the death of PM Jawaharlal Nehru he became the second Prime Minister of the country. His years as PM were very eventful; he led the country with great success in the war of 1965 against Pakistan. He gave the slogan “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan” during the war which became very famous and is still being remembered. Also, he promoted and started the White Revolution for increasing the production of milk in the country; laid foundation of the Green Revolution as well to increase the production of food grains in the country so as to make India self-dependent in agricultural products.
This great son of the soil died of heart attack on 11 January 1966 at Tashkent, USSR when he was there for signing the Tashkent Declaration with Pakistan after the ceasefire with Pakistan. For his exceptional services for the country he was awarded with the Bharat Ratna in the year 1966, the first person to be awarded posthumously.
He laid the foundation stones of the well-productive schemes like Green Revolutions and White Revolutions. He was the first person to be posthumously awarded the “Bharat Ratna”.
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.
