Skip to main content

If contribution is the concern, why hasn't top award gone to VP Singh and Kanshiram?

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* 
Bharat Ratna awards to late prime ministers PV Narsimha Rao, Chaudhury Charan Singh and MS  Swaminathan has been welcomed by all. I have always stood against the state award sponsorship, as it basically means that your work is 'liked' and 'appreciated' by the top leadership. 
Awards have always been political. Congress gave Rajiv Gandhi, MG Ramchandran, Lata Mangeshkar and Sachin Tendulkar these awards. In 1977, when Moraji Desai-led Janata government took over, they abolished all these awards given by the state, including Padma Awards. When Indira Gandhi returned to power in 1980, she initiated them again, but it is a fact that most of the time these awards have been controlled by the ruling party. 
There is a commonality in the choices of these awards. Karpoori Thakur and PV Narsimha Rao are known for their relationship with saffron forces. Charan Singh actully walked out of the Janata government, when he was Deputy Prime Minister, and   later formed the government with the support of Indira Gandhi. In fact, many felt that it was Charan Singh and his ambitions which resulted in the fall of Janta government. 
Charan Singh ensured that Indira Gandhi was jailed and humiliated, as all the court cases and commissions did not yield anything politically except that he became prime minister and has the record of not facing the parliament. 
Narsimha Rao's relationship with top leaders of BJP and RSS was well known. He did not act to stop the Babri demolition and was all the time manipulating things to keep the Gandhis out of the power politics. That apart, Rao opened up India's door, hailed as father of economic reforms, but it can be safely said that his acts demolished Congress and its socialist tag. Under Indira Gandhi, Congress worked to bring parity in the lives of SC-ST-minorities but Rao killed everything in the post Mandal identity politics. If Congress is completely decimated in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, the credit goes to Narsimha Rao. 
Karpuri Thakur's relationship with Jan Sangh is well known. He formed government with them and was needed by Jan Sangh in the same way as Nitish is needw BJP. The upper caste BJP can't take on the might of Lalu Yadav and hence they needed this Maha Dalit and Ati Pichhda game. Nitish knew it well that on his own, he would never be able to do that and hence, despite 9 terms, it is not the hunger of Nitish kumar to be in power but never allow Lalu family to have political domain in Bihar. The upper caste rule can only be ensured if there are divisions in the OBCs. Unfortunately, the role of powerful OBC leaders in denying a space to Karpoori Thakur resulted in his association with the RSS and BJP. 
MS Swaminathan is overhyped for so called MSPs. Kisan's' issues are not MSPs alone. His theory would only help the power elite of the farmers and ultimately pave the way for the industrialization of the farm sector. 
If you have read Charan Singh and his thesis, you will realise it is nothing about farming but more to protect the interest of his community. In his book on Zamindari Abolition, Charan Singh's entire focus is on demolishing the USSR model of Collective farms. He gives American, British, French and German examples but I have not read words of sympathy from Charan Singh for the Dalits, landless farmers. How is that Charan Singh not aware of the Punjab act. He speak against 'absentee landlords' but does not want government to follow the Russian model but prove that American model is far better where big investors work on land. Actually, Zamindari Abolition was linked to make Rajput land owners feel guilty but at the same time it was never advocated and acted in Punjab and western Uttar Pradesh. 
Karpoori Thakur promoted Lohia's  anti-English sentiments. Do we want our children to not study English language? Uttar Pradesh and Bihar have paid a price for English not being promoted.  Mulayam Singh Yadav, Karpoori Thakur all were the followers of Charan Singh who was against technology in the farm sector. Kisan's should not use tractor he has written emphatically. The farmers in Western Uttar Pradesh are among the most prosperous because they embraced technology. 
Actually, this is the age of identity and not ideas. Market driven ideas assimilate the identity and promote their ideas through selling the identity of even those who have been diametrically opposed to it. Hence, it is not important what are the ideologies of individuals as well as their acts but their jaatis. So the farmers should  now forget everything and feel good as Charan Singh and Swaminathan have got the Bharat Ratna, Telugus should feel great about Narsimharao getting the award. OBCs should not seek representation in jobs, and see what has been done to them, but must feel happy that all their issues are resolved. 
If some one ask me a question, I would say, give Bharat Ratna to Babu Jagdev Prasad Kushawah as he spoke for the land rights of the dalits and OBCs.  If work for the people is concern, why the Award is not given to VP Singh and Kanshiram. They deserve is better than any one else but definitely they will also get one day when the ruling party feel that the awards can help them reap political benefit. At the moment, I dont see it happen because the work of VP Singh as well as Kanshiram jolted the ruling elites and they still fear and resent their impact.  
Anyway, Bharat Ranta mubarak to all the family members of the awardees. Now they can safely ask questions to Gandhi family and join the ruling party bandwagon for a 'better' future.
---
*Human rights defender 

Comments

TRENDING

Loktantra Bachao Abhiyan raises concerns over Jharkhand Adivasis' plight in Assam, BJP policies

By Our Representative  The Loktantra Bachao Abhiyan (Save Democracy Campaign) has issued a pressing call to protect Adivasi rights in Jharkhand, highlighting serious concerns over the treatment of Jharkhandi Adivasis in Assam. During a press conference in Ranchi on November 9, representatives from Assam, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh criticized the current approach of BJP-led governments in these states, arguing it has exacerbated Adivasi struggles for rights, land, and cultural preservation.

Promoting love or instilling hate and fear: Why is RSS seeking a meeting with Rahul Gandhi?

By Ram Puniyani*  India's anti-colonial struggle was marked by a diverse range of social movements, one of the most significant being Hindu-Muslim unity and the emergence of a unified Indian identity among people of all religions. The nationalist, anti-colonial movement championed this unity, best embodied by Mahatma Gandhi, who ultimately gave his life for this cause. Gandhi once wrote, “The union that we want is not a patched-up thing but a union of hearts... Swaraj (self-rule) for India must be an impossible dream without an indissoluble union between the Hindus and Muslims of India. It must not be a mere truce... It must be a partnership between equals, each respecting the religion of the other.”

A Marxist intellectual who dwelt into complex areas of the Indian socio-political landscape

By Harsh Thakor*  Professor Manoranjan Mohanty has been a dedicated advocate for human rights over five decades. His work as a scholar and activist has supported revolutionary democratic movements, navigating complex areas of the Indian socio-political landscape. His balanced, non-partisan approach to human rights and social justice has made his books essential resources for advocates of democracy.

Four J&K MLAs visit Wular lake, pledge support to fisher community, environmental conservation

By Shamim Ahmed*   In a historic meeting that highlighted both environmental and social concerns, four Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) visited Wular Lake to meet with the fisherfolk community, signaling a significant step in addressing their longstanding issues. This gathering, organized with the support of dedicated advocates, marks a strengthening of efforts to both safeguard the lake’s ecosystem and support the community’s welfare.

Supreme Court’s dismissal of PIL on Covid vaccine safety is counter to known science and mathematics

By Bhaskaran Raman*  On 14 Oct 2024, the Supreme Court of India dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on the side-effects of the Covid vaccine. In 2021, the world saw the rollout of various Covid vaccine candidates. In India, Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin and Serum Institute of India’s Covishield were rolled out. Covishield was nothing but Oxford’s AstraZeneca relabelled in India. The importance of open-minded and scientific probe of Covid vaccine safety In 2020/2021, all Covid vaccines were authorized for emergency use, which meant that the necessary efficacy and safety follow-up was incomplete at that time. The originally approved trials – called randomised controlled trials (RCT) had a “vaccine” group and a “placebo” group for comparison. Such experimental comparison/control is the cornerstone of the scientific method – which even children learn in photosynthesis experiments in class-1. The vaccine trials were scheduled to conclude in late 2022/early 2023. For instance, Covax...

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

A Hindu alternative to Valentine's Day? 'Shiv-Parvati was first love marriage in Universe'

By Rajiv Shah  The other day, I was searching on Google a quote on Maha Shivratri which I wanted to send to someone, a confirmed Shiv Bhakt, quite close to me -- with an underlying message to act positively instead of being negative. On top of the search, I chanced upon an article in, imagine!, a Nashik Corporation site which offered me something very unusual. 

Buddhist shrines were 'massively destroyed' by Brahmanical rulers: Historian DN Jha

Nalanda mahavihara By Our Representative Prominent historian DN Jha, an expert in India's ancient and medieval past, in his new book , "Against the Grain: Notes on Identity, Intolerance and History", in a sharp critique of "Hindutva ideologues", who look at the ancient period of Indian history as "a golden age marked by social harmony, devoid of any religious violence", has said, "Demolition and desecration of rival religious establishments, and the appropriation of their idols, was not uncommon in India before the advent of Islam".

Right-arm fast bowler who helped West Indies shape arguably greatest Test team in cricket history

By Harsh Thakor*  Malcolm Marshall redefined what it meant to be a right-arm fast bowler, challenging the traditional laws of biomechanics with his unique skill. As we remember his 25th death anniversary on November 4th, we reflect on the legacy he left behind after his untimely death from colon cancer. For a significant part of his career, Marshall was considered one of the fastest and most formidable bowlers in the world, helping to shape the West Indies into arguably the greatest Test team in cricket history.

Will Left victory in Sri Lanka deliver economic sovereignty plan, go beyond 'tired' IMF agenda?

By Atul Chandra, Vijay Prashad*  On September 22, 2024, the Sri Lankan election authority announced that Anura Kumara Dissanayake of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People’s Power (NPP) alliance won the presidential election. Dissanayake, who has been the leader of the left-wing JVP since 2014, defeated 37 other candidates, including the incumbent president Ranil Wickremesinghe of the United National Party (UNP) and his closest challenger Sajith Premadasa of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya.