A Critically Unbiased Analysis
‘Bharat Ratna’ is awarded in recognition of exceptionally distinguished service of the highest order in any field of human endeavor such as; Art, Social work, Public Affairs, Science & Engineering, Sports and Trade & Industry.The recommendations for Bharat Ratna are made by the Prime Minister to the President of India .The Awards predominantly were bestowed upon politicians and classical players including a few from cinema the likes of Satyajit Ray & Lata Mangeshkar. M. G. Ramachandran was honoured because he also was a politician,the CM of Tamil Nadu. Sachin Tendulkar was the first sportsman who was hurriedly given the Award,though there were far senior & more accomplished internatinally reknowned players were their like Dhyan Chand,the “Hockey Wizard”,and Balbir Singh Senior who played three consecutive Olympics in 1948,1952 & 1956 – bringing laurels to the country & also captained the hockey contingent in 1956.Olympic is acclaimed worldwide,cricket is not.It is played among few countries.BCCI also does not represent India.It is a private organisation dominated by politicians since its inception.” Money makes the mare go” goes the saying.There is plenty of money in cricket, as most readers are well aware of.
The Bharat Ratna was not meant for sportsmen,actors or fashion icons.The highest Award for a sporsman now is Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna.Earlier it was ‘Arjun Award’. In India the highest civilian award was Padam Vibhushan.Now it is Bharat Ratan.Dadasaheb Phalke Award is the highest award of excellence in Cinema given every year,The highest award for exceptional bravery to army personnel continues to be Param Veer Chakra. However,since the previous government bestowed a cricketer with this award,I ventured to support the thespian Dilip Kumar contributing a post about Dilip Kumar on a page managed by a private group titled ‘Dilip Kumar for Bharat Ratan’ on public demand for his long & dedicated work & services towards film fraternity & humanity.
.
A person who is excellent at performing as a stage and film personality is called thespian in simpler words.Dilip Kumar was undeniably gifted with this ability. He could act as well emote. The films in which he figured as a player speaks volumes of his histrionics, so to say. Be it ” Amar”, “Aan”,”Andaz”, ” “Devdas”, “Madhumati”,” Yahudi”, ” Paigham”,”Mughal-E-Azam”, ” Naya daur” or “Ram Aur Shyam”. He has been Sheriff of Bombay 1979-1982 & also bestowed with the coveted Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1994. Kumar was offered to play a significant role in David Lean’s ” Lawrence of Arabia” which he plainly refused. He produced & starred in ” Ganga Jamuna” casting his brother. What more was expected of him, could be a matter of debate. Surprisingly & interestingly, the issue was never raised when the Congress was in power and many musicians were awarded the Bharat Ratna,most of whom, played a single instrument throughout their career.
Dilip Kumar is now well past 98.The actor has won laurels for the country & entertained the audiencss with his movies- Jwar Bhata, Shaheed,Mela,Andaz,Babul Deedar,Devdas,Aan, Mughal-E-Azam,Ganga Jamuna & Ram Aur Shyam to mention some.We hope the thespian to become a centanarian.The statistics reveal that there are over 573,000 centanarians in the world at present. Interestingly,Dilip Kumar was the first actor to win the Filmfare Best Actor Award for his 1952 film “Daag”.The Award came into being in 1953 and he won it in the year 1954.
P.S. Dilip Kumar was to be honoured with this Award during the Congress regime.
