Bharat Ratna for Ratan Tata calls grow after legendary industrialist’s death
As India mourns the recent passing of its iconic industrialist and philanthropist, Ratan Tata, calls for posthumously awarding him the Bharat Ratna, the country’s highest civilian honour, have gained significant traction.
Leaders from various political and business sectors have united to urge the government to consider the award. In response, the Maharashtra Cabinet has approved a resolution on October 10, requesting the Centre to confer the Bharat Ratna on the former Tata Group chairman.
The resolution will now be submitted to the Central government for further consideration.
Recognitions for Ratan Tata
Despite his monumental contributions to Indian industry and philanthropy, Ratan Tata has yet to receive the Bharat Ratna. However, he was honoured with the Padma Bhushan in 2000 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2008, two of India’s most prestigious civilian awards.
Tata’s humble stance on Bharat Ratna
In 2021, as the campaign for his Bharat Ratna nomination gained momentum, Ratan Tata humbly requested his supporters to discontinue their efforts.
“While I appreciate the sentiments expressed by a section of social media regarding an award, I would humbly request that such campaigns be discontinued. Instead, I consider myself fortunate to be an Indian and to contribute to India’s growth and prosperity,” he shared on social media.
Following his death, the campaign has reignited, with many on social media calling him “Bharat Ratan,” recognising his dedication to social causes.
Bharat Ratna and industrialists
Only one industrialist, JRD Tata, has received the Bharat Ratna, back in 1992. If awarded to Ratan Tata, he would become the second industrialist to receive the nation’s highest honour.
Bharat Ratna award process and possibility for 2024
As per the Home Ministry’s response to an RTI query, recommendations for the Bharat Ratna are made by the Prime Minister to the President of India. Although regulations limit the number of awards to three per year, it has been exceeded on a few occasions. In 1999, four individuals — Jayaprakash Narayan, Amartya Sen, Gopinath Bordoloi, and Ravi Shankar — received the honour, and in 2024, five recipients were awarded the Bharat Ratna.
The five individuals who were posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna in 2024 are:
Karpoori Thakur, former Chief Minister of Bihar
MS Swaminathan, known as the ‘Father of India’s Green Revolution
PV Narasimha Rao, Ninth Prime Minister of India
Lal Krishna Advani, Former Deputy Prime Minister of India
Chaudhary Charan Singh, Fifth Prime Minister of India
The nation waits to see if Ratan Tata, whose legacy has touched millions, will join the ranks of Bharat Ratna recipients in 2024.