20

Feb

Is Giving  State Awards Really Desirable?

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Today’s Edition

New Delhi, 20 February 2024

Vidya Bhushan Rawat

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Are state awards really a good thing? Whatever one may say the fact remains that most of the time these awards are given to those whom the ruling party likes and not the most deserving candidates.

For one awards given by the government of the day to those whose work is 'liked' and 'appreciated' by the top leadership of the party in power. The awards have always been given on  political considerations. The  Congress gave Bharat Ratna to Rajiv Gandhi , M G Ramchandran, Lata Mangeshkar and Sachin Tendulkar .

 In 1977, when Morarji Desai- led Janata government took over, it abolished all  awards given by the state including Padma Awards. When Indira Gandhi returned to power in 1980, she re-introduced them again.

 

There is a commonality in the choice of the Bharat Ratna  awarded this year. Right from Karpoori Thakur to P V Narsimha Rao all had a close relationship with  the leaders of RSS and BJP. Charan Singh  walked out of the Janata government where 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 Janata 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 Babari 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 reform but 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 and 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 needed for 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  well that on his own, he would never be able to do that and hence despite 9 terms, it was 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 space to Karpoori Thakur resulted in his association with the RSS and BJP.

 

M S 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 about protecting 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  none read words of sympathy from Charan Singh for the Dalits and landless farmers. How is that Charan Singh was not aware of the Punjab farmers. He speaks against 'absentee landlords' but does not want the government to follow the Russian model but proves that the American model is far better where big investors work on land. Actually, Zamindari Abolition was linked to making 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 not to study English language. Uttar Pradesh and Bihar have paid a price for English not being promoted.  Mulayam Singh Yadav, Karpoori Thakur all were followers of Charan Singh who was against technology in the farm sector. Kisan's should not use a 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 jatis. 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. MBCs 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 asks me 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 a concern, why the Award is not given to Mr Kanshiram? He deserves it better than anyone.( Words 905)

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