Bharat Ratna Awards
India has produced a legacy of brave hearts since times immemorial. Probably there is not enough space to measure their sacrifices. However, we cannot close our eyes to those people who have made our country proud by excelling in their own fields and bringing us international recognition. Bharat Ratna is the highest civilian honour, given for exceptional service towards advancement of Art, Literature and Science, and in recognition of Public Service of the highest order. The original specifications for the award called for a circular gold medal, 35 mm in diameter, with the sun and the Hindi legend "Bharat Ratna" above and a floral wreath below. The reverse was to carry the state emblem and motto. It was to be worn around the neck from a white ribbon. This design was altered after a year.
The provision of Bharat Ratna was introduced in 1954. The first ever Indian to receive this award was the famous scientist, Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman. Since then, many dignitaries, each a whiz in varied aspects of their career has received this coveted award. In fact, our former President, Shri A. P. J Abdul Kalam is also a recipient of this esteemed honour (1997). There is no written provision that Bharat Ratna should be awarded to Indian citizens only. The award has been awarded to a naturalized Indian citizen, Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu, better known as Mother Teresa (1980) and to two non-Indians – Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan and Nelson Mandela (1990). It is also not mandatory that Bharat Ratna to be awarded every year. The last time this award was given in 2019.
Bharat Ratna Awardees
Award Number | Name of the Recepient | Date of Birth/Death | Year of Award | Field of Achievement | State/Country |
01 |  | 05th Sep 1888 to 17th Apr 1975 | 1954 | Public Affairs : Second President of Republic of India, Philosopher. | Tamil Nadu |
Dr. Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman  | 07th Nov 1888 to 21st Nov 1970 | 1954 | Science and Engineering : Physicist | Tamil Nadu | |
Shri Chakravarti Rajagopalachari  | 10th Dec 1878 to 25th Dec 1972 | 1954 | Public Affairs : Last Governor - General, Indian Freedom Fighter. | Tamil Nadu | |
Dr. Mokshagundam Visvesvarayya  | 15th Sept 1860 to 14th Apr 1962 | 1955 | Civil Service : Civil Engineer | Karnataka | |
05 |
 | 14th Nov 1889 To 27th May 1964 | 1955 | Public Affairs : First Prime Minister of Republic of India, Indian Freedom Fighter. | Uttar Pradesh |
 | to 18th Sep 1958 | ||||
 | to 07th Mar 1961 | ||||
Maharshi Dr. Dhondo Keshav Karve  | 18th Apr 1858 to 09th Nov 1962 | 1958 | Social Work : Educator and Social Reformer | ||
09 |
 | 01st Aug 1882 to 01st Jul 1962 | 1961 | Public Affairs : Educator, Indian Freedom Fighter |
Uttar Pradesh |
10 |
| 01st Jul 1882 to 01st Jul 1962 | 1961 | Public Affairs : Chief Minister of West Bengal, Physician. |
West Bengal |
11 |
 | 03rd Dec 1884 to 28th Feb 1963 | Public Affairs : Indian Freedom Fighter,Jurist, First President of Republic of India. |
Bihar | |
12 |
 | 08th Feb 1897 to 03rd May 1969 | 1963 | Public Affairs : Third President of Republic of India, Scholar. | |
 | to 08th May 1972 | Social Work : Indologist and Sanskrit Scholar |
Maharashtra | ||
14 |
(Posthumous)  | 02nd Oct 1984 to 11th Jan 1966 | 1966 | Public Affairs : Second Prime Minister of India, Indian Freedom Fighter | Uttar Pradesh |
15 |
 | 19th Nov 1917 to 31st Oct 1984 | 1971 | Public Affairs : Fourth Prime Minister of Republic of India | Uttar Pradesh |
16 |
 | 10th Aug 1894 to 23rd Jun 1980 | 1975 | Public Affairs : Fourth President of Republic of India, Trade Unionist. | |
17 |
(Posthumous)  | 15th Jul 1903 to 02nd Oct 1975 | 1976 | Public Affairs : Indian Freedom Fighter, Chief Minister of Madras State | Tamil Nadu |
18 |
Mother Mary Teresa Bojaxhiu Teresa  | 26th Aug 1910 to 05th Sep 1997 | 1980 | Social Work : Founder of Missionaries of Charity | West Bengal |
19 |
(Posthumous)  | 11th Sep 1895 to 15th Nov 1982 | 1983 | Social Work : Social Reformer, Pioneer of Sarvoday and Bhoodan Movement, Indian Freedom Fighter. | Maharashtra |
20 |
 | to 20th Jan 1988 | 1987 | Social Work : Indian Freedom Fighter, A Political and Spiritual leader | Pakistan |
Shri Marudur Gopalan Ramachandran (Posthumous)  | 17th Jan 1917 to 24th Dec 1987 | 1988 | Public Affairs : Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu | Tamil Nadu | |
22 |
 | 18th Jul 1918 to 05th Dec 2013 | 1990 | Public Affairs : Leader of Anti-apartheid Movement, President of South Africa, first non- Indian and second non-citizen Recipient. | Republic of South Africa |
23 |
 | 14th Apr 1891 to 06th Dec 1956 | 1990 | Public Affairs : Chief Architect of Constitution of India, Politician, Economist, Scholar. | Maharashtra |
24 |
(Posthumous)  | 31st Oct 1875 to 15th Dec 1950 | 1991 | Public Affairs : Indian Freedom Fighter, first Home Minister of Republic of India. | Gujarat |
25 |
 | 20th Aug 1944 to 21st May 1991 | 1991 | Public Affairs : Seventh Prime Minister of Republic of India | New Delhi |
26 |
 | 29th Feb 1896 to 10th Apr 1995 | 1991 | Public Affairs : Indian Freedom Fighter, Fifth Prime Minister of Republic of India. | Gujarat |
27 |
 | 02nd May 1921 to 23rd Apr 1992 | 1992 | Arts : Film Maker | |
28 |
(Posthumous)  |
11th Nov 1888 to 22nd Feb 1958 | 1992 | Public Affiars : Indian Freedom Fighter, and first Minister of Education, Government of India | West Bengal |
29 |
Shri Jehangir Ratanji Dadabhai Tata  | 29th Jul 1904 to 29th Nov 1993 | 1992 | Trade and Industry : Industrialist and Philanthropist. | |
30 |
 | 04th Jul 1898 to 15th Jan 1998 | 1997 | Public Affiars - Indian Freedom fighter, Interim Prime Minister | Gujarat |
31 |
Smt. Aruna Asaf Ali (Posthumous)  | 16th Jul 1909 to 29th Jul 1996 | 1997 | Public Affiars - Indian Freedom fighter . | Haryana, New Delhi |
32 |
 | 15th Oct, 1931 to 27th July, 2015 | 1997 | Tamil Nadu , New Delhi | |
33 |
 | 16th Sep, 1916 to 11th Dec, 2004 | 1998 | Arts - Classical Carnatic Singer | |
34 |
 | 30th Jan, 1910 to 07th Nov, 2000 | 1998 | ||
35 |
(Posthumous)  | 11th Oct, 1902 to 08th Oct, 1979 | 1999 | Public Affairs - Political leader and Indian freedom fighter. | Bihar |
36 |
 |
07th Apr, 1920 to 11th Dec, 2012 | 1999 | West Bengal | |
37 |
 | 03rd Nov, 1933 to Present | 1999 | Literature and Education – Economist | |
38 |
(Posthumous)  | 06th Jun, 1890 to 05th Aug, 1950 | 1999 | Public Affairs - Indian Freedom fighter, Chief Minister of State of Assam | Assam |
39 |
Kumari Lata Dinanath Mangeshkar  | 28th Sep, 1929 to present | 2001 | Arts - Best playback singer ever in history on Indian cinema. | Maharashtra |
40 |
 | 21st Mar, 1916 to 21st Aug, 2006 | 2001 | Arts - Hindustani classical shehnai player par excellence. | Uttar Pradesh |
41 |
 | 04th Feb, 1922 to 24th Jan, 2011 | 2008 | Arts – Hindustani (Indian) Classical singer par excellence. | Maharashtra, Karnataka. |
42 | Chintamani Nagesa Ramachandra Rao  | 30th Jun, 1934 to Present | 2014 | Scientist – Chemistry World's foremost solid state Chemist and Materials Scientist | Karnataka |
43 |  | 27th Apr, 1973 to Present | 2014 | Sports – Cricketer One of the Greatest Batsman in Cricket History, Highest Run Scorer in International Cricket | Maharashtra |
44 | Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya [Mahamana] (Posthumous)  | 25th Dec, 1861 to 12th Nov, 1946 | 2015 | Public Affairs - Indian Scholar, Educational Reformer, Freedom Fighter and Politician. | Uttar Pradesh |
45 |  | 25th Dec, 1924 to 16th Aug, 2018 | 2015 | Public Affairs – Statesman, Politician, Parliamentarian and Prime Minister of India. A Writer and A Poet. | Madhya Pradesh |
46 |  | 11th Dec, 1935 to 31st Aug, 2020 | 2019 | Public Affairs – Politician, Parliamentarian & President of India | West Bengal |
47 | Dr. Bhupen Hazarika [Xudha Kontho] (Posthumous)  | 08th Sep, 1926 to 05th Nov, 2011 | 2019 |
Arts –Singer, Lyricist, Musician, Poet and Film Maker | Assam |
48 | Chandikadas Amritrao Deshmukh [Nanaji] (Posthumous)  | 11th Oct, 1916 to 27th Feb, 2010 | 2019 | Public Affairs – Social Reformer And Politician | Maharashtra |
