Lt. Colonel MS Dhoni

[Sidhoni]

:isalute:

[Mariyam]

Going by your definition of Public Service' date=' Bharat Ratna can only be conferred to politicians as they are the only one who declare public service as their profession. Rest of the people have to take some profession to earn thier living. And I am not ready to believe that Bharat Ratna was supposed to be limited to or should be limited to Politicians only. By inclusion of other fields, excellence where brings happiness to society, you actually appreciating value of award instead of devaluing it. And why so much furore when Sachin's name is being proposed for these awards? When people belonging to areas of singing/dancing/ acting can be given Bharat Ratna, why not Sachin?[/quote'] No sir, it isn't my definition of Public Service. It is the definition the GoI gave the award in 1950 or whenever. You don't have to be a politician to do public service. Mother Teresa for example, wasn't one. My furore isn't directed against Sachin. I'm as against the singers and literary artists getting the award too. I find it very odd that we have completely lost perspective here and are putting nation builders, reformers, freedom fighters, leaders and industrialists in the same bracket as singers, writers and cricketers. :(( He will get the award anyways. You and Ganeshran will have the last laugh :P

[Mariyam]

@ SaneIndian and Ganeshran Awarding BR to the singers and writers was a mistake, IMO. Does that mistake have to be perpetuated by introducing sports-persons into the list? Will you say its ok to award Filmfare best actor award( by adding achievements on cricket field as a criteria) to MSD tomorrow, given that right now his duty as a cricketer has nothing to do with what Filmfare is awarded for. My opposition to BR for Sachin, Lataji etc is on the same lines.

[Raghav_12]

You and Ganeshran Majority will have the last laugh :P

Have corrected your statement :cantstop:. On a serious note, it's not about one-up-man-ship. You are taking very direct view of public service. For me, any indian whom we feel proud of, is eligible for Bharat Ratna. Any indian who brought happiness to Indians across caste, religion, colour is eligible and any indian who inspired million to achieve excellence while not compromising on values of integrity, humility is eligible. IMHO Sachin scores on these parameters way better than many of earlier recipients of Bharat Ratna.

[saneindian]

@ SaneIndian and Ganeshran Awarding BR to the singers and writers was a mistake, IMO. Does that mistake have to be perpetuated by introducing sports-persons into the list? Will you say its ok to award Filmfare best actor award( by adding achievements on cricket field as a criteria) to MSD tomorrow, given that right now his duty as a cricketer has nothing to do with what Filmfare is awarded for. My opposition to BR for Sachin, Lataji etc is on the same lines.

I am not even getting into that debate. My logic is simple, if sportspersons, artissts and singers are eligible for other civlian awards like the Padma awards, why exclude them from the highest civilian honour? I don't quite agree with your example of Filmfare and MSD. BR is the "highest civilian" award in the land, the word civilian is impotant here. A civilian award cannot discriminate against the citizens of a country, it has to be open to everyone. If a mistake was made earlier by excluding a particular group of professionals from these awards, it needs to be corrected. How can a SRT or gavaskar or Dhaynchand be eligible to receive the Padma Vibhushan (which is the second highest civilian award) but not Bharat Ratna? Weather they deserve to get BR or not is an entirely different debate IMO.

[BeautifulGame]

I dont see anything of value that Rajiv Gandhi did to the level of deserving a Bharat Ratna for his efforts. He got it simply because he was a member of the ruling political family. If that doesnt devalue the title, I dont see how giving it to a sportsperson will. MGR is also more known for his acting. His rule as a CM didnt introduce anything groundbreaking unlike his predecessors like Kamaraj and Annadurai.

U kidding right? What exactly Annadurai did for Tamil Nadu which is more commendable than MGR.Atleast MGR did introduce some useful schemes (like Nutrition mid day meal , Ambulances at any time ) for the poor what exactly was Annadurai's achievement apart from legalicing self respect marriages? And none of them are in the league of Kamaraj.

[asterix]

Excellent. Congrats to MSD and the TERRITORIAL ARMY. MSD is in Territorial Army and if he gets a promotion, what's the harm? This should encourage more and more professionals to join the Territorial Army and assist army in whichever way possible.

[desi.boy]

I am not even getting into that debate. My logic is simple' date='[b'] if sportspersons, artissts and singers are eligible for other civlian awards like the Padma awards, why exclude them from the highest civilian honour? I don't quite agree with your example of Filmfare and MSD. BR is the "highest civilian" award in the land, the word civilian is impotant here. A civilian award cannot discriminate against the citizens of a country, it has to be open to everyone. If a mistake was made earlier by excluding a particular group of professionals from these awards, it needs to be corrected. How can a SRT or gavaskar or Dhaynchand be eligible to receive the Padma Vibhushan (which is the second highest civilian award) but not Bharat Ratna? Weather they deserve to get BR or not is an entirely different debate IMO.

probably because their field of work(sports n arts) doesn't directly reform or develop the nation, the degree of sacrifice n selfnessness n vision for the nation attached with other categories(like social service) is far larger. Their impact is indirect, through inspiring people and giving them happiness. probably that is the difference n the reason why sports n arts people shouldn't be considered for the highest civilian award.

[vamos_rafa]

probably because their field of work(sports n arts) doesn't directly reform or develop the nation, the degree of sacrifice n selfnessness n vision for the nation attached with other categories(like social service) is far larger. Their impact is indirect, through inspiring people and giving them happiness. probably that is the difference n the reason why sports n arts people shouldn't be considered for the highest civilian award.

But isn't Bharat Ratna someone who is considered to be the jewel of the nation? Why do we need to pigeonhole a Bhrata Ratna only to someone who does some service to the society?

[jonas10]

I may be in the minority but I think its an insult to any proper lt colonel that has earned his rank to have it just given to someone like Bindra who won a gold medal and Dhoni a cricket player.

[Mariyam]

I may be in the minority but I think its an insult to any proper lt colonel that has earned his rank to have it just given to someone like Bindra who won a gold medal and Dhoni a cricket player.

I share your sentiments. The actual Lt Colonels may have faced bullets and bombs and would have bled for their nation, to reach where they are today. Their sacrifices are greater than Dhonis. So Dhoni hammered a few trundlers for 6 on flat wickets and becomes a Lt. Colonel? :P What next? Tendulkar becomes a Field Marshall for making 100 centuries? :P

[Sid]

India TV headline for this was : Dhoni ab Captain Cool se Colonel Cool bane :hahaha:

[ganeshran]

I may be in the minority but I think its an insult to any proper lt colonel that has earned his rank to have it just given to someone like Bindra who won a gold medal and Dhoni a cricket player.

I share your sentiments. The actual Lt Colonels may have faced bullets and bombs and would have bled for their nation, to reach where they are today. Their sacrifices are greater than Dhonis. So Dhoni hammered a few trundlers for 6 on flat wickets and becomes a Lt. Colonel? :P What next? Tendulkar becomes a Field Marshall for making 100 centuries? :P

He is conferred the rank of colonel in the Territorial army, not the regular one.

[Sachin=GOD]

I don't agree with this practice of giving such ranks to sportpersons/film actors. Also don't agree with the practice of Doctorates being conferred by Universities which have absolutely no connection with that person.

[Sachin=GOD]

Rajiv Gandhi was a public servant. He got the award for his contribution to the society ( I think it was for some unemployment and rural development scheme that was his brain child). Not sure about MGR. But I don't think he didn't get the award for acting. Probably for the work he did during his long tenure as a CM.

he was given the award for his surname.

[div]

I don't agree with this practice of giving such ranks to sportpersons/film actors. Also don't agree with the practice of Doctorates being conferred by Universities which have absolutely no connection with that person.

What abt Sachin =GOD ?

[Sachin=GOD]

What abt Sachin =GOD ?

don't agree with that as well.

[Sachin=GOD]

@ SaneIndian and Ganeshran Awarding BR to the singers and writers was a mistake, IMO. Does that mistake have to be perpetuated by introducing sports-persons into the list? Will you say its ok to award Filmfare best actor award( by adding achievements on cricket field as a criteria) to MSD tomorrow, given that right now his duty as a cricketer has nothing to do with what Filmfare is awarded for. My opposition to BR for Sachin, Lataji etc is on the same lines.

IMO it wasn't. Where is it written that Bharat Ratna can be given only to persons who have served the society? Also, people of which professions would you consider as being eligible to be conferred with the Bharat Ratna?