We all know the Bharat Ratna is India’s highest award, and we all hope it is conferred after careful deliberation and close scrutiny. After all, you don’t want to scatter the most vaunted accolade like confetti. The English call that casting pearls before swine, but I won’t use that phrase.

Yet, that’s what seems to be the case. Consider these facts.

Of the 53 people awarded the Bharat Ratna starting with the first in 1954, by my count, 31 are politicians. That’s almost 60%. Doesn’t this seem to suggest it’s been strategically given for political reasons rather than as recognition of merit? Sometimes, it has been given to Congress leaders by their worshipful colleagues. Doesn’t that cheapen the award? It certainly diminishes it.

The other disturbing fact is that 18 awardees got the Bharat Ratna posthumously. It may have been remiss not to recognise them in their lifetime but to make up for that decades later seems foolish if not risible. For instance, Vallabhbhai........

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