Two Sides of a Coin

'Award was declined'

New Delhi: The posthumous award of Bharat Ratna on Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose was declined by his family, the Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday.

- PTI (Source : The Hindu)

This was on News yesterday. I've seen many writers decline the awards. Arunthathi Roy declined the Sahithya Academy Award for her "The Algebra of Infinite Justice". Many writers have declined the Gnyanapeeta Award. I used to think, that it is their arrogance that makes them behave this way. That is like Insulting the Award, which many others, who have got it, rejoice at. I have read a few articles by Jayakanthan and few other writers who crib about the "Gnyana peetam". But I wasnt very sure, who was right and who wasnt.

But this Bharat Ratna Award - India's Highly Prestigious Award - has been conferred to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. But his Family declines it. Early in 1992, Subhash Chandra Bose was Posthumously conferred the Bharat Ratna award. And it was obviously declined due to Technical reasons, as nobody was sure if Netaji was dead at all. This is one of the very few mysteries prevailing in India, an unnecessary one. And probably this is the same reason why it has been declined again.

The Award Committee could not give conclusive evidence of Bose's death and thus it invalidated the "posthumous" award. (1992 award cancelled - reason )

But then, there's been a Inquiry Commission under Justice Mukherjee, which has investigated about Netaji's disappearance. Expecting the report to be a part of the Budget series in 2006.

BTW, did you know, Mahatma Gandhi was never given a Bharat Ratna ? Hmmp !

Read very interesting article of the award, here and Netaji's wiki here.