Mark the day people! India’s former President Pranab Mukherjee will be awarded Nation’s highest Civilian Award the Bharat Ratna, today. The award will be felicitated by President Ramnath Kovind.
Via: DNA India
The glorious Award Ceremony will take place in Rashtrapati Bhawan at 6 PM.
Bharat Ratna is conferred in recognition of “Exceptional service/performance of the highest order”, without distinction of race, occupation, position, or sex
Via: Odisha Sun Times
Pranab Da was awarded Nation’s highest civilian honor with acclaimed musician Bhupen Hazarika and Nanaji Deshmukh, the founder of Bhartiya Jan Sangh, this January.
Via: DNA India
He will be receiving the award along with Hazarika and Deshmukh.
Owning to his long and resplendent political career, where he served the country as a Defence Minister, Finance Minister, External Affairs Minister, Leader of Lok Sabha, Leader of Rajya Sabha and as the President of India, Mukherjee was nominated for the award this January.
Via: Countercurrents
When asked about being honored with the prominent award, he said:
“It is with a deep sense of humility and gratitude to the people of India that I accept this great honor, Bharat Ratna, bestowed upon me. I have always said and I repeat, I have got more from the people of our great country than I have given to them.“
With this, Mukherjee will stand in the line of other presidents, who were conferred with the same. These include Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, Rajendra Prasad, Zakir Hussain, and V.V. Giri.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to twitter to flag down his nomination:
Pranab Da is an outstanding statesman of our times.
He has served the nation selflessly and tirelessly for decades, leaving a strong imprint on the nation's growth trajectory.
His wisdom and intellect have few parallels. Delighted that he has been conferred the Bharat Ratna.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 25, 2019
We wish a hearty congratulations to you Pranab Da for this well-deserved honor!