Rules change for Bharat Ratna – How bizarre!?!?!?

Bharat Ratna – jewel of India – is India’s highest award given to citizens of India for their national service. This service earlier included artistic, literary, and scientific achievements, as well as recognition of public service of the highest order – defense personnel.

 As of today – Government of India changed the criteria for Bharat Ratna for providing eligibility for sports persons in India.

 And now, guess which sportsperson has been selected for this – Sachin Tendulkar.

I find it really-highly-extremely bizarre to have sportsperson – especially cricketers – included in this list.

 One of the e-newspaper quoted Mr. Sports Minister:

“I wrote a letter to Home Minister on April 15. The Prime Minister and Home Minister have very kindly agreed now to change the norm. – “in any field of human endeavor””

 HA! Very funny!

 “The move comes amid clamor for conferring of Bharat Ratna on Tendulkar for his outstanding contribution to cricket.”

 “Earlier, it was restricted to areas like “Art, Literature, Science and Public Service”, making it difficult for government to consider names of those, who contributed immensely to other fields, including sports.”

 WHHAATT??? “Making it difficult for government to consider names” – so in 1.21 billion people, government is finding difficulty in looking for people??? Now this seriously questions the ability of this government.

 Let me make it very clear, I like Sachin Tendulkar – for the sportsperson he is – most dedicated, most focused, zero-controversial man, one among a very few people on this planet with such excellent achievements, soft-spoken person. But I really question – does he really deserve Bharat Ratna.

 Since a child – I used to always think that Bharat Ratna is given to those very few people who have served our country – like defense personnel who have put the country first and their lives/families next, like scientists – making India come out of “developing country” tag, like Art/Literature – making the world recognize our talent/culture/music.

 What has these cricketers done? I mean other than making money for themselves, getting into betting, drugs? 

 Why other sportsperson do not get recognized? Now the thought comes down to only this – why doesn’t any other sport in India get as much attention as Cricket does? Are 1.21 billion people fools??

 Somehow this thought of Sachin Tendulkar getting Bharat Ratna doesn’t make me feel good and slowly I am losing hope on the system.

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