(Un)Civilian Honours

26th January this year once again saw a clutch of personalities being conferred with India's civilian honours - Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padam Shri...The lists every year evoke standard sets of responses. Some people are unhappy about names having been excluded, some are critical of a few awardees and some awardees themselves feel that they deserved it "much before" (Asha Bhosle for instance).

This year has been no different. To the Government's credit they have recognised some worthy personalities for these awards. However a few sore points do stick out.

• Is it right for the sitting External Affairs Minister to be chosen for the 2nd highest civilian honour given that the Government picks the awardees ? Can see a day not far away when politicians like a Laloo or Karunanidhi clamor for awards for their party men like they do for cabinet ministerial berths....
• In a country with 1/6th of the world's population couldn't we find one name worthy enough to be conferred the Bharat Ratna ... and mind you we have been hit with this "scarcity" for 6 years now.
• There were these debates that raged for a few days about worthy candidates for the ratna and one should say it was sickening. Lobbying of the worst kind was witnessed and needless to say it was only from politicians....Vajpayee, Kanshi Ram, Mulayam(!!) were some of the names thrown into the ring.... A pity that politics extended its ugly fangs in an attempt to tarnish the nations' highest civilian honour...

One wonders how much longer can these awards successfully continue to uphold their own sanctity... With audience polling, nominations and a Jury moderation CNN-IBN or NDTV awards seem much more meritorious and trustworthy...