Today the government of India announced that the highest civilian award of the country, Bharat Ratna will be conferred on three persons, two of them posthumously. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that Nanaji Deshmukh, Bhupen Hazarika and former President Pranab Mukherjee have been conferred with Bharat Ratna.
Nanaji Deshmukh's stellar contribution towards rural development showed the way for a new paradigm of empowering those living in our villages.
He personifies humility, compassion and service to the downtrodden. He is a Bharat Ratna in the truest sense!
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 25, 2019
Nanaji Deshmukh (11 October 1916 – 27 February 2010) was a social activist from Maharashtra. He worked in the fields of education, health, and rural self-reliance. He was awarded the Padma Vibhushan earlier.
The songs and music of Shri Bhupen Hazarika are admired by people across generations. From them radiates the message of justice, harmony and brotherhood.
He popularised India's musical traditions globally.
Happy that the Bharat Ratna has been conferred on Bhupen Da.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 25, 2019
Dr. Bhupen Hazarika (8 September 1926 – 5 November 2011) was an Indian playback singer, lyricist, musician, singer, poet and film-maker from Assam. He had briefly entered politics and contested in 2004 Lok Sabha elections from a BJP ticket.
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
Pranab Kumar Mukherjee (born 11 December 1935) is a veteran Congress leader from West Bengal who served as the 13th President of India from 2012 until 2017. He was a union minister in various portfolios in several Congress governments at the centre, and a long term member of the Lok Sabha.
