Padma Awards: Inviting application belittles the importance of the honour
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, June 30 2014: Really deserving personalities are always deprived of various prestigious awards, only because of the manner in which the awardees are selected.

It is unlikely that eminent persons, who do not like to praise themselves, will come out to apply for the prestigious awards.

Manipur state has a number of deserving persons who are eminent in the field of Arts, Literature, Sports and Social Service.

But as they do not like to indulge in self-elevation, they do not think of applying for awards.

On the other hand, undeserving persons who want to glorify themselves in spite of their poorer prominence always get the chance to get the honour, as really admirable people are out of the race.

Every year, the Government of India invites nominations from the State Government and Union Territories for the Padma awards.

Accordingly, the State Government or Union territories issues notifications calling applications from eminent persons for these awards.

Regarding Manipur state, the Social Welfare Department has recently issued a notification through local newspapers inviting applications from intending persons for the coveted Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Bibhushan awards to be announced on 26th January, 2015.However, it is not likely that really adorable individuals are going to submit applications for the same, as they do not want self-adornment.

According to some prominent persons, it would be more meaningful if a third party makes the recommendations by taking into consideration the contributions made by eminent persons.

"I am not the right person to judge my eminence", commented a deserving individual of the State on condition of anonymity, and added that it would be an insult to an eminent individual who submits application and is not selected for the awards.

Some of the deserving individuals such as renowned artist RK Chandrajitsana Singh (RKCS), singer Nongmaithem Pahari and academician RK Shitaljit Singh were not nominated for the coveted award as they did not apply for the same.

The better mechanism is that a third party, taking into account the qualities of eminence of a person, recommends his/her name to the awarding authority for the honor.

It would also be more meaningful, if names of awardees are announced without their knowledge and even to their surprise.

Inviting applications for the award from individuals is not really effective in getting the right person as the nominee.

In fact, the prominence and meaningful adornment of the prestigious awards have been apparently degraded, as a number of admirable personalities are reluctant to apply for the same.

It has been suggested from various circles that instead of issuing advertisement inviting applications for highest civilian awards like the Padma Shri award, the State Government may constitute a high level committee to select the deserving individuals of the State and make recommendations even without the knowledge of the individuals.

It would make the awards more prestigious and meaningful.

After the Bharat Ratna, Padma awards are highest civilian awards conferred by the Government of India.

Instituted in 1954, Padma Awards namely Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri are announced on the occasion of the Republic Day every year.

Padma Vibhushan, second highest civilian award in the Republic of India is awarded to recognize exceptional and distinguished service to the nation in any field, including Government service.

The first recipients of this award were Satyendra Nath Bose, Nand Lal Bose, Zakir Hussain, Balasaheb Gangadhar Kher, Jigme Dorji Wangchuk, V..KKrishna Menon in the year 1954 .

The oldest living recipient as of now is Zohra Sehgal who received the award at the age of 102 years and the youngest living recipient is 41 years old Sachin Tendulkar.

Padma Bhushan is the third highest civilian award awarded to recognize distinguished service of a high order to the nation in any field.

Shivam Shetty Manohar is the youngest to have received this title.

Padma Shri is given to eminent Indians with distinguished and exceptional achievements in the fields of Art, Literature and Education, Sports, Medicine, Social Work, Science and Engineering, Public Affairs, Civil Service, Trade and Industry, etc.

It may also been awarded to some distinguished individuals who are not citizens of India and but who contribute in various ways to India.

In case of Government employees, his or her recommendation should be made along with his personal file through the Head of Department concerned.

Even though the decoration is not conferred posthumously, the Government could consider giving the award to deceased individuals who died within one year preceding the Republic Day on which it is being announced.

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