Guidelines for Civilian Awards

LETTER TO EDITOR
Guidelines for Civilian Awards
Politicians have opened a Pandora's Box by recommending the names of their leaders for the highest civilian award of the country ie; Bharat Ratna. This has created a controversy by many people jumping into the bandwagon and recommending various names for the awards. The authorities have conveniently taken a shortcut by dispensing with the Bharat Ratna award this year. This is an escapist policy and not a panacea for the problem. We Indians have the uncanny knack of treating the symptom and not the disease. It is ironical that there have been no clear cut criteria or guidelines for selecting the awardees. Consequently the ruling party used to give this award for their henchmen and favourites. We Indians especially politicians and bureaucrats are consistently following a bad precedent of showing loyalty to the boss. It is high time we should make a change in this attitude and try to achieve organisational/Company/National objectives rather than appeasing their bosses
I suggest the following guidelines for Bharat Ratna and other Padma awards
Politicians and people who are directly involved in politics should be excluded from the purview of this award.
Sycophants, flatterers, leg pullers, back baiters, liars and people with crab mentality, ego etc should be automatically disqualified from consideration of award
Achieving personal glory should not be a consideration for the award unless it is matched with improving the country's image in the outside world
Canvassing or lobbying for the award by the candidate or his near/dear ones should be treated as a disqualification
Award should be given to living legends and should not be given posthumously
The jury of the Award should consist eminent personalities drawn from various fields like Art, Literature, Culture, Sports, Public Service, Science & Technology etc headed by an eminent serving or retired Supreme Court judge
People who have given outstanding contribution in any field can be considered for the award
In addition to outstanding achievements the candidates being considered for the award should have impeccable human virtues like honesty, integrity, patriotism, morality, sacrifice, selfless service etc
The candidate being considered for higher awards should be a true nationalist and should feel free from the clutches of caste, region, religion etc
The award winner should be a role model for others to emulate
Candidates being considered for the award should have pride as an Indian National and should be proud of Indian Culture, Civilization and traditions
People who have raised the image of the country by their outstanding deeds should be considered
Unsung heroes and those who got very less returns in material terms should get preference
Persons who have been honoured by International Institutions and Foreign countries should get due weightage
The awards should help to inspire others to follow the great deeds of the awardees
Award should be accompanied by a citation so that the common man understand and appreciate the reason and justification for giving award to the person
While minor deviations/dilutions can be done in some factors considering the weightage of other factors, no compromise in the criteria should be made for the highest award. It is better not to give award rather than giving award to an undeserving candidate.
Let us make these awards an instrument of national pride and not a cake for the petty politicians to fight. Let us also herald the beginning of a new era of the revival of the great Indian civilization and make this rich country of rich and abundant resources a true "Mahabharata" in letter and spirit.
The suggestions given are only indicative and not exhaustive. Government can consider formulating comprehensive policy so that in future awards are given to deserving candidates and not to the henchmen or yes-men of the party in power. This is essential to preserve the credibility and sanctity of the award and not to make a mockery of the awards.

E M Adithyan
31st January 2008
Elangalloor Mana
P.O. Edapal-679 576
Kerala