Letters: Scrapping the award system

The expected controversy over the reported move of the Narendra Modi government to confer the highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna, to as many as five people serves as an opportunity to review the concept of conferring of awards by the government. It has reignited the chauvinistic instincts of demanding similar recognition for the leaders of a particular region, community or ideology. Thus, the scheme in its current form has acquired a divisive character. Barring some deserving men and women, this award in the past has been conferred on considerations rather than entirely on merit. What makes it even worse is to honour people decades after they have passed away. How far back can we go in the pages of our history to identify those whose contributions deserve to be recognised? The whole scheme of state awards must be scrapped. Alternatively, like the Nobel Prize, it should not be awarded posthumously.

S K Choudhury Bangalore

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