This refers to the Bharat Ratna articles "Pride of India" (December 25). The Bharat Ratna award to Atal Bihari Vajpayee was long overdue and by not conferring the award on him in time, the outgoing United Progressive Alliance government had shown a lack of graciousness. He was more than a Bharat Ratna even before getting the award. As for the award to Madan Mohan Malaviya, apart from it being wrong in principle to confer such awards on people who are not alive, the conferment on him, in the current scenario, involves his august personality in a controversy that he would have not liked.
There is no doubt that Malaviya was a dedicated Hindu, as many other freedom fighters were, but he never advocated Hindutva in the sense the term is being currently understood. The announcement of his name is also leading to some critics comparing his attainments with those of some other great personalities (Indians and non-Indians who served the country with distinction) who were not considered for the award. All said and done, the government's act is unfair to Malaviya.
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There is no doubt that Malaviya was a dedicated Hindu, as many other freedom fighters were, but he never advocated Hindutva in the sense the term is being currently understood. The announcement of his name is also leading to some critics comparing his attainments with those of some other great personalities (Indians and non-Indians who served the country with distinction) who were not considered for the award. All said and done, the government's act is unfair to Malaviya.
R C Mody, New Delhi
Letters can be mailed, faxed or e-mailed to:
The Editor, Business Standard
Nehru House, 4 Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg
New Delhi 110 002
Fax: (011) 23720201 · E-mail: letters@bsmail.in
All letters must have a postal address and telephone number