The question whether Sachin deserves a Bharat Ratna or not is an altogether different facet. I mean who are we to comment whether this gem of cricket really deserves a Bharat Ratna! Renowned personalities like Sourav Ganguly, BJP leader Gopinath Munde and Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan have already shown their support in Sachin’s favor. But does our little master really needs anyone’s nod to be applauded with a Bharat Ratna? I mean, he has done so much for the country, made gallons of runs in both forms of the game and has
represented India on a global arena; does he really need a recognition at
this stage?
Agreed that adding Bharat Ratna in his kitty of awards would add another feather in his cap but why is this debate making so much of news in the media? Why are we exaggerating the topic to such an extent that it in itself is overshadowing the contribution of Sachin Tendulkar in world-class cricket? Every media channel, every newspaper is focusing on this issue and making huge TRPs, but is it really required to stretch the topic like a Bubblegum.
Yuvraj Singh advocated Bharat Ratna for Sachin Tendulkar. "Sachin Tendulkar should get Bharat Ratna for his services to the game. He deserves it the most," he said, after reaching Chandigarh, his hometown. His captain MS Dhoni, teammate Harbhajan Singh and former hockey captain Dhanraj Pillay also joined the chorus for awarding the Bharat Ratna to Tendulkar.
Giving Tendulkar Bharat Ratna would require change of rules:
The calls for bestowing Sachin Tendulkar with the ‘Bharat Ratna’ may have got louder after India’s World Cup triumph but giving the country’s highest civillian honour to the batting icon would require tweaking of the criteria that has been laid down for the coveted award.
The ‘Bharat Ratna’ was started in 1954 and has so far been given to 41 eminent personalities, none of whom are sports-persons, the reason being the criteria for the coveted honour.
Constitutional expert Subhash Kashyap says given the current rules “Tendulkar does not qualify for the honour and giving the award to him would require a change in the rules.”
According to the criteria at present, the award is given for exceptional contribution in the fields of art, literature, science and social service. The criteria does not have any mention of sports.
Kashyap says the government has to decide whether it wants to include sports in the criteria for the award. The Sports Ministry will have to present such a proposal for cabinet approval.
“Once the cabinet gives its approval, the Home Ministry can bestow this honour on not just Sachin Tendulkar but any other athlete,” he said.
Indian cricket team’s prominent players such as Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Harbhajan Singh, Yuvraj Singh and Virender Sehwag have all asked for the honour to be bestowed on Tendulkar after the side’s World Cup win.