Bharat Ratna calls for Ratan Tata grow after legendary industrialist’s death

As India mourns the recent death of its iconic industrialist and philanthropist, Ratan Tata, calls for him to be posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna, the country’s highest civilian honor, have gained significant traction.

Leaders from various political and business sectors came together to urge the government to consider the award. In response, the The Maharashtra Cabinet approved a resolution on October 10, asking the Center to confer the Bharat Ratna on the former chairman of the Tata Group.

The resolution will now be submitted to the central government for further consideration.

Acknowledgments for Ratan Tata

Despite his monumental contributions to Indian industry and philanthropy, Ratan Tata is yet to receive the Bharat Ratna. However, he was honored with the Padma Bhushan in 2000 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2008, two of India’s most prestigious civilian awards.

Tata’s humble stance on Bharat Ratna

In 2021, as the campaign for his nomination as Bharat Ratna gained momentum, Ratan Tata humbly requested his supporters to halt their efforts.

“While I appreciate the sentiments expressed by a section of social media regarding an award, I would humbly request that such campaigns be stopped. Instead, I consider myself fortunate to be an Indian and to contribute to the growth and prosperity of India,” he shared on social media.

After his death, the campaign reignited, with many on social media calling him “Bharat Ratan”, recognizing his dedication to social causes.

Bharat Ratna and industrialists

Only one industrialist, JRD Tata, was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1992. If it were awarded to Ratan Tata, he would become the second industrialist to receive the country’s highest honor.

Bharat Ratna award process and possibility for 2024

According to the Home Ministry’s response to an RTI query, recommendations for the Bharat Ratna are made by the Prime Minister to the President of India. Although regulations limit the number of awards to three per year, this number has been exceeded on a few occasions. In 1999, four individuals – Jayaprakash Narayan, Amartya Sen, Gopinath Bordoloi and Ravi Shankar – received the honor, and in 2024, five recipients were awarded the Bharat Ratna.

The five individuals who were posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna in 2024 are:

• Karpoori Thakur, former chief minister of Bihar
• MS Swaminathan, known as the ‘Father of India’s Green Revolution
• PV Narasimha Rao, Ninth Prime Minister of India
• Lal Krishna Advani, former Deputy Prime Minister of India
• Chaudhary Charan Singh, fifth Prime Minister of India

The nation waits to see whether Ratan Tata, whose legacy touched millions, will join the ranks of Bharat Ratna beneficiaries in 2024.