Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced today that former prime ministers PV Narasimha Rao and Chaudhary Charan Singh, along with scientist Dr. MS Swaminathan, will be conferred with the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honor. PV Narasimha Rao, who served as prime minister from 1991 to 1996, is credited with spearheading India’s economic liberalization.
Charan Singh, known for advocating for workers and farmers’ rights, briefly held the prime minister’s office in 1979. Dr. MS Swaminathan, a distinguished scientist, is hailed as the mastermind behind India’s green revolution.
PM Modi Announces Bharat Ratna Honors for PV Narasimha Rao, Chaudhary Charan Singh, and Dr. MS Swaminathan
“Delighted to share that our former Prime Minister, Shri PV Narasimha Rao Garu, will be honoured with the Bharat Ratna,” the PM wrote on X.
“As a distinguished scholar and statesman, Narasimha Rao Garu served India extensively in various capacities. He is equally remembered for the work he did as Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Union Minister, and as a Member of Parliament and Legislative Assembly for many years. His visionary leadership was instrumental in making India economically advanced, laying a solid foundation for the country’s prosperity and growth.”
“It is the good fortune of our government that former Prime Minister of the country Chaudhary Charan Singh is being honoured with Bharat Ratna. This honor is dedicated to his incomparable contribution to the country. He had dedicated his entire life to the rights and welfare of farmers,” the PM Declared.
“Be it the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh or the Home Minister of the country and even as an MLA, he always gave impetus to nation-building. He also stood firm against the Emergency. His dedication to our farmer brothers and sisters and his commitment to democracy during the Emergency is inspiring to the entire nation,” PM Modi wrote in a separate post.
“It is a matter of immense joy that the Government of India is conferring the Bharat Ratna on Dr. MS Swaminathan Ji, in recognition of his monumental contributions to our nation in agriculture and farmers’ welfare. He played a pivotal role in helping India achieve self-reliance in agriculture during challenging times and made outstanding efforts towards modernizing Indian agriculture. We also recognise his invaluable work as an innovator and mentor and encouraging learning and research among several students. Dr. Swaminathan’s visionary leadership has not only transformed Indian agriculture but also ensured the nation’s food security and prosperity. He was someone I knew closely and l always valued his insights and inputs,” the PM added.
India’s Bharat Ratna Honorees: A Tribute to Icons of Leadership and Service
The government previously announced the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honor, for BJP veteran LK Advani and former Bihar chief minister Karpoori Thakur.
PV Narasimha Rao had a multifaceted career, serving as an agriculturist, advocate, and prominent political figure. Holding positions such as Minister of Law and Information, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, and General Secretary of the All India Congress Committee, Rao demonstrated a diverse range of interests. He also served as India’s External Affairs minister. Rao is widely recognized for initiating significant economic reforms and appointing Manmohan Singh as Finance Minister during a challenging economic period. His six-time parliamentary tenure concluded with his passing at the age of 83 in 2004.
Charan Singh, India’s fifth prime minister, was not only a politician but also a freedom fighter who aligned himself with Mahatma Gandhi’s non-violent struggle against British rule. He founded the Lokdal party in 1980 and is often referred to as the “Champion of India’s peasants.”
Dr. MS Swaminathan made remarkable contributions to Indian agriculture, earning him the title “Father of Economic Ecology.” As a global leader of the Green Revolution, Swaminathan played a pivotal role in introducing high-yielding varieties of wheat and rice, helping India avert famine-like conditions in the 1960s.
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