President presented Bharat Ratna Awards to Shri Nanaji Deshmukh, Dr Bhupendra Kumar Hazarika and Shri Pranab Mukherjee

The President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, presented Bharat Ratna Awards to Shri Nanaji Deshmukh, Dr Bhupendra Kumar Hazarika and Shri Pranab Mukherjee at an Investiture Ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan yesterday, August 8, 2019.

While Shri Pranab Mukherjee received the award in person, Shri Nanaji Deshmukh and Dr Bhupendra Kumar Hazarika were awarded posthumously to their family members. Chairman of Deendayal Research Institute, Virendrajeet Singh, received Bharat Ratna on behalf of social activist and senior RSS leader Nanaji Deshmukh. Son of Bhupen Hazarika, Tej Hazarika, received Bharat Ratna on his father’s behalf.

The Bharat Ratna is India’s highest civilian award. Instituted in 1954, the award is conferred “in recognition of exceptional service/performance of the highest order”, without distinction of race, occupation, position, or sex. The recommendations for the Bharat Ratna are made by the Prime Minister to the President, with a maximum of three nominees being awarded per year. Recipients receive a Sanad (certificate) signed by the President and a peepal-leaf–shaped medallion. There is no monetary grant associated with the award.

The highest civilian awards given this year had the citation of the awardee as below.