The Padma Awards - are they any good
"My name should not be made prominent, it is my ideas that I want to be realised."
- Swami Vivekananda
Such are some immortal words of a saint.However,we live in a more mortal world today where ideas and actions of groups or individuals demand at least some recognition ,if not any remuneration .The various awards prevalent in our society today fulfil such human desire. Padma Awards here are a class apart as they are the highest decoration to a person given by state for extra-ordinary services to the nation. But the controversies surrounding these awards in recent times have raised compelling questions regarding the relevance of these awards.
Firstly, there are doubts regarding the constitutionality of these awards as many believe them to be titles forbidden by article-18 of the constitution. Although Supreme Court has already clarified on the issue recognising Padma Awards as academic distinctions rather than titles, we still find incidents of non-acceptance regularly on such grounds. Secondly, the controversies regarding the choice of candidates for the awards have not only disgraced the awardees themselves but they also do not augur well for the sacrosanct nature of awards of national character like the Padma awards. Also, The criteria of selection of these awards is controversial , hardly transparent and without any fixed framework which sometimes lead to bizarre choices, which becomes an issue of national debate rather than national pride. The Sant Singh Chatwal incident is fresh in our memory as of now.
Thirdly, there is a prevalent belief that these are more "government" awards rather than national awards as most of the awardees are either government loyalists or neutralists. No radicalist is ever chosen for the awards no matter how deserving they may be. Even sometimes the awards are simply distributed to further the political ideology of the ruling political party. Fourthly, every year so many persons are chosen for the three coveted category of awards that these awards have become the subject of academic interest only. Moreover, the recipients also don't consider them to be a matter of pride. Who can forget the absence of M.S. dhoni from the award function preferring a cricket match instead!
Fifthly, There are also incidents when awardees themselves have reservations regarding the awards like-late recognition, chosen for a lower category than they deserve, comparison with other awards of national character in their respective fields which they have already received etc. Such avoidable differences when come to open after the announcement of awards not only disgrace the awards and the awardees but also the nation as a whole
However all these aberrations don't mean that the country doesn't need such kind of award. It only denotes that the current selection methodology is faulty and needs drastic changes to be acceptable to a socially, culturally and ideologically diverse country like India. If these awards are used for recognition and motivational purposes only then they can definitely help in projecting the talents of India on a national platform. Such methods are employed worldwide and are a success, which reaffirms their usefulness. But there are some checks which need to be followed in the process so as to rejuvenate the gradually diminishing feeling of "Patriotism and National pride" associated with these awards.
First of all the selection methodology for these awards need to be overhauled by codifying the fixed criteria for selection by a representative body in a rational and transparent manner. Also before announcing the final list there must be an informal communication with the awardee that whether he is willing to accept the award or not so as to avoid any unwarranted controversy later on.
The awards must also be chosen on lines with "Lifetime achievement" of a personality rather than short term successes to give more meaning to Padma awards as highest honour of the state. There can also be caps on number of personalities selected for each of the three categories of award every year which will definitely bring back the lost sheen of these awards as they will become coveted and awaited.
As an 'Aside', It must be kept in mind that awards and decorations of national character are meant for glorification of the nation .The nation builders and great achievers are identified in the process and are honoured for their services to the nation. It is therefore a reciprocal process which not only gives honour but also demands honour. This basic principle must be imbibed deep in the heart of every citizen of India.
Conclusively, Awards or decorations have a peculiar tendency to get glued to names rather than deeds or ideas that's why many great thinkers have advised against their use. But such idealist connotations are difficult to follow in the world of imperfect realities in which we live today and for which we have chosen for ourselves some traditions. So if we don't want to make mockery of ourselves it is best for ourselves to adhere to those traditions in the best possible way we can, whether it be awards or anything else.
-Shubham Jain
