The announcement of Padma Awards prior to the Indian Republic day has its own usual share of controversies behind it. It is nothing new. However it requires some debate if its importance and relevance need to be carried forward further.
The newspapers questioned the selection of a hotelier who had figured in the Padma Bhushan category. In fact he had five criminal cases against him in the past of which, three got dropped by the agencies in the middle of investigation (!) and in the other two, the courts acquitted him. And he receives the third highest civilian honour of the country! I guess he is close to the chief executive of the country for I had seen him asserting the same when his hotel was inaugurated in Cochin.
Then there is this businessman of Kerala who profess that business is charity for him and the company. In his business vertical, there had been many doyens who, in addition to doing business the ethical way, had also done plenty of charity. They did not qualify but our man did because he was very vociferous about it, not to mention about his connections with the people associated with the party chief of the biggest political party in India.
I know about an eminent person who, after having won the Padma Shri is now managing the power that be, for getting the Padma Bhushan. To this effect he is now into some ‘visible’ activities that would give him sufficient score to get it!
We now read about a world champion in an even of sports, who had written to all and sundry including Mr. Rahul Gandhi MP about the humiliation meted out to him, by not considering him even for a Padma Shri! He may have a point regarding the selection criteria but asking for a Padma Award as he had done, seems the height of it. I am sure there are many more deserving cases who never got it, right?
Two famous Ayurvedic physician of traditional yore from Kerala got selected together for Padma Bhushan this year. I am sure it must have been tough decision for the mandarins of Cultural ministry to make, for they are used taking favours from both Ayurvedic houses for their wellness treatment. So instead of selecting one and disappointing the other, it was decided to give the award to both! What a win-win situation!
And then there is this Pravasi whose full page advertisement hit the newspapers on the very next day of the announcement of the awards of him being selected for the Padma Awards (much before him getting it from the President of India! can there not be a slip between the cup and the lip?). It is an open secret in the state of the millions that he spent on politician belonging to the ruling party to get the Pravasi award, a couple of years back. This route could also be none other!
I have read about a senior bureaucrat of the state government being revered by the cultural and social leaders of the country, particularly those resident in Delhi. It is a fact that he had long stint in the Centre at the Cultural Ministry and its was his department that sat thru the Padma decisions for many years. The cultural & social mafia loved him so much that they gave him such a fantastic farewell when he reverted to his home cadre on promotion!
A friend of mine who is a farmer based at Palghat, who had done some very innovative agricultural practises, to the extent of getting GIS patents and Awards from Agricultural ministry, out of sheer curiosity once asked me in passing as to how Padma awards are decided. Maybe in the back of the mind he may have this desire to own one. But poor him, doesn’t he realise that Padma Awards are not meant for poor humble farmers!
So, what is the sanctity of Padma Awards? Is it a sham show? Or is it half genuine and half nepotic? Should it be continued? Is it right for some visible ones to receive it and other deserving people to get ignored? Should the authorities tighten the selection criteria by having a re-look at it?
There are many questions. Will they ever get answered?
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