THE AGONY OF AWARDS

THE AGONY OF AWARDS

Prof Dr Colonel (Retired) K Prabhakar Rao

The other day, I saw a news paper and found a long list of awards on the occasion of the Republic day. My head reeled after seeing the list of awardees who were supposed to have excelled in their fields some way or other. I was aghast to see that some commercial artists who only performed for coppers and consideration throughout their lives were bestowed with highest civilian award like Bharat Ratna.There were serious allegations against some that youngsters were in fact snubbed by the artist and the artist ensured they could not come up. It is a lifes truth that under a large Banyan tree no other tree would survive. They are at same level as Patel, Ambedkar, Kalam and few more. After noticing that the two stalwarts from two different communities, the helpless ness of the government was very clear. In fact the entire process of these awards is engulfed in a mist of dubious distinction. Some time ago, the highest award was bestowed up on Patel and Netaji Bose because it was to be given to some other guy to appease a section of Indian community. It was very much revealing to note that Netaji’s German daughter politely refused to accept the award. Subhas was no way less than the father of the nation. That is exactly most of the Indians feel about Netaji although some of the previous governments in Indian underplayed him in all aspects. In one of my discussions with a relative years ago, I was shocked to listen when he said Netaji was a terrorist. I was highly upset and felt very sorry for him and prayed to God to give him some wisdom. However there was a great difference of age between him and me. I do not blame him because the history produced in Indian bookshops portrayed Netaji that way. In some of the history books Netaji is not even mentioned. He also ran in freedom movement as per these books.
The fact is that the national award has become the joke of the millennium and the government uses it to appease some communities and gain vote bank in their nefarious games in politics. Why not give these awards to characters such as Lord Hanuman, Lord Buddha, Krishna, Rama, Mahavira, Balarama, Vamana, Rani Laxmi bai, Chinnamma, Eknath, Tukaram, Annamayya, Tyagaraja, Vemana, Tulsidas, Kattabomman, Bhagat singh, Mangal Singh( Lately glorified) Velu Tambi, Prithwiraj chauhan, Asoka, Tilak, Rana Pratap, Rana Sangram, Akbar ( Some disagree), and Porus who were the real sons of the soil. These men and women were far great personalities than the present pseudo lot who played more politics and did less work. It is time some real distinction is shown in this field. The episode of Singer Hemant Kumar is revealing. The great singer and director of music was awarded Padma Sri, the lowest in the order. The singer promptly and politely refused. He deserved better award. There is no doubt that many politics are played in the entire game of award distribution. Many great men and women are sidelined and they go into oblivion. The interview of Seshendra Sharma in a news paper is highly revealing. It is a great tragedy that the government completely forgot the greatest and legendary KL Saigal in the field of music.
Now we come to army peacetime awards. One finds that Awards such as Ati Vishitha Seva Medal (AVSM) and Param Vishitha Seva Medal (PVSM) are awarded to officers of the rank of major General and Lt Generals as a matter of routine. Why not? They deserve these because they have managed to survive in uniform all these years without getting into trouble and played safe. The second aspect is more important for bagging the awards. Job in army is a great balancing act, you know. You may slip down from the rope any time. In fact every soldier in the country is devoted. Otherwise the nation would have been in others hands by this time. But only few selected get recognition. These guys smile through the color photographs and grin in the corps journals from time to time while those who really worked and slogged in uniform burn their spleens unsung and unheard. They were left in lurch. If one talks to those who hung their uniforms years ago, tales of service would be out. Soldiers gracefully fade out and are forgotten. In services there is a rat race for these awards. Skeletons would roll out if the subject is touched. In this context
I recollect the story of 17 th century while Vijaynagar empire was fading out. During the reign of Sri Krishnadeva Raya the most illustrious monarch to rule south India, arts, literature, dance, music, poetry and drama were at their zenith and were greatly patronized by the emperor who was great scholar by himself. Artists and poets with smaller distinction were also given awards and recognition. Such was the love of the king for his subjects. After the death of this illustrious king subsequent rulers found it difficult to follow the practice. Kingdom suffered due to a war with Muslim armies of Deccani Sultans at Tallikota and other places. The financial position of the rulers dwindled. One of the rulers Chikkaraya faced serious problem as citizens neglected their basic duties and profession and were busy writing some thing or other to get favors from the State. One day the king and the prime minister went out in disguise to feel the pulse of the people.. One the way they found the royal barber walking in haste with something tucked under his arm. He did not recognize the king and the minister. The king asked him what he was carrying and the barber promptly replied that he wrote a book and that he was going to the court to read it and get some award from the ruler. The king asked him what was the book about and the barber replied, “Katti Rai Samvadam.” Meaning the dialogue between the barber’s stone and the barber’s knife. The king after hearing he felt giddy and was about to fall when the minister comforted him and took him to royal palace. He was soon revived in the company of fat concubines and queens. The king fumed fretted the whole night. Next day after consulting the minister issued a decree that whoever wrote a book of prose, poetry, drama and dance would be given hundred lashes in public after disrobing him or her and this immediately put an end to this vexed practice of writing something and seeking awards. Great was Chikkaraya that he found a ingenious way for putting the practice to an end. That is the difference. In recent times there was a great lobbying for the grant of Bharat Ratna by various leaders in political field. There were any names in the field such as Atul Bihari Bajpai, Kanshiram, Karunanaidhi (Who called SriRama a drunkard), Mulayam Singh Yadav and many more. Thank god none got it. How do we solve the problem in India? It is democracy now. Chikkaraya was a king. We have to wait till another Chikkaraya emerges out. Till then Indians have to suffer the agony of these awards and yearly joke.

Crazy Indians are after the awards
Creepy they behave like the lizards
Funny guys are found in the awards list
Entire thing is covered in a dusty mist

Meritorious guys are dumped in a drain
While shady souls are found to brightly grin
Guys in uniform do the balancing act
Who mange the wards that is a life’s fact

Dr K PRabhakar Rao