Pranab Mukherjee, Nanaji Deshmukh, Bhupen Hazarika awarded Bharat Ratna

Social activist Nanaji Deshmukh, Music maestro Bhupen Hazarika and  former President Pranab Mukherjee have been awarded with country's highest civilian honour Bharat Ratna.

As per a press communique issued by President's office, Nanaji Deshmukh and Bhupen Hazarika will be awarded with the honour posthumously.
 
The President also approved conferment of 112 Padma Awards, including 4 Padma Vibhushan, 14 Padma Bhushan and 94 Padma Shri Awards. Folk artist Teejan Bai, President of Djibouti Ismail Omar Guelleh, Industralist Anil kumar Manibhai Naik and theatre actor Balwant Moreshwar Purandare will be honoured with Padma Vibhushan.
 
Former CAG V K Shunglu, Akali Dal leader Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and Foreigner John Chambers are among those who will be given Padma Bhushan. Journalist Kuldip Nayar will be honoured with Padma Bhushan posthumously.
 
For Padma Shree, Actor Manoj Bajpayee, Prabhu Deva, cricketer Gautam Gambhir, footballer Sunil Chhetri, Archer Bombayla Devi Laishram, archaeologist K K Muhammed are among



those chosen for the awards this year. Actor Kader Khan has been awarded Padma Shree posthumously.

Meanwhile Information and Broadcasting Minister Colonel Rajyavardhan Rathore has congratulated former President Pranab Mukherjee for being honoured with Bharat Ratna. In a tweet, Col. Rathore said, from a Rajya Sabha member in 1969 to the President of India till 2017, Mr Mukherjee has had a nearly five-decade long journey in the service of the nation.

Col Rathore said, the award of Bharat Ratna to Nanaji Deshmukh is a recognition of his superlative contribution to poverty alleviation, agriculture and holistic rural development. He said, a staunch follower of integral humanism, his life and work will continue to inspire the nation for years to come.