'Bharat Ratna For Ratan Tata' Chorus Grows, Maharashtra Cabinet Passes Resolution

The Maharashtra cabinet on Thursday passed a resolution urging the Centre to confer ‘Bharat Ratna’, the country’s highest civilian award, on the late Ratan Tata.

It comes after Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena on Thursday demanded a proposal of the name of Ratan Tata, who died on Wednesday night, for the Bharat Ratna.

Shiv Sena leader Rahool Kanal addressed a letter to Shinde urging the latter to propose veteran industrialist and Tata Sons Chairman Emeritus Ratan Tata’s name to the Centre for the Bharat Ratna honour.

In his letter to Shinde, Kanal said the Bharat Ratna would serve as a fitting tribute to a man who epitomised values of kindness, integrity and selfless service to humanity.

“Shri Tata Ji was not only a visionary leader but also a compassionate humanitarian. His philanthropic efforts towards the welfare of stray animals, providing shelter through his five-star hotels across India, demonstrated his commitment to the voiceless members of our society. Furthermore, his dedication to establishing cancer hospitals for the underprivileged showcased his unwavering belief in the right to health and dignity for all individuals, regardless of their socioeconomic status,” Kanla wrote in the letter.

“In light of these remarkable contributions, I kindly urge your esteemed office to propose Shri Ratan Tata Ji’s name for the Bharat Ratna Award, the highest civilian honour bestowed by the Government of India. This acknowledgement would serve as a fitting tribute to a man who epitomized the values of kindness, integrity, and selfless service to humanity,” he added.

The Maharashtra cabinet led by CM Shinde and his deputies Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar also paid tribute to national icon and business tycoon Ratan Tata on Thursday by observing a minute of silence.

Ratan Tata Passes Away At 86

Veteran industrialist and Tata Sons Chairman Emeritus Ratan Tata died late Wednesday at the age of 86 after a brief illness. He was admitted to Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital on Monday due to a sudden drop in blood pressure and was in critical condition in the intensive care unit.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said on Wednesday night that the last rites will be performed with full state honours. Tata’s mortal remains have been kept at NCPA for the public to pay their respects.

Tata, born on December 28, 1937, in Mumbai, was the Chairman of Ratan Tata Trust and Dorabji Tata Trust, two of the largest private-sector-promoted philanthropic trusts in India.

He was the Chairman of Tata Sons, the holding company of the Tata Group, from 1991 until his retirement in 2012. Then he was appointed Chairman Emeritus of Tata Sons.

Bharat Ratna Award: All You Need To Know

Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award of the Republic of India, was instituted on January 2, 2954, and is conferred in recognition of ‘exceptional service or performance of the highest order.’

Originally, the award recognised achievements made in the fields of arts, literature, science and public service, but the Centre expanded the criteria to include “any field of human endeavour” in December 2011.

Usually announced on the occasion of Republic Day- January 26, the recommendations for Bharat Ratna honour are given by the Prime Minister to the President. The first recipients of the Bharat Ratna were: the former Governor-General of the Union of India C. Rajagopalachari, the former President of the Republic of India Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, and the Indian physicist CV Raman, who was honoured in 1954.

Since then, the award has been bestowed upon 53 individuals, including 18 who were awarded posthumously. In 2024, Karpoori Thakur, Lal Krishna Advani, Charan Singh, PV Narasimha Rao and MS Swaminathan were conferred with the Bharat Ratna award.