In 2021, the Centre renamed the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna as Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. But many wonder, why despite the public sentiment the country's highest civilian honour continues to elude the man who put Indian hockey on the world map.
Indian Premier League chairman Rajiv Shukla, on Thursday, took exception to Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray's opposition to conferring the Bharat Ratna to Sachin Tendulkar, saying the iconic cricketer deserves the country's highest civilian award.
Sachin Tendulkar met President Droupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Vimarsh Shrinkhala event in New Delhi on Thursday.
Former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly joined the chorus in demanding Bharat Ratna, the country's highest civilian award, to batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar.
World Cup-winning Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Wednesday joined the growing calls to award batting ace Sachin Tendulkar the Bharat Ratna, saying no cricketer deserves it more than him.
'They have earned their money and their fame. They could have earned our respect by behaving in more public spirited fashion, but they have chosen instead to be unconcerned on that count,' says Aakar Patel.
Having achieved the unique distinction of scoring the first double century in One-day internationals, Sachin Tendulkar is now on the threshold of becoming the first sportsperson to be conferred the Bharat Ratna. The Maharashtra government is all set to recommend the batting maestro for India's highest civilian award.
The last Bharat Ratna award was conferred upon Pranab Mukherjee in 2019 and was posthumously awarded to Bhupendra Kumar Hazarika and Nanaji Deshmukh. The award was not given to anyone between 2020 and 2023.
JD(U) leader Shivanand Tiwari tells Rediff.com's Manu Shankar that hockey legend Dhyan Chand was more deserving of the Bharat Ratna than Sachin Tendulkar because he played without monetary gains and also suggested that the award be scrapped.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, has said that master batsman Sachin Tendulkar should not play in the Indian Premier League if his name was under consideration for the country's highest civilian award, Bharat Ratna and blamed the IPL for 'ruining' the sport.
After brickbats, it is now bouquets for cricket maestro Sachin Tendulkar from the Shiv Sena.
Till now, the maximum Bharat Ratnas were awarded in 1999 when four recipients were given the coveted award.
After becoming the first sportsperson to be conferred with the Bharat Ratna, Sachin Tendulkar dedicated the country's highest civilian honour to his mother Rajni.
Cricketers such as Sachin Tendulkar should not be honoured with the Bharat Ratna as the demand to give the award to filmstars and cricket players spoke of 'the low cultural level', Press Council of India Chairman Justice Markandey Katju said on Saturday.
Legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar and eminent scientist Prof C N R Rao were conferred with the country's highest civilian honour Bharat Ratna by President Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday.
Legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar and eminent scientist Prof C N R Rao were conferred with the country's highest civilian honour Bharat Ratna by President Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday.
The Sports Ministry has written to the Prime Minister's Office, requesting Bharat Ratna for the late Dhyan Chand in what can considered be its latest push to bestow the hockey legend with India's highest civilian honour.
India's second Grandmaster Dibyendu Barua welcomed the government's decision to bestow the Bharat Ratna on Sachin Tendulkar but added that five-time World chess champion
A day after Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan said his government would recommend Bharat Ratna for Sachin Tendulkar, the Shiv Sena also batted for the country's highest civilian honour for the cricket icon on Saturday.
The government on Wednesday said it has received requests from various quarters to confer the Bharat Ratna to Sachin Tendulkar, adding that a proposal to confer the country's highest civilian award to sportspersons was under consideration.
The Government has decided to confer the Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award on eminent scientist Prof C.N.R.Rao and cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar.
The name of Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar is one of the most recommended by various groups for the Bharat Ratna award.
A day after he saw Sachin's 200th Test match at Wankhede, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi is learnt to have pushed the Bharat Ratna for Sachin Tendulkar with an eye on the youth vote.
Amid unprecedented political lobbying for the Bharat Ratna, former India cricket captain Ajit Wadekar said master blaster Sachin Tendulkar should be given the country's highest civilian honour. 'If any one has to be given Bharat Ratna it is Sachin Tendulkar, since it is he who deserves [it] the most,' said Wadekar.
India's latest batting sensation Virat Kohli on Thursday said Sachin Tendulkar deserves country's highest civilian award -- the Bharat Ratna.
Mumbai MP Sanjay Nirupam said batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar has been recommended for the Bharat Ratna and a decision on him being honoured with India's highest civilian decoration will be known in a few days.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh spoke to Sachin Tendulkar on Saturday and congratulated him on being awarded the Bharat Ratna -- the highest civilian award in the country.
The sporting fraternity bowed in admiration as India's pride, Sachin Tendulkar, walked into the sunset after a glorious 24-year-long international cricket career and welcomed the government's decision to confer him with the Bharat Ratna.
Modi spoke to the BJP's longest serving president, who is credited with crafting the party's rise through the 90s when it came to power for the first time as the head of coalition governments under Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and congratulated him.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai praised Sachin Tendulkar's visit to the Bastar region, highlighting its inspirational impact on children and youth. Tendulkar's visit to Dantewada district, as part of a grassroots sports initiative, signifies the region's transformation from a Maoist stronghold to a hub of development and opportunity.
When Sachin Tendulkar bats, it's like an artist playing a 'raga' and the true legend of the game deserves the Bharat Ratna, legendary singer Asha Bhonsle said on Thursday.
Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone has joined in the Bharat Ratna debate saying her father and former India badminton star Prakash Padukone deserves the highest civilian award.
Amid clamour for Bharat Ratna for Sachin Tendulkar, the government has modified rules to pave way for eligibility of sportspersons for the highest civilian award of the country. The new rules, providing for eligibility of persons excelling in fields other than art, literature, science and public service for Bharat Ratna, were notified on November 16, Sports Minister Ajay Maken told the media in New Delhi.
Educationist Madan Mohan Malviya and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee are the 44th and 45th distinguished personalities who have been conferred with the country's highest civilian award Bharat Ratna.
World chess champion Viswanathan Anand on Thursday joined the growing list of top athletes supporting the demand that iconic batsman Sachin Tendulkar be conferred the Bharat Ratna -- the highest civilian honour in India.
Senior Indian cricketers led by captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Wednesday joined the growing chorus, demanding that Sachin Tendulkar be conferred the Bharat Ratna and said the maestro deserves the highest civilian award for the services he rendered to the country through the sport.
Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar's visit to the Bastar region in Chhattisgarh is hailed as a source of inspiration for youth, promoting sports and instilling confidence in the once Maoist-affected area.
Dhyan Chand should have got Bharat Ratna first, says Milkha Singh.
Janata Dal-United Member of Parliament Shivanand Tiwari on Monday questioned the government's decision to give the Bharat Ratna to Sachin Tendulkar and not to legendary hockey player Dhyan Chand.
The first Indian woman sportsperson to be decorated with the Padma Vibhushan, celebrated boxer MC Mary Kom on Sunday said she hopes to win the Bharat Ratna by winning a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics. Bharat Ratna is the country's highest civilian award.
