Ravi Shankar was an Indian sitarist and composer. A sitar virtuoso, he became the world's best-known expert of North Indian classical music in the second half of the 20th century, and influenced many musicians in India and throughout the world. Shankar was awarded India's highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, in 1999.
Shankar performing in 1969
Shankar (right) at a meeting with Satyajit Ray for the sound production of Pather Panchali (1955)
Concert flier, 1967
Shankar performing with Anoushka Shankar in 2007
The Bharat Ratna is the highest civilian award of the Republic of India. Instituted on 2 January 1954, the award is conferred in recognition of "exceptional service/performance of the highest order", without distinction of race, occupation, position or gender. The award was originally limited to achievements in the arts, literature, science, and public services, but the Government of India expanded the criteria to include "any field of human endeavor" in December 2011. The recommendations for the award are made by the Prime Minister to the President. The recipients receive a Sanad (certificate) signed by the President and a peepal leaf-shaped medallion with no monetary grant associated with the award. Bharat Ratna recipients rank seventh in the Indian order of precedence.
Bharat Ratna medal
In 1992, a press release was published to confer the award posthumously on Subhas Chandra Bose, which was later cancelled post the order of the Supreme Court in 1997
Dhyan Chand at the 1936 Summer Olympics. Widely regarded as the greatest hockey player of all time, Chand has not been conferred the Bharat Ratna
Image: Chakravarthi Rajagopalachari
