As a South Indian, I cannot be happier. The awarding of the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour, to stalwarts from south India—the late Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao and Indian scientist MS Swaminathan—decisively dispels the chimera of a North-South political and intellectual divide. More importantly, it sends a strong message: those contributing to India’s peace, progress, and prosperity will be duly recognised, regardless of their religion origin. It was disheartening to see prime-time journalists parroting the narrative of a North-South divide when their job is to objectively report the 5Ws and 1H of a story—what, when, where, why, who, and how.
They need only look at the lives of Narasimha Rao and MS Swaminathan for inspiration.
These two remarkable individuals have played pivotal roles in fighting the challenges confronting India’s progress and development. They wanted to work for India and, importantly, in India. Both Rao and Swaminathan epitomise what Swami Vivekananda once said: “Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life; dream of it; think of it; and live on that idea. Let the brain, the body, muscles, nerves, and every part of your body be full of that idea, and just leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success, and this is the way great spiritual giants are produced.” Their dedication and expertise, be it in the economic or agricultural sectors, have left indelible marks. This is probably the first time that two South Indians have been awarded the Bharat Ratna in the same year.
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Rao and Swaminathan
Rao, who belonged to what is now Telangana, spearheaded India’s transition to globalisation, liberalisation, and privatisation, helping break the shackles of a stunted social-economic trajectory for many Indians. For all you know, if you are able to read this article, it is perhaps because of Rao’s efforts. He cleverly, and singlehandedly, bypassed the heavy socialist moorings of the Indian bureaucracy to set right the country’s economic policy landscape at a crucial juncture. Vinay Sitapati’s book, Half Lion, gives an account of the dire situation then, especially in relation to the balance of payments crisis, the mortgaging of gold, and the devaluation of the Indian rupee. I think Rao is fairly referred to as the Deng Xiaoping of India. He is one of the best prime ministers this country has had. Recognising him also puts to rest the view that D. Manmohan Singh was the key architect of the economic reforms. If not for the steely political will of Rao, the reforms would certainly not have seen the day, with all due respect to Singh.
Rao knew 17 languages—9 Indian and 8 foreign languages—which also signified his cosmopolitan nature. In that sense, he stands in direct contrast to yet another narrative that politics should be centered around one’s language alone. Rao is not restricted to Telangana or Andhra; he is a national icon. In Tamil Nadu, I curate the P.V. Narasimha Rao Economic Development Memorial Lecture series under the aegis of the Tamil Nadu Young Thinkers Forum, which has seen economists from across India participate and enable Rao’s contemporary relevance for the benefit of all.
MS Swaminathan, born in Kumbakonam and popularly known as the father of the Green Revolution and a World Food Prize laureate, was equally passionate about addressing the challenge of food shortage confronting India. His single-minded devotion to this cause enabled India to transition from a food-deficient country to a food-sufficient one. He is widely credited with having laid solid foundations for the agricultural outlook that India has today. He encouraged producing millets at least two decades ago. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has himself written about his interactions with Swaminathan and how it enabled Gujarat to launch several unique initiatives in agriculture. One such initiative is the unique soil health card. India has placed tremendous trust in scientists, Swaminathan’s recognition is proof of this. In the annual Edelman Trust Barometer for 2024, when people across 28 countries were asked who do they trust the most, they had no hesitation in answering it was ‘scientists’.
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Inclusive recognition
What the two achievements showcase is the power of example. Both individuals took it upon themselves to solve challenges facing the country. They brought to the fore their imbued skill sets and were determined that India would comprehensively conquer the challenges. They were not sectarian and did not dedicate themselves to just their states or regions but they had a larger picture in mind: their country should progress; if this happens, eventually the populace progresses and India can then contribute to the global good. In their respective fields, they brought about a culture in which transformation ought to be envisioned and put into practice at every level, thought, word, or deed. They were both doers in the true sense.
What is also strikingly similar is that both individuals thought beyond themselves. Their contributions are a testament to the fact that we must look at innovation and determination to focus on eliminating any sort of challenges. Almost all of their works, in their entirety, required mutual understanding and trust from multiple stakeholders in different fields.
The Prime Minister and the government of India have also strongly communicated that it is important to be statesmanlike, rising above any ideologies and isms in honouring such individuals who may have worked in different eras. The annual Padma Awards have also signified this. The message is clear: unite rather than divide if the country’s progress is one’s goal.
The Bharat Ratna recognition also promotes national cohesion, which is key to the country’s sojourn in the run-up to 100 years of Independence. Both chapters of Narasimha Rao and MS Swaminathan are key to the ongoing growth story of India in pursuit of being a developed nation. This particular moment also enables future policymakers with the inspiration to work towards not just their own regions or states’ challenges but look at how India can solve challenges with a macro vision. Today, there is so much talk of diversity and inclusion in the West. This recognition for two South Indians shows that India values its diversity and remains inclusive as an article of faith. Tamil leader Annadurai famously said, ‘When the country is in danger, for us to advocate separatism would be to give away to the foreigner’. I would say this strongly applies and is relevant today.
The author is a policy expert and alumnus of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles. He tweets @sudarshanr108. Views are personal.
(Edited by Prashant)
There is a growing sense of grievance and injustice in the South over the disparity between what it contributes to central revenues and what it receives in return. Diametrically opposite to the position for states like Uttar Pradesh and especially Bihar. Whatever the need to advance equity, some sense of parity should be restored.