The News Minute | December 24, 2014 | 06:47 pm IST
The Indian Government on Wednesday announced the Bharat Ratna for former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and the late freedom fighter-educationist Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya (posthumously), a day ahead of their birth anniversaries.
The Bharat Ratna is the highest civilian award in India and 64 years since its inception several great social leaders and personalities from various fields have been conferred this honour.
The list of recipients for this prestigious award include leaders such as C. Rajagopalachari in 1954, Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam in 1997 and Sachin Tendulkar in 2013.
Surprisingly, this strong list of 45 individuals having received the Bharat Ratna includes only five female recipients who symbolized exceptional service of the highest order in any field of human endeavour.
Here is a list of the five female recipients of the Bharat Ratna.
Indira Gandhi
Former Prime Minister of India was conferred the Bharat Ratna in the year 1971.
Mother Teresa
A catholic nun and the founder of the Missionaries of Charity, Mother Teresa was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1980. She was also given Nobel peace prize the year before, i.e. 1979.
Aruna Asaf Ali
Aruna Asaf Ali was an Indian independence activist and is widely remembered for hoisting the Indian National Congress flag at the Gowalia Tank maidan in Mumbai during the Quit India Movement. She was given the Bharat Ratna in 1997. She was also given the second highest civilian honour, the Padma Vibhushan in the year 1992.
M.S. Subbulakshmi
M.S. Subbulakshmi is not only known to be one of the best Carnatic vocalist the country has ever produced but also is the first musician ever to be awarded the Bharat Ratna in the year 1998.
Lata Mangeshkar
Known for her melodious voice, Lata Mangeshkar is also fondly referred to as the 'Nightingale of India'. Lata Mangeshkar was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 2001.