Bharat Ratna: UPA govt had considered Dhyan Chand too

The UPA government’s decision to confer the Bharat Ratna, the country’s highest civilian honour, on Sachin Tendulkar upon his retirement after his 200th Test match came not only after an amendment of rules in order to facilitate the conferral of the award on a sportsperson, but also after a decision to choose him over hockey great Dhyan Chand, whose name had been recommended by the Sports Ministry. Dhyan Chand’s name had been in the reckoning until even a few weeks before the Wankhede Test match that concluded on Saturday, said a report in The Indian Express . [caption id=“attachment_123440” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Sachin Tendulkar. Reuters.[/caption] Sports Minister Jitendra Singh had then suggested that Dhyan Chand’s name be considered too, possibly to be awarded jointly with Tendulkar. The report says: “This is one award where there is no jury. The prime minister recommends a name and the president has to concur. In Tendulkar’s case, PM Manmohan Singh’s recommendation letter was sent on Friday night and the approval came Saturday.” The last Bharat Ratna was awarded to classical singer Pt Bhimsen Joshi in 2009.