Bharat Ratna winners over the years

As cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar and academician C. N. R. Rao are all set to receive the highest civilian honour – Bharat Ratna – on February 4 for their contribution in their respective fields, we take a look at some of the famous Bharat Ratna awardees.

C Rajagopalachari: The freedom fighter who went on to become the only Indian Governor-General of India was awarded in 1954.

C. V. Raman/Amartya Sen: Physicist CV Raman in 1954.

Economist Amartya Sen in 1999 for academics. Both are also Nobel laureates.

S Radhakrishnan: Philosopher, India's First Vice President (1952-1962) and India's Second President (1962-1967) in 1954.

Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru: In 1955, India's first prime minister and one of the leading lights of the freedom movement was awarded.

Dr. Rajendra Prasad: The first President of Independent India was awarded in 1962, for his contributions to the freedom movement and excellence as a jurist.

Zakir Hussain: In 1962, freedom fighter, scholar and third President of India, was given the Bharat Ratna awards.

Lal Bahadur Shastri: In 1966, Lal Bahadur Shastri, freedom fighter and India's second Prime Minister, was given the title posthumously.

Indira Gandhi: In 1971, Indira Gandhi, the first female Prime Minister of India, was given the award.

Mother Teresa: In 1980, Catholic nun Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu, commonly known as Mother Teressa was bestowed the highest civilian honour. She founded the Missionaries of Charity.

Vinoba Bhave: In 1983, social reformer and freedom fighter Vinoba Bhave was given the title posthumously.

Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan: In 1987, the freedom fighter became the first person from outside India to get the award.

M. G. Ramachandran, M. S. Subbulakshmi, Bismillah Khan:
M. G. Ramachandran – In 1998, film actor and Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu was given the award posthumously.

M. S. Subbulakshmi – In 1998, the Carnatic classical singer was given the award.

Bismillah Khan – In 2001, Hindustani shehnai maestro was given the award.

Ravi Shankar, Lata Mangeshkar, Bhimsen Joshi:
Ravi Shankar – The legendary sitar player was given the award in 1999.

Lata Mangeshkar – Popular Bollywood playback singer Lata Mangeskar was given the award in 2001.

Bhimsen Joshi – the Hindustani classical singer was presented with the award in 2009.

B. R. Ambedkar: The Chief architect of the Indian Constitution and crusader against untouchability, Dalit icon, social reformer, historian, politician, economist, and scholar recieved the award posthumously in 1990.

Nelson Mandela: In 1990, nelson Mandela became the second non-citizen and non-Indian recipient of the the award. Mandela was the leader of the Anti-Apartheid movement in South Africa.

Rajiv Gandhi, who was the sixth and youngest PM of India, was assassinated on May 21, 1991 at Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu during a poll campaign. (Source: Express archive)

A. P. J. Abdul Kalam: In 1997, Aeronautical Engineer and the 11th President of India was given the honour.