Playback singer S Janaki’s rejecting the Padma Bhushan award, saying the honour has come late in her 55-year career, has once again raked up the debate surrounding the national awards such as Bharat Ratna, Padma awards, Sahitya Akademi award and Dadasaheb Phalke award given by the Centre and national bodies. Critics say many deserving persons were neglected and only influential persons receive these top honours.
Supporting Janaki actor R Parthiban said that by rejecting the Padma Bhushan and demanding the Bharat Ratna, she had created awareness on the issue of many deserving persons being denied their rightful honour.
“It is unfortunate that many talented artists from Tamil Nadu were denied the national awards. This happens as there is no one in New Delhi to raise a voice on behalf of Tamils,” he said. There should be more representation for Tamils in the award committee, Parthiban said.
Writer Gnani said there was always a bias in awarding national awards and many South Indian artists were neglected. “Lobbying plays a major role in determining these national awards. Actors Sivaji Ganesan and Nagesh, known for their acting talent, were never given a best actor award,” he said.
He went to the extent of saying that these awards should be abolished. “My personal opinion is that all these awards should be scrapped. If a good artist is neglected and a less deserving one is given the national award, it is an insult. The best award for an artist is the support of the people,” Gnani said.
Poet Sirpi Balasubramaniam, convener of Sahitya Akademi’s Tamil Advisory Board said, “Instead of getting suggestion from the State governments, regional level committees should be formed and based on their recommendation these national awards should be decided.”
“A committee of persons who have received Bharat Ratna and Padma awards should be formed to choose the recipients. A committee consisting of eminent personalities from each field should be formed to shortlist the personalities. Deserving persons from the north, east, south and west should be honoured equally,” he said.
Instead, these awards are decided on by government officials, including IAS officers, which is an unacceptable selection procedure, he said.
Former Union Minister EVKS Elangovan said 1,200 persons were considered for this year’s Padma awards (Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan) and only 130 persons were chosen including six from Tamil Nadu. “The awards should not only be on recommendation, it should be on their own merit,” he said. He hoped that next year Tamil Nadu would improve its tally of Padma awardees.