Melody queen Lata Mangeshkar, who has kept audiences enthralled for over five decades, was on Wednesday given the nation's highest civilian honour Bharat Ratna at a glittering function in the Rashtrapati Bhavan after which she said "even a flower" bestowed on her by the country was a big thing for her.
President K.R. Narayanan presented the award to Latha and the second highest award, Padma Vibhushan to sarod mestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Japanese leader Hosei Norota, chemical engineer Man Mohan Sharma and C.R. Rao, former director of Indian Statistical Institute. Writer-economist John K. Galbraith, a former US Ambassador to India, could not attend the function.
Shehnai maestro Ustad Bismillah Khan, the other Bharat Ratna awardee was, owever, not present. Fifty-four renowned personalities were presented the Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri awards in the Durbar Hall at the 35-minute investiture ceremony, the second part of which is being held on Thursday.
Padma bhushan was awarded to among others composer and lyricist Bhupen Hazarika, orthopaedic surgeon Chittaranjan S. Ranawat, who had performed Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's knee replacement operation last year, cardiologist Naresh Trehan, villain of hindi cinema Pran Sikand, noted industrialist Rahul Bajaj and journalist Arun Poorie. Chess champion Vishwanathan Anand could not attend the ceremony.
Bureau Report
