Sachin, Prof CNR Rao to receive Bharat Ratna today
February 04, 2014  04:24
Legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar and eminent scientist Prof C N R Rao will be conferred with the country's highest civilian honour Bharat Ratna by President Pranab Mukherjee at a function in New Delhi on Tuesday.

Master batsman Tendulkar, who retired from international cricket on November 16 last year, will be the first sportsman to be bestowed with the honour by the President at a function to be held in 'Durbar Hall' of Rashtrapati Bahavan.

Tendulkar (40) and Rao (79), both of whom are recipients of Padma Vibhushan -- the country's second highest civilian honour, will join a list of 41 eminent personalities who have been conferred with the award that is given in recognition of exceptional service of the highest order since it was instituted in 1954.

An outspoken scientist, Prof Chintamani Nagesa Ramachandra Rao is a well recognized international authority on solid state and materials chemistry who has published over 1,400 research papers and 45 books. He is the third scientist after C V Raman and former President A P J Abdul Kalam to be conferred with the Bharat Ratna.

Prof Rao's contributions have been recognized by most major scientific academies around the world through conferment of memberships and fellowships and has been honoured with several national and international awards, an official announcement said.

He currently serves as the Head of the Scientific Advisory Council to the Prime Minister of India

Tendulkar is also the first active sportsperson to become a Rajya Sabha member last year. The Bharat Ratna was announced after a gap of four years with Hindustani music doyen Bhimsen Joshi being the last recipient in 2009.
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