KCR demands Bharat Ratna for social reformer Anna Bhau Sathe

Last Updated03/08/2023

Recently, the Telangana Chief Minister demanded that social reformer, writer and folk poet of Maharashtra Anna Bhau Sathe should be conferred with Bharat Ratna.

Born in a Dalit family on August 1, 1920 in Maharashtra’s Wategaon village in Satara district.
Anna Bhau was known as ‘Lokshayar’ (people’s poet)
- Recognising his contribution to the field of people’s literature his bust was installed in the All Russia Library in Moscow.
He is also known as a pioneer of dalit literature
Popular works: ‘Aklechi Goshta,’ ‘Stalingradacha Povada,’ ‘Mazi Maina Gavavar Rahili,’ ‘Jag Badal Ghaluni Ghav’
His ‘Bangalchi Hak’ (Bengal’s Call) on the Bengal famine was translated into Bengali and later presented at London’s Royal Theatre.
In 1943, he along with Amar Sheikh and Datta Gavhankar, formed the Lal Bawta Kala Pathak.
- The group toured across Maharashtra presenting programmes on caste atrocities, class conflict, and workers’ rights.

The Bharat Ratna is India's highest civilian honour, established in 1954.
It is given in honour of remarkable service in any sphere of human endeavour.
On the Prime Minister's suggestion to the President of India, a maximum of three Bharat Ratna awards can be presented each year.
- The recipient of the award receives a Sanad (certificate) signed by the President as well as a medallion.
- The prize does not come with a monetary grant.
There is no formal requirement that the Bharat Ratna be granted solely to Indian nationals.
The awardees are not allowed to use Bharat Ratna as a prefix or suffix to their names, as stated in Article 18(1) of the Indian Constitution.